minyan

M3I1N1Y4A1N1
UK, US/ˈmɪn.jən//minˈjɑːn//mɪˈnaɪən/

noun

The minimum number of ten (male) adult Jews required for a communal religious service.

Meanings

minyan1

nounminyan (plural minyanim or minyans)

plural minyanim · plural minyans · alternative minyen · alternative minyon

  1. JudaismThe minimum number of ten (male) adult Jews required for a communal religious service.

    So without my visit, if Simon didn't attend, a minyan would be hard to come by.

    2009, Charles London, Far from Zion, page 256
    1 more example

    As mourners cannot attend synagogue during shiva, a minyan gathers for morning, afternoon, and evening services in their home.

    2010, Ari Goldman, Living a Year of Kaddish: A Memoir, page 27
  2. broadlyA Jewish prayer service.

    New people assume leadership positions as required and stay around for as long as the minyan meets their needs.

    2009, Charles Simon, Building a Successful Volunteer Culture, page 137
    1 more example

    Tefillin are not used on Sabbaths and holidays, so unless you attend a minyan on weekday mornings or grew up in a home where men prayed daily, this practice may be unfamiliar to you.

    2012, Andrea Lieber, The Essential Guide to Jewish Prayer and Practices

Minyan2

nounMinyan (plural Minyans)

plural Minyans

  1. Greekhuman sciencesA member of a race said to be autochthonous to the Aegean area.
adjectiveMinyan (not comparable)
  1. not comparablePertaining to the Minyans.

Minyan3

proper noun

Origin

minyan · noun

  1. Hebrewמִנְיָן“number, count, quorum”
  2. Englishminyan

From Hebrew מִנְיָן (minyán, “number, count, quorum”).

Full word history & related roots →

Minyan · noun, adjective

  1. Ancient GreekΜινύες
  2. LatinMinyes
  3. EnglishMinyan

From Latin Minyes (from Ancient Greek Μινύες (Minúes)) + -an.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech minján, minjan
  • minjánminimum number of ten adult Jews required for a communal religious service
  • minjanminimum number of ten adult Jews required for a communal religious service
French miniane
  • minianeminimum number of ten adult Jews required for a communal religious service
Hebrew מניין \ מִנְיָן
  • מניין \ מִנְיָן (minyán)minimum number of ten adult Jews required for a communal religious service
Polish minjan
  • minjanminimum number of ten adult Jews required for a communal religious service
Spanish minyán
  • minyánminimum number of ten adult Jews required for a communal religious service
Swedish minjan
  • minjanminimum number of ten adult Jews required for a communal religious service
Yiddish מנין
  • מנין (minyen)minimum number of ten adult Jews required for a communal religious service

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with minyan

All rhymes →

Sounds the same

Cite this entry
APA

minyan. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/minyan

MLA

“minyan.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/minyan. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “minyan,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/minyan.

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