בַּת מִצְוָה
bat mitzva
A bat mitzvah is a Jewish girl who has come of age and is responsible for the commandments
What it means
Bat is the Hebrew word for daughter and mitzvah is commandment, so bat mitzvah reads as daughter of the commandment. Like bar mitzvah, it names both the girl and the celebration. In Orthodox communities a girl becomes bat mitzvah at 12, and in Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative communities the age is generally 13 for girls and boys alike.
When Israelis say it
In Hebrew the phrase names the girl and also the party, as in mesibat bat mitzva, a bat mitzvah party. From that age a girl is customarily counted as responsible for the commandments.
How to answer
Mazal tov, congratulations.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bat mitzvah the same as a bar mitzvah?
They mark the same step, one for a girl and one for a boy. The age differs by community: 12 for girls in Orthodox communities and 13 in others.
What is the plural of bat mitzvah?
B'not mitzvah, daughters of the commandment. B'nai mitzvah is used for boys and girls together.