בר מצווה

See also: בר־מיצווה

Hebrew

Etymology

From בַּר (bar, “of the age of”, literally “son of”) and מצווה / מִצְוָה (mitzvá, “mitzvah, commandment”); hence literally “of the age of commandment”. Originally designated the man of age, then the ceremony marking that age, then the teen having said ceremony.

Noun

בר מצווה / בַּר מִצְוָה • (bar mitsvá) m (plural indefinite בני מצווה / בְּנֵי מִצְוָה, feminine counterpart בת מצווה / בַּת מִצְוָה)

1. A bar mitzvah; a male Jew who is at least thirteen years old, and therefore considered old enough to be held responsible for following most of Jewish law.
2. (Judaism) bar mitzvah (a Jewish coming of age ceremony for boys)
3. A bar mitzvah; a male Jew who has just turned thirteen and is having or has just had a bar mitzvah ceremony.

See also

• בר מצווה on the Hebrew Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^he