The catchy expression, “aha moment,” refers to the exact time of a sudden special flash of understanding, insight or discovery. In spite of the claim to the phrase by Oprah Winfrey, who most certainly popularized it, and her 2009 battle with Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co., who used it in a national ad campaign, neither of them originated it. According to the OED (Oxford English Dictionary) it was derived from German use of aha-erlebnis as early as 1908, and was brought into English by 1930 when it appeared in The School Executive Volume 50, page 274:

“This German professor stated that their language had no word expressing the satisfaction coming from such realization and for that reason they call it the ‘Aha Moment!’”

In 1939, noted psychologist, Lawrence E. Cole, defined it in General Psychology:

“‘Aha-moment,’ the moment of insight.”

The word ‘aha’ was used as early as circa 1386 by Geoffrey Chaucer in The Nun’s Priest Tale:

“Aha the fox! and after him thay ran”

Yes, "they" was spelled that way in 1386!

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