What does déjà in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word déjà in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use déjà in French.

The word déjà in French means already, already, even as, for a start, again, for a start, lingering sense of déjà vu, that's something, that's a start, that's not bad, that's not bad going, that's something, that's a good start, already, as if it isn't enough that ... already, déjà vu, rehash. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word déjà

already

adverbe (dès ce moment-là)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Quand je suis rentré, mon fils était déjà sorti. // On est déjà arrivés ? Ce fut rapide !
When I got in, my son had already gone out. // Are we there already? That was quick!

already

adverbe (auparavant)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
J'ai déjà aperçu cet homme par ici.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. Have you ever been to New York?

even as

adverbe (même alors)

Tout petit déjà, il aimait les oiseaux.
Even as a child, he loved birds.

for a start

adverbe (renforcement d'une constatation) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
J'ai rangé ma chambre ; c'est déjà ça. J'ai terminé le marathon, ce n'est déjà pas si mal.
I finished the marathon; that's not bad in itself.

again

adverbe (familier (pour redemander une chose oubliée) (informal)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il viendra quand déjà ?
When is he coming, again?

for a start

adverbe (familier (d'abord, pour commencer) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Déjà, tu ne parles pas comme ça à ta mère !
You can stop talking to your mother like that, for a start!

lingering sense of déjà vu

nom masculin (sentiment de chose déjà connue)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce problème a comme un arrière-goût de déjà-vu.

that's something, that's a start

(c'est un début)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le style du texte laisse à désirer mais il n'y a plus de fautes d'orthographe, c'est déjà ça !

that's not bad, that's not bad going

(familier (c'est un bon début)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
En une semaine, il a trouvé un travail et un logement, c'est déjà pas mal.

that's something, that's a good start

(familier (c'est un bon début)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Lise a obtenu son baccalauréat, c'est déjà quelque chose.

already

locution adverbiale (soutenu (dès maintenant)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Nous savons d'ores et déjà que le coureur français ne participera aux Jeux olympiques du fait d'une blessure.
We already know that the French runner will not participate in the Olympics because of an injury.

as if it isn't enough that ... already

locution conjonction (étant donné que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Comment, je vais devoir aller à la gare à pied ? Déjà que j'ai mal aux pieds…
What? I have to walk to the station? What with my feet already hurting ...

déjà vu

nom masculin invariable (chose qu'on croit déjà connaître)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
En pénétrant dans cette pièce, j'eus une impression de déjà-vu.
Walking into this room, I had a sense of déjà vu.

rehash

nom masculin invariable (familier (chose connue) (informal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ces arguments sont du déjà-vu, il n'y a rien de neuf là-dedans.
These arguments are just a rehash; there is nothing new in them.

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of déjà in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

Do you know about French

French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.