In Judaism, the Hebrew word “bat” in “bat mitzvah” means “daughter.”
The phrase combines Hebrew and Aramaic elements. “Bat” is Hebrew for daughter, while “mitzvah” means commandment or religious obligation. Thus, bat mitzvah traditionally identifies a daughter who has reached the age of religious responsibility.
The term is often confused with the name of the party or ceremony alone. Strictly speaking, it describes the person who has become obligated in Jewish commandments, although modern usage commonly refers to the ceremony and celebration too.
The parallel term “bar mitzvah” uses “bar,” an Aramaic word meaning son. Different Jewish communities developed distinct customs for marking girls’ religious majority, so the ceremony’s form can vary substantially.