selzer

Selzer is a term that may refer to a surname of German origin or to a historical term for carbonated water. The beverage sense traces to Selters, a town in present-day Germany known for its mineral springs. Water from these springs became widely marketed in Europe as Selters water, and in English it produced spellings such as selzer and seltzer. By the 19th and 20th centuries, seltzer water was sold as a bottled beverage, and in American English the word came to denote plain carbonated water.

In contemporary usage, seltzer generally refers to carbonated water without added minerals beyond those naturally present, and is often sold plain or flavored. It is typically distinguished from club soda, which is carbonated water with added sodium salts, and from mineral water, which is carbonated or still water that comes from natural springs with a distinctive mineral profile.

Selzer is also a surname of German origin. As a family name, it may be locational or occupational in origin, and appears in various countries. It is one of several surnames that reflect historical associations with German-speaking regions.

See also: Seltzer.