I had long forgotten the literal meaning of RSVP using it to gay abandon on my invitations and responding to it on invitations of others without giving it a thought. That was until I received a strange reply.
As usual, my invitation concluded with RSVP and an email address. It was when I received a curious response that I started thinking, ‘What does RSVP actually mean?’
It comes from the French phrase ‘Répondez s’il vous plait.’ Translated into English, it simply means, ‘Please respond.’
The request is straightforward: the host wants to know whether you will attend the event or not. It’s not just polite, it’s practical.
When you RSVP, you help the organiser plan things like:
- Food and drinks
- Seating arrangements
- Venue capacity
- Event materials or gifts
Without responses, hosts are left guessing. And this doesn’t usually end well.
Social etiquette
The use of RSVP dates back to 18th- and 19th-century France, when formal social etiquette played a big role in aristocratic life. Invitations were often delivered by hand, and it was expected that guests would respond promptly, also by hand.
The phrase ‘Répondez s’il vous plaît’ became a standard line on invitations, politely requesting a reply from the recipient.
Words travel
As French culture and etiquette heavily influenced European high society, the practice spread to Britain and other parts of Europe. From there, it travelled across the world through colonial and cultural exchange. Eventually, the abbreviation RSVP became widely recognised in English-speaking countries.
Ne parle pas (don’t speak French)
In the digital realm, RSVP is still required along with dietary preferences, specific reply-by dates, email, phone, or WhatsApp. Add to that the will you? or won’t you? poll, and just about all options are covered.
Whichever option you choose, giving your RSVP, is the respectful thing to do and doing it with accuracy is important too. There is nothing worse than a positive RSVP that turns into a last-minute ‘sorry can’t make it’ or worse still a no-show. Not just bad manners but an inconvenience for all concerned.
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