mayim

Mayim is the Hebrew word for water, written as מים. In Modern Hebrew it is used for water in the literal sense and appears in everyday speech as well as in literature and religious texts. The term is typically treated as a plural noun but refers to water in general rather than to a specific quantity.

The word is formed from the Hebrew root related to water and is written with the letters mem-yod-mem. In Biblical and post-Biblical Hebrew, mayim appears in a range of contexts, from descriptions of rivers and rain to metaphorical uses such as life or abundance.

Among its religious uses, mayim chayim, meaning living waters, denotes naturally flowing water and is significant in Jewish ritual law and symbolism. Natural, flowing water is contrasted with other sources in discussions about ritual purity and immersion. The mikveh, a ritual bath, relies on water that meets certain halachic requirements, often emphasizing natural or flowing water.

Mayim is also used as a personal name in modern times. It is a given name in Hebrew-speaking communities and beyond; in English-language media it is sometimes encountered as a first name. A well-known contemporary figure with Mayim as a given name is Mayim Bialik, an American actress and science communicator.