Jewish Wedding & Ketubah Glossary
From aufruf to yichud, the Hebrew and Yiddish words you’ll hear while planning a Jewish wedding — including the terms behind your Ketubah.
A
Aufruf
Yiddish for “calling up.” The custom of calling the groom, and in many modern ceremonies the bride, to the Torah for an aliyah on the Shabbat before the wedding, marking the upcoming marriage before the community.
Ashkenazi
Jews descended from the medieval communities of Central and Eastern Europe. Ashkenazi couples often bring specific melodies, foods, and ceremony customs to their wedding day.
B
Badeken
The veiling ceremony held just before the couple steps under the chuppah, in which the groom covers the bride’s face, recalling the biblical story of Rebecca veiling herself before meeting Isaac.
Bashert
Yiddish for “meant to be.” Used to describe a soulmate, or the belief that a couple was destined to find one another.
Bentcher
A small booklet of Grace After Meals and wedding blessings, often custom-printed with the couple’s names as a keepsake for guests.
Breaking the Glass
The moment at the end of the ceremony when the groom, or both partners, steps on a glass, symbolizing the fragility of love and the memory of the Temple in Jerusalem.
C
Chatan
Hebrew for “groom.”
Challah
A braided egg bread blessed and shared at Jewish celebrations, including the wedding feast.
Chuppah
The canopy under which a Jewish couple marries, open on all sides to symbolize the home they will build together and welcome guests into.
E
Erusin
The betrothal portion of the Jewish wedding ceremony. Once performed as a separate event, it is now typically combined with the nisuin under the chuppah.
F
Freilach
An upbeat, joyous instrumental tune played at Jewish weddings to get guests up and dancing.
G
Get
A formal Jewish legal document of divorce. Understanding the get helps explain the legal weight a Ketubah carries as a genuine marriage contract.
H
Hora
The festive circle dance danced at nearly every Jewish wedding, often set to the song “Hava Nagila,” in which the couple is lifted on chairs above the crowd.
K
Kallah
Hebrew for “bride.”
Ketubah
The traditional Jewish marriage contract, historically written in Aramaic, outlining a groom’s obligations to his bride. Today, many couples display their Ketubah as a piece of art in their home.
Kiddushin
The sanctification stage of a Jewish marriage, during which the groom gives the bride a ring in front of witnesses.
Kittel
A simple white robe worn by the groom at some traditional weddings, symbolizing purity and humility.
Klezmer
Traditional Ashkenazi instrumental music, played live at many weddings to accompany the hora and other dances.
Kvater / Kvaterin
An honored role, akin to a godparent, given to a couple who carries ceremonial items or escorts the bride and groom to the chuppah.
L
L’chaim
Hebrew for “to life,” the traditional toast raised at Jewish celebrations, from the engagement through the wedding reception.
M
Mazel Tov
A Hebrew and Yiddish expression of congratulations, most often called out after the glass is broken.
Mechitza
A partition separating men and women, used during some traditional or Orthodox wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Mikvah
A ritual bath for spiritual purification. Many brides, and some grooms, immerse before their wedding day.
Minyan
A quorum of ten adult Jews required for certain prayers and blessings recited during the wedding.
N
Nisuin
The marriage portion of the Jewish wedding ceremony, historically distinct from the erusin, or betrothal, and now performed together with it under the chuppah.
O
Oneg
Short for “Oneg Shabbat,” meaning joy of Shabbat. The word is sometimes borrowed to describe any joyful gathering following a Jewish celebration.
P
Piyyut
A liturgical Hebrew poem or hymn, occasionally sung or read during the wedding ceremony or at the tish beforehand.
R
Rabbi
A Jewish teacher and religious leader, most often the officiant of a Jewish wedding ceremony.
S
Shadchan
A traditional Jewish matchmaker who introduces couples with marriage in mind.
Sheva Brachot
The “Seven Blessings” recited under the chuppah, and often again at celebratory meals for a week after the wedding, praising love, joy, and the couple’s new life together.
Shomer / Shomeret
Literally “guardian.” The term describes both the custom of a couple not seeing each other before the ceremony and the friends entrusted with safeguarding the Ketubah or rings beforehand.
Simcha
Hebrew for “joy” or “celebration,” often used to describe a happy occasion like a wedding.
T
Tallit
A prayer shawl, sometimes used to form or drape the corners of the chuppah, or worn by the groom or officiant during the ceremony.
Tish
Yiddish for “table.” A joyful pre-wedding gathering where the groom shares Torah teachings, songs, and toasts with guests before the ceremony begins.
V
Vort
Yiddish for “word.” The celebration at which a couple’s engagement is formally announced to family and friends.
Y
Yichud
The brief period of seclusion immediately following the ceremony, when the couple shares their first private moments as newlyweds.