French word

déjà

Pronunciation

IPA/deʒa/

Meaning

  • adverbalready

Example

C'est déjà trop tard.

It's already too late.

Illustration for déjà (already)

More examples

J'ai déjà mangé.

I've already eaten.

Core concept

A time marker pointing from the present back to an earlier point where an event is already true.

Common phrases

  • déjà mangé

    already eaten

  • déjà commencé

    already started

  • déjà tard

    already late

Similar words

encore: Indicates that an event or state is still continuing.
toujours: Indicates that something remains consistently the same as usual.

Definition in French

Indique qu'une action ou un état existe ou s'est produit avant le moment présent.

Word origin

The adverb comes from Old French de ja, with ja inherited from Latin iam, and the combination developed the sense 'already'.

Usage tips

  • Déjà usually comes between the auxiliary and the past participle in a compound tense, as in Il a déjà fini.

Opposites

Word lists with this word