What does 'RSVP' mean? Here's what it stands for and examples to use it on your invitations. (2024)

Olivia MunsonUSA TODAY

Have you ever been invited to aparty and were asked to "RSVP" by a certain date? Or maybe you wanted to attendan event, such as an art gallery show,and were promptedto"RSVP" for a head count.

Whether it'sfor a big wedding or a small get-together, invites are often accompanied by the phrase, "RSVP." But what does it stand for and where does the term come from?

USA TODAY invites you to accept this invitation to learn more about "RSVP."

What does 'RSVP' mean?

"RSVP" is an initialism of the French phrase, "répondez s'il vous plaît." this directlytranslates to"Respond, if you please."

The initialismis often used to confirmattendance for an event, such as a wedding, birthday party or baby shower. More colloquially, people will use "RSVP" to describe the action of replying to an invite.

Even though "RSVP"comes from France, it is not used much there since it is seen as formal. Now, it is more common to see "SVP," which stands for "S'il vous plaît," used.

How to use 'RSVP'

Here are some examples of how to use "RSVP":

  • "You are invited to the wedding of Melodyand Daniel. RSVP by 12/3."
  • "Did you RSVP to Johnny's birthday party?"
  • "Are you still goodto go the museum event at the National Art Gallery? You need to RSVP by Thursday."

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What does 'RSVP' mean? Here's what it stands for and examples to use it on your invitations. (2024)

FAQs

What does 'RSVP' mean? Here's what it stands for and examples to use it on your invitations.? ›

Definition of RSVP

What does RSVP mean in an invitation? ›

"RSVP" is an initialism of the French phrase, "répondez s'il vous plaît." this directly translates to "Respond, if you please." The initialism is often used to confirm attendance for an event, such as a wedding, birthday party or baby shower.

What does RSVP mean say? ›

abbreviation for

R.S.V.P. Please reply or answer. From the French, “répondez s'il vous plaît,” meaning “respond if you please.”

What is RSVP in a sentence? ›

/ˌɑːr.es.viːˈpiː/ to answer an invitation by saying whether or not you will go to an event: I got a party invitation in the post, and I called to RSVP. RSVP by 9 October. The first 200 students who RSVPed to the invitation got in.

How to answer RSVP? ›

Include Your Name(s) and Number of Guests

The party host is asking you to RSVP so they can get excited about you being there, but also so they can accurately plan their headcount. For this reason, it's important to not only reply to say you can make it but to include the name(s) and number of guests.

What is the full word of RSVP? ›

) also R.S.V.P. RSVP is an abbreviation for 'répondez s'il vous plaît', which means ' please reply'. It is written on the bottom of a card inviting you to a party or special occasion. [formal]

Why do Americans say RSVP? ›

That's almost young in terms of cultural traditions. The acronym RSVP is short for a French phrase that was first observed in 1845, “respondez s'il vous plait.” You can literally translate this to mean “respond if it pleases you,” but more commonly it means “please respond.”

What is another word for RSVP? ›

RSVP comes from the French phrase “répondez s'il vous plaît.” That, roughly translated is “Please reply.” Another phrase you could use is, “Kindly let us know whether you will be able to attend.” Or perhaps, “The favor of a reply is requested by MM/DD.”

What is the phrase for RSVP? ›

You should include phrases such as “accepts with pleasure” or “declines with regret”, or opt for more informal response options. You can also add a number attending line so that people can specify whether or not they are bringing their children.

How do you politely say RSVP? ›

Just a little reminder to RSVP by the [XYZ] deadline, to let us know if you'll be able to join in the fun! Note: you can be excited and firm at the same time! Update Everyone on the Planning: We've been busy bees with all the wedding planning and wanted to share some great news with you.

Is it rude not to respond to an RSVP? ›

If you can no longer attend, it is polite to let the host or event organizer know your change of plans. If you do not respond, it is assumed that you are not attending.

What does RSVP mean in ASAP? ›

RSVP is an initialism derived from french phrase Repondez s'il vous plait, literally meaning 'respond,if you please',or just 'please respond, to require confirmation of an invitation.

What is an example of an RSVP message? ›

Hi (Recipient's name), I have received your invite to (event details) and can confirm that I would like to attend. I've provisionally added the date to my calendar and will wait to hear from you with further details. You can contact me here if you choose to reschedule the event for another date.

Do I RSVP if I'm not attending? ›

Do you RSVP if you're not attending? Yes, always. If the host requests a response, it's because they need to know how many people are coming. Responding to say you can't make it is more helpful than no response at all.

How do I say yes to RSVP? ›

I hope this email finds you well. Thank you so much for inviting me to your birthday party! I'm absolutely thrilled and honored to be a part of your special day. Please count me in as an enthusiastic "Yes" for the celebration on [date].

What to say when someone doesn't RSVP? ›

To word this delicately, you could go with something like: “We hope you received our wedding invitation that was extended to you x weeks ago. We have not yet received an RSVP from you and we will need to get the final numbers to our venue and caterer.

What does the r in RSVP mean? ›

RSVP is an initialism derived from the French phrase "Répondez s'il vous plaît", meaning "Please respond" (literally "Respond, if it pleases you"), to require confirmation of an invitation.

Do you RSVP if you're not going? ›

Do you RSVP if you're not attending? Yes, always. If the host requests a response, it's because they need to know how many people are coming.

Whose name is written in RSVP? ›

The envelopes for your RSVP cards should have the name(s) and address of who is handling the RSVPs on the front. This could be you and your finacé, either of your parents, your wedding planner or someone in the wedding party.

References

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