Asendaja

Asendaja is a noun in the Estonian language meaning a person or thing that temporarily takes the place of another. In human contexts, it describes a stand-in or replacement, such as a temporary employee, a deputy, or a person acting in someone else’s absence. In technical or logistical contexts, it can denote a device or component that substitutes for another when the primary item is unavailable or malfunctioning.

The word is formed from the verb asendada, “to replace,” with the agent noun suffix -ja, yielding a term that literally means “the replacer” or “the substitute.”

Asendaja is a general term; usage varies by context. In education, a more specific term is commonly used: asendusõpetaja for a substitute teacher. In technology or operations, the word may describe a backup component or spare part that takes over when the main item is offline, allowing continued function without altering the core system.

See also: asendusõpetaja, substitute, replacement.