Piyyut

A piyyuṭ (plural piyyuṭim, Hebrew: פִּיּוּטִים / פיוטים, פִּיּוּט / פיוט pronounced [piˈjut, pijuˈtim]; from Koinē Greek: ποιητής, romanized: poiētḗs, lit. 'poet') is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services. Most piyyuṭim are in Mishnaic Hebrew or Jewish Palestinian Aramaic, and most follow some poetic scheme, such as an acrostic following the order of the Hebrew alphabet or spelling out the name of the author.

Many piyyuṭim are familiar to regular attendees of synagogue services. For example, the best-known piyyuṭ may be Adon Olam ("Master of the World"). Its poetic form consists of a repeated rhythmic pattern of short-long-long-long (the so-called hazaj meter). It is so beloved that it is often sung after many synagogue services, after the ritual nightly recitation of the Shema, and during the morning ritual of putting on tefillin. Another beloved piyyuṭ is Yigdal ("May God be Hallowed"), which is based upon the Thirteen Principles of Faith set forth by Maimonides.

Important scholars of piyyuṭ today include Shulamit Elizur and Joseph Yahalom, both at Hebrew University.

The author of a piyyuṭ is known as a payṭān or payetan (פיטן); the plural is pay(e)ṭanim (פיטנים).