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Rsvp

/ˌɑːr ɛs viː ˈpiː/

verbnounB2

Definition

RSVP is a short form from French meaning "Please respond." It is used when someone invites you to a party, wedding, or meeting and wants to know if you will come. It can be a verb (to RSVP means to reply) or a noun (an RSVP is the reply).

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See It in Action

Request to reply to an invitation

  • •Please RSVP by Friday so we can plan the food.
  • •The invitation said "RSVP," so I called to say I would come.
  • •They asked guests to RSVP to know how many people will attend.

The reply to an invitation

  • •I sent my RSVP to the wedding invitation.
  • •We received many RSVPs for the conference.
  • •Her RSVP said she would bring a friend.

Make It Stick

  • ✓Think of "RSVP" like "answer" but specifically for invitations—it asks if you will come or not.
  • ✓Picture a party invitation card with the words "RSVP" and a phone number or email to call.
  • ✓It's the feeling of deciding if you want to go to a friend's party and then telling them yes or no.
  • ✓Sounds like the letters "R-S-V-P" said quickly → imagine someone spelling out a secret code that means "Please answer."
  • ✓In stories or movies, when characters get wedding invitations, they often say "Did you RSVP yet?"
  • ✓NOT like "invite" (which means to ask someone to come), RSVP is the reply to that invitation.
  • ✓NOT like "answer" in general, RSVP is a special answer about attending an event.
  • ✓RSVP is both the request ("Please RSVP") and the reply ("I sent my RSVP").

Try Other Words

  • •Respond: to answer or react (Use when you want a general answer, not only for invitations)
  • •Confirm attendance: to say you will come (Use when emphasizing that you are sure to attend)
  • •Answer: to give a response (Use in general communication, less formal than RSVP)

Unboxing

  • •Word parts: abbreviation of French phrase "Répondez s'il vous plaît" meaning "Please respond"
  • •Etymology: From French, used in English invitations since the 19th century
  • •Historical development: Borrowed into English to politely ask guests to reply to invitations
  • •Modern usage: Common in formal and informal invitations to know attendance numbers
  • •Key insight: RSVP is both a polite request and a noun for the reply itself

Reflect & Connect

•How does responding to an RSVP affect the planning of an event?
•Can you think of situations where not sending an RSVP could cause problems?

Fill in the blanks

1.The invitation asked guests to RSVP ___ the date so the host can prepare.
2.When you RSVP, you usually say if you will ___ the event or not.
3.An RSVP is different from an invitation because it is the ___ to the invite.
4.People often feel polite to send an RSVP to ___ the host they will come.
5.If you do not RSVP, the host might not know how many people to ___ for.
6.Sometimes invitations say "Please RSVP ___," meaning by a certain time.
7.When you RSVP, you might also ___ if you will bring a guest or not.