minyan

See also: Minyan and minyaŋ

English

WOTD – 14 November 2013, 14 November 2014

Alternative forms

• minyen
• minyon

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪn.jən/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪnjən
• Homophone: minion

Noun

minyan (plural minyanim or minyans)

1. The minimum number of ten (male) adult Jews required for a communal religious service.
   • 2009, Charles London, Far from Zion, page 256:

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

   • 2010, Ari Goldman, Living a Year of Kaddish: A Memoir, page 27:

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

2. (by extension) A Jewish prayer service.
   • 2009, Charles Simon, Building a Successful Volunteer Culture, page 137:

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

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

     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.

Translations

minimum number of ten adult Jews required for a communal religious service

• Czech: minján m, minjan (cs) m
• French: miniane m
• Hebrew: מניין \ מִנְיָן m (minyán)
• Polish: minjan (pl) m
• Swedish: minjan c
• Yiddish: מנין m (minyen)

a Jewish prayer service