déjà vu

/ˌdeɪ.ʒɑː ˈvuː/ French Origin Psychology

Original Word

déjà-vu

French

Entered English

Early 20th century

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "déjà vu"

From French 'déjà-vu', literally 'already seen'. Coined by French philosopher Émile Boirac in 1876 to describe the eerie feeling of having already experienced a present situation.

Example Usage

"I had a strange sense of déjà vu when I walked into the room."

All French Loanwords Look Up in Dictionary

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