What does matzah mean?
Matzah is unleavened bread with an important role in Jewish observance, particularly during the Passover festival. Its preparation is connected with the biblical story of the Israelites leaving Egypt: they had no time for their dough to rise, so the bread became a symbol of haste and liberation. Matzah is commonly served at the Passover seder and may accompany horseradish, charoset, and other traditional foods. The word is most often encountered in discussions of Jewish food, religion, and family traditions. Although the loaf resembles a crisp cracker, matzah is not simply a generic cracker; its special preparation and ritual significance distinguish it. In English, “matzah” and the variant spelling “matzo” are both widely recognized.
nounMatzah is the unleavened bread traditionally eaten by Jewish people during Passover, symbolizing the Israelites’ hurried departure from Egypt. It may be eaten plain or with customary foods such as horseradish and charoset.
- Unleavened bread traditionally eaten during Passover, especially at the seder meal.
"At the Passover seder, the leader broke matzah and shared it with the people gathered around the table."
"The family served matzah with horseradish and a bowl of charoset."
"She bought a package of matzah for the Passover seder."
“Matzot” is the standard plural for individual pieces of matzah. “Matzah” is also commonly used as a mass noun.
"They placed the matzot on a plate beside the horseradish."
Matzah’s chief ingredient is time: during Passover, even the dough is required to rise too slowly to be used, turning speed into a sacred rule.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does matzah come from?
The word comes from Hebrew מַצָּה (matzah), meaning “unleavened” or “unleavened bread.” Its association with Passover comes from the instruction in the Book of Exodus that the Israelites were to leave Egypt before their dough could rise. The Hebrew term is also commonly transliterated as “matzo,” while “matzah” reflects a spelling widely used in English-language Jewish communities.
Related word forms
How matzah is actually used
The term is most common in Jewish religious and cultural contexts. In general English, “matzah” usually refers to the bread eaten at Passover; “matzo” is a common variant spelling. “Matzot” is the usual plural for individual pieces, while “matzah” can be used as a mass noun.
Easily confused with matzah
Matzo is an alternative spelling of matzah, rather than a separate food or meaning.