réservez la date
The English phrase "save the date" is expressed in French as réservez la date.
This phrase is used as a request for people to keep a specific day free for a future event. While réservez la date is understood, a very common alternative used in French invitations for this purpose is Notez la date, which means "Note the date".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation of "reserve the date" using the imperative form of the verb réserver.
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to express this depending on the tone and desired effect. À vos agendas ! (To your calendars!) is a common idiomatic and catchy way to express "Save the date!" in event announcements. For a more formal request asking guests to block their schedules, you can use Merci de bloquer cette date. For an informal way to say "don't forget this date", use N'oublie pas cette date.
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, réservez la date can be seen as an anglicism because the concept of a 'Save the Date' card was popularized by American wedding culture.
- The word date is a direct descendant of the Latin data, meaning 'thing given', which is the same root used for 'data' in English.
- While réservez la date is used, the word date in French often refers specifically to a calendar date rather than a romantic appointment, which can occasionally lead to a funny misunderstanding if you use it to mean 'a date' with someone.
Examples in context
- Veuillez réserver le 25 juillet 2022 pour notre mariage.Please save the date – July 25, 2022 – for our wedding.
- N'oublie pas de bloquer ton agenda le 10 septembre pour mon anniversaire !Don't forget to save the date – September 10 – for my birthday!
- Réservez cette date pour le mariage de Sophie et PierreSave the date for Sophie and Pierre's wedding
- Réservez la date dans votre agenda dès maintenant.Save the date in your calendar right now.
Example conversation
Lucas is telling Chloé about an upcoming party.
- LucasJe fête mon anniversaire en octobre, réservez la date !I'm celebrating my birthday in October, save the date!
- ChloéC'est super ! Quelle est la date exacte ?That's great! What is the exact date?
- LucasC'est le samedi 20 octobre.It is Saturday, October 20th.
- ChloéC'est noté, je ne prévois rien ce jour-là.Noted, I won't plan anything for that day.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries date, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
