Expression: RSVP
Pronunciation: [ehr es vay pay]
Meaning: please respond
Literal translation: respond if you please
Register: formal
Notes: RSVP, short for répondez s'il vous plaît, is interesting for a few reasons.
Though it's a French acronym, RSVP is no longer used much in France, where it's considered formal and very old-fashioned; the preferred expression is réponse souhaitée, usually followed by a date and/or a method:
Réponse souhaitée avant le 14 juillet.
Please respond by 14 July.
Réponse souhaitée à 01.23.45.67.89.
Please respond by calling 01.23.45.67.89.
Réponse souhaitée par mail.
Please respond by email.
However, in English, RSVP is regularly used on wedding and other invitations. Unfortunately, they usually say "please RSVP," which you now know literally means "please please respond."
English also uses RSVP as an informal verb, e.g., Mike is RSVPing by phone, I already RSVPed last week.
Etiquette: When an invitation says "RSVP," you should respond whether your answer is yes or no. When it says "RSVP regrets only," you should respond if you do not plan to attend - a non-reponse is taken as an affirmative.
Variation: R.S.V.P.
Related expression (which is commonly used in French): SVP (short for s'il vous plaît) - please
More
See More About
French Vocabulary
Language and Learning
French Lessons
Explore French Language