diegetic sound

Diegetic sound refers to audio that originates within the story’s world, meaning the characters or viewers can recognize it as part of the scene. Examples include dialogue between characters, sounds made by objects or creatures, and music coming from a source within the scene, like a radio. These sounds are perceived as naturally existing within the environment, helping to create a sense of realism. In contrast, non-diegetic sounds, such as a film’s background score or voiceover narration, are added for cinematic effect and are not heard by the characters.