I believe you are talking about “deja vu”.

Have you been in a new place, but felt, as if you had been there before?

Did you meet someone for the first time, but had the feeling that you have met him before?

Have you been in a totally new situation, yet, felt it was familiar, and that you have experienced it in the past?

Experiences like these are called deja vu.

The term “deja vu”, originates from the French, meaning “already seen”, and describes the experience of feeling that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously.

The experience of deja vu is usually accompanied by a compelling sense of familiarity. There is a strong sense that one has experienced, or have been in the same situation or place in the past.

It is said that the experience of deja vu seems to be very common, and that 70% of people report having experienced it at least once in their lives.

The term deja vu was first used by Emile Boirac (1851-1917), who was a French psychic researcher.