In a quinceañera, what is the traditional Spanish term for the honoree?

In a quinceañera, the traditional Spanish term for the honoree is quinceañera. The word refers both to the girl celebrating her 15th birthday and, commonly, to the celebration itself.

The term comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and añera, a form connected with years or age. In English-language writing, quinceañera is often used without translating the word, although “quince party” is also common in the United States.

The related masculine term quinceañero can describe a boy’s 15th-birthday celebration or its honoree, though quinceañera traditions have historically centered on girls. Madrinas are usually female sponsors or honored adult participants, while damas are members of the court; neither word names the central honoree.