What does matzot mean?
Matzot are pieces of thin, unleavened bread traditionally eaten during Passover. They are especially associated with the seder, the communal Passover meal, and are commonly served with horseradish and other dishes. Although the term is sometimes used more generally for unleavened Jewish bread, it specifically denotes the plural of matzah. The bread’s lack of leaven is significant within the Jewish festival tradition, and matzot form an important element of the seder table. The word is most common in Ashkenazi Jewish English, where it is pronounced with a final stressed syllable; pronunciation may vary somewhat by speaker and region. In general writing, matzah or matzo may be more readily recognized, but matzot is the customary plural and is especially natural in descriptions of the Passover seder and its foods.
plural nounMatzot are thin, unleavened Jewish breads traditionally eaten at Passover, particularly during the Passover seder. The word is the plural of matzah.
- The plural of matzah, referring to pieces or servings of the unleavened bread traditionally eaten at Passover.
"The family passed matzot and horseradish around the table during the seder."
"We ate matzot with soup and horseradish before beginning the seder."
"The children searched for the afikomen among the matzot during the Passover meal."
Matzot is already a plural noun; the singular is matzah.
"The seder included several matzot alongside the traditional dishes."
Matzot is the plural of matzah, the unleavened bread that occupies a central place at the Passover seder.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does matzot come from?
Matzot is the plural form of matzah, a word borrowed through Yiddish from Hebrew. The Hebrew term refers to unleavened bread and has long been associated with the Passover festival. Its development in Jewish languages and communities produced several established English spellings, including matzo and matzoh, as well as the plural matzot.
Related word forms
How matzot is actually used
The plural form matzot is standard in Jewish usage, particularly in Ashkenazi communities. The related singular matzah is also widely used.
Easily confused with matzot
Matzah is the singular form, while matzot refers to multiple pieces of the unleavened bread.