Ersatz

Abstract

Ersatz means 'substituting for, and typically inferior in quality to', e.g. 'chicory is ersatz coffee'. It is a German word literally meaning substitute or replacement.[1] Although it is used as an adjective in English, Ersatz can only function in German as a noun on its own, or as a part in compound nouns such as Ersatzteile (spare parts) or Ersatzspieler (substitute player). While the English term often implies that the substitution is of unsatisfactory or inferior quality ("not as good as the real thing"), it has both connotations in German, depending on the other noun; e.g. 'Ersatzteile' (spare parts) is just a technical expression without any valuation, whereas in more cases it means things of (a little) poorer quality - e.g. like 'Ersatzkaffe' and similar. Another German word for 'Ersatz-' is Surrogat (surrogate).