‘ Attendees’?

How about the congregation ?

I would use attendees in English if I had to, but it is kind of fake French. Obviously employé(es) has come into English directly.
Attendés could mean people who wait around I suppose..... 😂

Far simpler to refer to them as "guests". Otherwise: the people attending the coronation.

Oops, just seen others have beaten me to that!

“Guests”. ?

How about this?

Attendee means, "a person who attends a meeting, etc." Attender is a word that is used especially in British English to mean, "a person who goes to a place or an event, often on a regular basis.

Do this muddy the waters even more? 😉

The more I think about this, the more I feel I'd rearrange the sentence to avoid the word!

"Attendees" is the accepted word, even though it is illogical.

How about "those attending" ? It is only one word more than "attendees" or "attenders" and is a LOT better than "attendants" which reminds me of lavatory attendants, sitting in a little cubbyhole with a saucer of small change in front of them , occasionally emerging to replace a loo roll or mop up an accident.

I was just going to say guests as they are recipients of invitations.

Someone might be invited but not attend …

What's wrong with 'guests' since they've been invited?

Or 'invitees', 'people going/attending' ...

MaizieD

I think they're both rather ugly words, but I would use 'attendee'. It follows the same logic as 'employer' 'employee, 'detainer', 'detainee'...

I'm wondering where would 'attendant' fit in? English is capable of such nuance.

You see, I don’t think it does follow the same logic!
I employ you, so I am the employer, you are the employee.
I detain you, so I am the detainer, you are the detainee.
If I attend you,( as in wait on), I am the attendant, you are the attendee
If I attend a function, I am an attender surely?

I need to lie down now!

With Fanny

Agreed!

Oops. I see that 'attendant' has already been discussed. Ignore me...

Right, I’m firmly planting my ‘attendee’ flag. Final answer

I think they're both rather ugly words, but I would use 'attendee'. It follows the same logic as 'employer' 'employee, 'detainer', 'detainee'...

I'm wondering where would 'attendant' fit in? English is capable of such nuance.

Yes Fanny. I thought I knew the difference but now I am not so sure.

Greenfinch

I think of an attendant as an assistant. Oh, this is getting very complex.😹😹

Yes, it is funny. And you usually end up changing your mind several times

It’s been common in the UK since the 1970s at least. There are other -ee suffixes which suggest actions, including retiree, of course.

I would say attendant for somebody attending for the purpose of providing care.

I think of an attendant as an assistant. Oh, this is getting very complex.😹😹

Attender has come to mean ‘one who attends to others’

I definitely wouldn’t say attenders

What about attendants?