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• minyan
  minyan

  noun

  the number of persons required by Jewish law to be present to conduct a communal religious service, traditionally a minimum of 10 Jewish males over 13 years of age.
• Minyan
  Minyan

  adjective

  descended from Minyas.

minyan

¹ American  

[meen-yahn, min-yuhn] / minˈjɑn, ˈmɪn jən /

noun

Hebrew.

• minyanim,
  plural
• minyans
  plural

1. the number of persons required by Jewish law to be present to conduct a communal religious service, traditionally a minimum of 10 Jewish males over 13 years of age.

2. such a group.

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Minyan ² American  

[min-yuhn] / ˈmɪn jən /

adjective

1. descended from Minyas.

2. being or pertaining to a gray, wheel-thrown pottery produced in ancient Greece during the early part of the Helladic period, c2000 b.c.

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noun

1. Minyans. Also Minyae the descendants of Minyas who inhabited Orchomenus in Boeotia and Iolcus in Thessaly.

minyan British  

/ ˈmɪnjən, minˈjan /

noun

1. the number of persons required by Jewish law to be present for a religious service, namely, at least ten males over thirteen years of age

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• minyanim
  plural
• minyans
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of minyan

minyān literally, number

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Explanation

In Judaism, some prayers require a minyan, or a group of at least ten adults. Wedding blessings and prayers for the dead are among those that need a minyan. A minyan is a religious quorum, the minimum number of people required. In Judaism, many prayers can be said alone, but some of them require the sense of community and connection that comes from a cohesive group of people. Saying Kaddish after a loved one’s death is one example. In Orthodox synagogues, a minyan is composed only of men, but in most Jewish communities women are also included. Minyan has a Hebrew root, maneh, "to count or to number."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

minyan Minyan

Weiss went to the chapel door but stayed in the room to maintain the minyan.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 1, 2023

Pil makes sure that every day, morning and night, a minyan — a quorum of 10 men necessary for Orthodox Jews to hold certain prayers — is present.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2023

Here, encouraged by his grandfather and their new neighbors, David completes the minyan.

From New York Times ● Oct. 21, 2021

And when he died, this hospital chaplain was very concerned he wouldn’t have a minyan.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 1, 2019

“Are there not ten men here who will make a minyan with us?”

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz

She serves as a spiritual leader at the Downtown Minyan, writes the weekly Substack newsletter Committed, co-hosts the podcast Wondering Jews, and is a contributor to the podcast Call Me Back.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Rabbi Benjamin Lehrfield, formerly of Baron Hirsch and now the rabbi at the Riverdale Minyan in the Bronx, officiated before 260 guests, all but two of whom were fully vaccinated.

From New York Times ● Dec. 3, 2021

“It’s kind of a reunion,” said Citron, a rabbi at Surfside Minyan.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 16, 2021

Minyan Oneg Shabbat: Jewish renewal service and potluck lunch led by Rabbi Mark Novak, an actor, musician and storyteller, in a joy-filled morning of song and silence.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 20, 2015

"The Minyan is there," and Mattes pointed his finger at the thatched roofs shining in the sunset.

From Yiddish Tales by Various

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