How to pronounce ersatz
Say it like AIR-sahts. Ersatz has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ersatz. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AIR
- sahts
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ersatz pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sahtsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of ersatz
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AIR-zats.
What does ersatz mean?
- An inauthentic or inadequate substitute or imitation.“Back then, we could only get ersatz coffee.”
- Something made in imitation; an effigy or substitute.
Where does ersatz come from?
Borrowed from German Ersatz (“replacement, substitute”), a back-formation from ersetzen (“to replace, to substitute”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ersatz
How do you pronounce ersatz?
Say AIR-sahts. The American pronunciation is /ˈɛrsɑts/. In British English it is /ˈɛəzæts/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ersatz?
Ersatz has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AIR). Broken into parts: AIR · sahts.
Is ersatz pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈɛəzæts/ (AIR-zats).