In quinceañera terminology, quinceañera is the Spanish word for the girl celebrating her 15th birthday.
The term is formed from quince, meaning 15, and a feminine ending related to the person being celebrated. In English, quinceañera is also widely used for the entire event, which can make the word’s two common meanings confusing.
A male celebrant may be called a quinceañero, although the feminine tradition is much more widely recognized. Related terms such as damas and chambelanes describe members of the honoree’s court, not the honoree herself.
Usage differs across Spanish-speaking communities and English-language settings. Families may use quince, quince party, or quinceañera for the celebration, while the central celebrant remains the quinceañera.