RSVP is an acronym used in invitations to let the recipient know that a reply is requested. RSVP stands for the French phrase répondez s’il vous plaît which translates as respond if it pleases you. Naturally, the host who is issuing the invitation would like to know how many guests will attend his event in order to provide adequate entertainment and refreshments. The phrase répondez s’il vous plaît migrated to England in the 1700s, in time the acronym RSVP was sufficient to communicate that the host requested a reply. Originally RSVP was spelled with periods as in R.S.V.P., today the Oxford English Dictionary renders the acronym without periods. RSVP is a verb, related terms are RSVP’s, RSVP’ing, RSVP’d or RSVP’ed.
Examples
Undoubtedly you’ve seen the words RSVP printed on wedding, birthday party, or similar invitations — but do you truly know what RSVP means in English, and how these words should be interpreted? (The Huffington Post)
People who want to attend former President Bill Clinton’s speech in Bakersfield Sunday are being encouraged to RSVP now and arrive early on the day. (The Bakersfield Californian)
We would appreciate if you would take a brief survey. It should only take 3-5 minutes, unless you’re Aunt Helen, in which case, judging by the difficulty you had RSVP-ing through the Evite, please don’t even take the survey. (The Boston Globe)
More than 260 people RSVP’d to attend the “creative business casual” affair, including a gaggle of furniture manufacturing company presidents and CEOs, vendors, family and friends. (The Fayette Observer)
Among those who had RSVP’d by Tuesday were former President George W. Bush and his wife, former first lady Laura Bush; former first lady Rosalynn Carter; first lady Michelle Obama; and former first lady Hillary Clinton. (The San Jose Mercury News)
So far, almost 500 people have RSVP’ed, which Nahim says proves the importance of the Venetian to the tight-knit cycling community in a city with lagging bike infrastructure and lack of respect for cyclists. (The Miami New Times)