What is the name of the male counterpart to a quinceañera in the traditional 15th-birthday celebration?

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The male counterpart to a quinceañera is commonly called a quinceañero.

Quinceañero is the masculine Spanish term for a boy or young man celebrating his fifteenth birthday in a comparable tradition. The word uses the same quinceañ- root connected with quince, “fifteen,” but has a masculine ending. English-language discussions often focus on quinceañeras because the feminine celebration is more widely documented and practiced.

A quinceañero celebration may be called a fiesta de quince años, just as a quinceañera celebration can be. Its customs are not identical everywhere, and families may choose clothing, music, religious elements, and ceremonies according to local traditions.

Quinceañero should not be confused with chambelán. A chambelán is traditionally a male attendant in a quinceañera’s court of honor, not the celebrant himself. Nor does quinceañero mean boyfriend or fiancé; those are different relationship terms in Spanish.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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