diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec.h b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
index 7ee8bc2b7c..b05c12e47e 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec.h
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "libavutil/frame.h"
 #include "libavutil/log.h"
 #include "libavutil/pixfmt.h"
+#include "libavutil/subfmt.h"
 #include "libavutil/rational.h"
 
 #include "codec.h"
@@ -2238,24 +2239,6 @@ typedef struct AVHWAccel {
  * @}
  */
 
-enum AVSubtitleType {
-    SUBTITLE_NONE,
-
-    SUBTITLE_BITMAP,                ///< A bitmap, pict will be set
-
-    /**
-     * Plain text, the text field must be set by the decoder and is
-     * authoritative. ass and pict fields may contain approximations.
-     */
-    SUBTITLE_TEXT,
-
-    /**
-     * Formatted text, the ass field must be set by the decoder and is
-     * authoritative. pict and text fields may contain approximations.
-     */
-    SUBTITLE_ASS,
-};
-
 #define AV_SUBTITLE_FLAG_FORCED 0x00000001
 
 typedef struct AVSubtitleRect {
diff --git a/libavutil/Makefile b/libavutil/Makefile
index 529046dbc8..c7843db1e4 100644
--- a/libavutil/Makefile
+++ b/libavutil/Makefile
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ HEADERS = adler32.h                                                     \
           sha512.h                                                      \
           spherical.h                                                   \
           stereo3d.h                                                    \
+          subfmt.h                                                      \
           threadmessage.h                                               \
           time.h                                                        \
           timecode.h                                                    \
diff --git a/libavutil/subfmt.h b/libavutil/subfmt.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..791b45519f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libavutil/subfmt.h
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2021 softworkz
+ *
+ * This file is part of FFmpeg.
+ *
+ * FFmpeg is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * FFmpeg is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with FFmpeg; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA
+ */
+
+#ifndef AVUTIL_SUBFMT_H
+#define AVUTIL_SUBFMT_H
+
+#include "version.h"
+
+enum AVSubtitleType {
+
+    /**
+     * Subtitle format unknown.
+     */
+    AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_NONE = -1,
+
+    /**
+     * Subtitle format unknown.
+     */
+    AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_UNKNOWN = 0,
+#if FF_API_OLD_SUBTITLES
+    SUBTITLE_NONE = 0,          ///< Deprecated, use AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_NONE instead.
+#endif
+
+    /**
+     * Bitmap area in AVSubtitleRect.data, pixfmt AV_PIX_FMT_PAL8.
+     */
+    AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_BITMAP = 1,
+#if FF_API_OLD_SUBTITLES
+    SUBTITLE_BITMAP = 1,        ///< Deprecated, use AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_BITMAP instead.
+#endif
+
+    /**
+     * Plain text in AVSubtitleRect.text.
+     */
+    AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_TEXT = 2,
+#if FF_API_OLD_SUBTITLES
+    SUBTITLE_TEXT = 2,          ///< Deprecated, use AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_TEXT instead.
+#endif
+
+    /**
+     * Text Formatted as per ASS specification, contained AVSubtitleRect.ass.
+     */
+    AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_ASS = 3,
+#if FF_API_OLD_SUBTITLES
+    SUBTITLE_ASS = 3,           ///< Deprecated, use AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_ASS instead.
+#endif
+
+    AV_SUBTITLE_FMT_NB,         ///< number of subtitle formats, DO NOT USE THIS if you want to link with shared libav* because the number of formats might differ between versions.
+};
+
+#endif /* AVUTIL_SUBFMT_H */
diff --git a/libavutil/version.h b/libavutil/version.h
index 017fc277a6..c6cd0b0d79 100644
--- a/libavutil/version.h
+++ b/libavutil/version.h
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@
 #define FF_API_DECLARE_ALIGNED          (LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MAJOR < 58)
 #define FF_API_COLORSPACE_NAME          (LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MAJOR < 58)
 #define FF_API_AV_MALLOCZ_ARRAY         (LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MAJOR < 58)
+#define FF_API_OLD_SUBTITLES            (LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MAJOR < 58)
 
 /**
  * @}
