The Portuguese word for a girl making her formal social debut in Brazil is debutante.
In Brazilian cultural usage, a debutante is the young woman honored in a festa de debutante. The celebration historically presents her to family and society through formal attire, a ceremonial entrance, dances, and a reception.
This tradition is related to, but not interchangeable with, the quinceañera. A quinceañera is associated especially with a girl’s fifteenth birthday and Spanish-speaking communities, whereas the Brazilian debutante tradition emphasizes a social debut and uses Portuguese terminology.
The word debutante comes from French and means a female beginner or newcomer. In English, it can also describe a young woman formally entering society, but Brazilian celebrations use the term within their own cultural and family traditions.