Q:

Meaning of the German "ersatz" in English

As a native German I know some well-known uses of German phrases, but I was
astonished that a book from a British reporter I am reading today used "ersatz"
without explanation.
Is the word "ersatz" well-known in anglo-saxon countries ? What is the
connotation of "ersatz": Do you use it more humorously or more in earnest.
From the context it is not clear what connotation it has, how would you
use it and how do you understand it ?

A:

Yes, ersatz has a negative connotation in English. It is definitely in contemporary usage, as in referring to chicory as ersatz coffee, or aspartame as ersatz sugar. I use it in speech, though I cannot vouch for the rectitude of my pronunciation in German. But then again, I'm not speaking German. :-) I doubt that the word zeitgeist is pronounced in English as it is in German, either.

