The shortened informal name often used for a quinceañera celebration is quince.
Quince comes from the Spanish word for fifteen and is commonly used as a brief name for the event, especially in Mexican American and other Latin American communities. Someone may refer to attending a quince or planning a quince without saying the full word quinceañera.
The shortened form should be understood from context. In Spanish, quince by itself simply means the number 15, while in community and event contexts it can refer to the birthday party. The full term remains the clearest choice for international audiences.
A quince can include many familiar elements: a formal dress, a Mass or blessing, a court of honor, a waltz, symbolic gifts, dinner, and dancing. However, the shortened name does not imply that every celebration follows one fixed program. Families regularly adapt the event to their own traditions and circumstances.