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."
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "How many guests should I invite to my wedding?"to "How to make a corsage?" to "What is my birthstone?" – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to ourJust Curious sectionto see what else we can answer.
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