In a quinceañera, a male member of the celebrant’s court is traditionally called a chambelán.
Chambelanes accompany the quinceañera during formal parts of the celebration. They may take part in the entrance procession, choreographed dances, posed photographs, and other public moments. In English-language descriptions, the word is often translated as “escort” or “chamberlain,” although the cultural role is specifically associated with quinceañera customs.
A quinceañera’s court can contain several chambelanes, usually alongside female attendants known as damas. The exact number is chosen by the family and is not fixed by a universal rule. Some modern celebrations use mixed-gender groups, close friends, or no formal court at all.
The word is sometimes written without the accent in informal English text as “chambelan,” but the standard Spanish spelling is chambelán. It is a role title, not the name of a religious official.