Party vs. company

When you refer to a group of people, how do you differentiate these two words? When I visit a restaurant, usually the restaurant guy asks me “How many people are in your party?” I’ve never heard of “How many people in your company?” Is it possible to use “company” instead of “party”?

No, it is not possible. How many people are in your party? = How many people will be dining with you here today? How many people are in your company? = How many people are employed by the company you own or by the company that employs you?

These are all synonymous in the contest of a host at a restaurant addressing a guest who has not yet been seated:
How many people are in your party?
How many are in your party?
How many are in your group?
How many people are in your group?
It would be odd, but grammatically correct to ask: How many other people will be accompanying you? How many other will accompany you today? How many others will accompany you today? How many are accompanying you today?

your party (noun)
your company (noun)
to accompany (noun)

Thanks Nia. So they are not replaceable. I got it.
So, “company” can use only for specific expressions such as, “I want to be your company” (I want to be your friend) and “a company of tourist”(a group of tourist), right?

I hope this helps.

party (noun) IS NOT EQUAL TO company (noun)
group (noun) IS NOT EQUAL TO company (noun) in modern English
friend (noun) IS NOT EQUAL TO company (noun)

Maybe there is a little bit of confusion or hybridization of the word “company” and expressions (collocations and/or phrasal verbs) that have the word “company” or “accompany”.

The two examples that you gave are both incorrect and indicate a misunderstanding of the meaning of:
company (noun)
to accompany (verb)
English idioms that involve the word “company”

Best wishes. :slight_smile: