- The distinct and often unsettling feeling that one has experienced the present situation before, despite knowing it's happening for the first time.
Explanation
Origin
- French, literally meaning already seen.
- Coined by French parapsychologist Émile Boirac in his 1876 book L'Avenir des sciences psychiques (The Future of Psychic Sciences).
- It describes a specific psychological phenomenon, a brief glitch in memory processing where new information feels familiar.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- This feels really familiar...
- It's like Groundhog Day. (If something seems repetitive)
- I'm having a Matrix moment.
- Swear I've done/seen this before.
- Freaky. (Describing the feeling)
Milder/Standard:
- I have a strange sense of familiarity.
- This seems like it has happened before.
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in most informal and semi-formal situations.
- Relevant in psychology discussions. Might seem out of place in highly formal settings unless directly relevant.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Ensure learners understand it's a *feeling* of prior experience, not an *actual* repeated event (usually).
- Pronunciation (DAY-zha VOO) can be tricky.
Examples
- As I walked into the room, I had a strong sense of déjà vu.
- Didn't we have this exact conversation last week? This is serious déjà vu.
- Whoa, déjà vu! I swear I've seen that car turn that corner before.
Dialogue
Maria: Wait... this street looks incredibly familiar. Have we been here before?
Leo: I don't think so, this is my first time in this part of town.
Maria: It's giving me intense déjà vu. Like, I know what's around the next corner. So strange.
Leo: Creepy! Maybe you have psychic powers!
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Reading the news headlines today feels like major déjà vu. Haven't we solved this already? #Politics #Frustrated
- Instagram Story: (Video of a place) Getting serious déjà vu vibes here... swear I dreamed this place! ✨ #Travel #Deja Vu
- Comment: This entire argument is déjà vu from last year's thread.
Response Patterns
- Agreement/Shared Experience: Yeah, I get that feeling sometimes too! or Weird, right?
- Explanation/Dismissal: Maybe you dreamed it? or It's just your brain playing tricks.
- Curiosity: Really? What triggered it?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone *mentions* déjà vu:
- What part felt familiar?
- Does this happen to you often?
- Sharing a personal déjà vu story.
After *experiencing* déjà vu:
- Often just remarking on the strangeness.
- Maybe trying (usually unsuccessfully) to pinpoint the 'previous' experience.
- Sometimes jokingly referencing *The Matrix* (It's a glitch in the Matrix!).
Conversation Starter
- Yes. Can be used spontaneously to comment on a feeling during a conversation or experience. Whoa, hang on... déjà vu.
Intonation
- Stress usually falls on déjà and vu (DAY-zha VOO).
- Often spoken with a tone of surprise, confusion, or wonder. Wow, that was weird... total DÉJÀ VU.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across all generations, partly thanks to popular culture references (e.g., *The Matrix*).
Regional Variations
- Universal across English-speaking regions. Pronunciation generally follows the French.