Déjà vu is a French term that translates to "already seen." It refers to the phenomenon where a person feels that they have experienced a specific moment or situation before, even though it is happening for the first time. This fleeting sensation can create a sense of familiarity or eeriness, as the individual feels a strong cognitive recognition of the current experience.
The term "déjà vu" originates from French, where "déjà" means "already" and "vu" is the past participle of "voir," meaning "to see." It was first used in a psychological context in the early 20th century.