What RIP or R.I.P. Means

RIP stands for Rest in Peace, a phrase commonly used to honor the deceased. It originates from the Latin phrase Requiescat in Pace, which means May he/she rest in peace. This term is often inscribed on tombstones and used in various contexts to express respect and hope for the deceased's peaceful rest. In modern usage, "RIP" has also been adopted in social media and everyday speech to express sympathy or acknowledge a loss, often in a lighthearted or humorous manner.

RIP or R.I.P. is the acronym for the Latin phrase Requiescat in Pace, which means Rest in Peace in English.

This acronym has been inscribed on headstones dating from the 1st century BC until now. Today, RIP is seen on tombstones and on funeral programs to bless the soul of the deceased with eternal rest and peace.

When someone dies, numerous people post RIP on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Many people know what RIP stands for, but few of those who use that acronym don't know it is a Latin expression or what it means.

A Common Expression

Some people do not like the expression because it has become a catch-all expression for everyone who dies.

In 2017, officials of the Orange Order in Northern Ireland encouraged people to stop using the acronym RIP or the phrase Rest in Peace on grave markers. However, people around the world are still using them. They contend that RIP is a blessing for the dead person so that his soul may rest in peace if he had been a righteous person while he lived. The blessing is given so that the person's soul may find peace after death.

Made Up Expressions

Unfortunately, some people are making up their own expressions. They have come up with their own ideas about what RIP means to them that have nothing to do with what it really means.

It does the Latin phrase a disservice to say it means something that it was never intended to mean. One such expression is Return if Possible.

That is a selfish expression, especially if a person has been sick for a long time and has no quality of life. It is a selfish wish for a loved one or family member to want someone to return to the painful existence that person has just left. People who have had near-death experiences have shared how beautiful their encounters were, and they would have welcomed death if they had stayed dead. Saying, Return if Possible goes against logic and compassion, and definitely goes against the original meaning.

The Return if Possible expression is not a blessing at all. So, why would someone want to come back to pain and suffering on earth after dying? The request is a selfish one that goes against the intent of the Latin phrase and should not be imposed on anyone.

Another far-fetched expression is Rest in Power. There is no power in the grave. No one will be able to rest in power, and saying it doesn't make it so.

Return if Possible and Rest in Power fall far short of the original Latin meaning.

It is not a requirement for RIP to be written on headstones, and not all headstones stand up at the head of the grave. Some markers lay flat on the ground.

For Comfort

The dead person doesn't know what is engraved on the tombstone. Therefore, RIP is there more to comfort the family, friends, people left behind, and those who visit the grave than for the person who might already be "resting in peace."