This French A2 lesson explains invitations in French step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on invitations in French and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: To invite someone in French, give the occasion, the day and the place, then ask: Ça te dit de venir ? To accept, say Volontiers ! or Avec plaisir ! To decline, follow four steps: thank, say you are sorry, give a short reason with pouvoir or devoir, and suggest another time.
Level: French A2 (CEFR elementary) · Standards: CEFR A2, Written interaction
Invitations in French: the lesson
How do you invite someone in French?
Give the occasion, the day, the time, the place, then ask. In a text message, the friendliest question is Ça te dit de + infinitive ?, literally does it say something to you to…?.
Ways to invite
- Ça te dit de venir dîner chez nous vendredi ? — Do you feel like coming to dinner at our place Friday?
- Tu es libre samedi soir ? — Are you free Saturday night?
- Je t’invite au restaurant pour ton anniversaire. — I’m taking you to a restaurant for your birthday.
- Voudriez-vous venir à notre fête ? — Would you like to come to our party? (formal)
How do you accept or decline?
| To accept | To decline |
|---|---|
| Volontiers ! | Malheureusement, je ne peux pas. |
| Avec plaisir ! | Je suis désolé(e), je suis pris(e). |
| Super idée, j’arrive ! | Je regrette, je ne suis pas libre. |
| C’est gentil, je viendrai. | Ce sera pour une autre fois. |
Decline in four steps
1. Thank: Merci pour l’invitation. 2. Say sorry: Je suis désolé(e) (add -e if you are a woman writing). 3. Give a short reason with pouvoir or devoir. 4. Offer another time.
| Pronoun | pouvoir | devoir |
|---|---|---|
| je | peux | dois |
| tu | peux | dois |
| il / elle | peut | doit |
| nous | pouvons | devons |
| vous | pouvez | devez |
| ils / elles | peuvent | doivent |
A full refusal
Merci beaucoup pour l’invitation ! Malheureusement, je ne peux pas venir : je dois travailler samedi. Ce sera pour une autre fois. — Thank you very much for the invitation! Unfortunately, I can’t come: I have to work Saturday. Another time.
Common mistake
After ça te dit de use the infinitive: not ça te dit venir. And do not copy English thanks for inviting me word for word: say Merci pour l’invitation or Merci de m’avoir invité(e).
Culture note
French invitations often end with RSVP, short for Répondez, s’il vous plaît. When you are invited to dinner at someone’s home, bring flowers, a dessert or a bottle of wine. Skip chrysanthemums: in France they are linked to funerals.
Zoé’s tip
When you refuse, never write just Non. Add thanks and a reason in one short line, and suggest another date. Your friend remembers the kindness more than the refusal.
Key points to remember
- Ça te dit de + infinitive is the friendly way to invite.
- Volontiers and avec plaisir accept an invitation.
- Decline in four steps: thanks, apology, reason, another time.
- Désolé takes an -e when a woman writes it.
- RSVP means Répondez, s’il vous plaît.
Saying Yes or No to Invitations: frequently asked questions
What does Ça te dit de venir mean?
It means Do you feel like coming? Literally it is does it say something to you to come. Use it with friends; the formal version is Voudriez-vous venir ?
How do I accept an invitation in French?
Say Volontiers !, Avec plaisir ! or Super idée ! Add a detail such as J’arrive vers 19 h, or ask Je peux apporter quelque chose ?
How do I decline politely?
Thank the host, say Je suis désolé(e), give a short reason with je ne peux pas or je dois, and finish with Ce sera pour une autre fois.
Does désolé change in writing?
Yes. A man writes désolé and a woman writes désolée. In speech both sound the same.
What does RSVP mean on a French invitation?
RSVP stands for Répondez, s’il vous plaît. It asks you to tell the hosts whether you will come, usually before a given date.