In Jewish terminology, a boy is called katan while he is still a minor before becoming a bar mitzvah.
The Hebrew word katan means “small” or “minor” and is used in Jewish legal and religious contexts for a child who has not reached the age of majority. After the traditional threshold, he is considered obligated in the commandments as a bar mitzvah. The corresponding term for a minor girl is ketanah, the feminine form.
Katan describes legal status, not a ceremony or a particular party. It should also be distinguished from gadol, meaning “ بزرگ” or “adult,” and from naar, a broader biblical and Hebrew term that can mean a boy or young person. Jewish law includes additional distinctions based on age, physical development, and the specific obligation involved.