kavanah

K5A1V4A1N1A1H4
/kəˈvʌnə//kɑːvɑːˈnɑː//kɑːvəˈnɑː/

noun

Heartfelt intent during prayer, as opposed to roteness.

OriginHebrew כַּוָּנָה →
Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nounkavanah (uncountable)

alternative kavana · alternative kavvanah · alternative kawwana

  1. JudaismuncountableHeartfelt intent during prayer, as opposed to roteness.

    The Gaon of Vilna (Ha-Gra) also opposed saying the formula Leshaym Yihud as well as Hineni mukhan umezuman ("Behold I am prepared and ready") since precepts do not require kavanah.

    1996, Macy Nulman, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer, page 229

Origin

  1. Hebrewכַּוָּנָה“intention, direction”
  2. Englishkavanah

Borrowed from Hebrew כַּוָּנָה (kavaná, “intention, direction”).

More words from Hebrew

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

kavanah. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kavanah

MLA

“kavanah.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kavanah. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kavanah,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kavanah.

Source: kavanah on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.