What does chazan mean?
A chazan is the cantor of a Jewish synagogue: the person who leads the congregation in prayer and performs the sung portions of the liturgy. The role demands musical skill, knowledge of Hebrew prayer texts, and familiarity with traditional chant melodies, since much of the service is delivered in a distinctive recitative style rather than spoken plainly. In many communities the chazan works closely with the rabbi, and historically the office could also encompass teaching children and managing synagogue affairs. The word entered English from Hebrew ḥazzān, where it originally denoted a subordinate religious official or attendant in ancient temple and synagogue life before evolving into the specialized musical-leader role familiar today. Variant spellings such as hazzan reflect differing transliterations of the Hebrew sound. While 'chazan' is standard within Jewish usage, general English texts often prefer 'cantor', borrowed from Latin via church usage.
nounA chazan (also spelled hazzan) is the cantor of a synagogue, an official who leads the congregation in prayer and chants the liturgy, traditionally also serving as a teacher and religious functionary.
- The cantor of a synagogue who leads congregational prayer and chants the liturgical service.
- (Historical, in ancient Israel) a subordinate temple official or synagogue attendant who assisted with religious duties.
"The chazan's rich baritone filled the sanctuary as he intoned the evening prayers."
"Our new chazan has a voice that carries beautifully through even the largest sanctuary."
"In Talmudic times, the chazan announced which priestly family was on duty at the temple."
Both plurals are accepted; chazanim follows Hebrew morphology and is preferred in more traditional or scholarly contexts.
"The conference brought together chazanim from synagogues across Europe."
The word chazan traveled straight from the Hebrew Bible into English — but its job changed along the way, from temple overseer to the singing voice of the synagogue.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chazan
Chazan comes from the Hebrew word ḥazzān (חזן), whose precise ultimate origin is uncertain. In biblical times the term referred to an overseer or attendant, and by the Talmudic period it denoted a synagogue functionary who assisted with the service. Over the medieval period the role shifted toward leading prayer musically, giving the modern sense of 'cantor'. English adopted the word directly from Hebrew, alongside the unrelated but semantically parallel borrowing 'cantor' from Latin.
How chazan is actually used
The word is primarily used within Jewish communities and in writing about Jewish liturgy and history; outside those contexts 'cantor' is more common. Spellings vary widely, including hazzan and chazzan, reflecting different transliterations of the Hebrew. The plural may be given as chazanim (following Hebrew) or chazans.