Quinceañera is the Spanish feminine noun for the girl celebrated at a traditional fifteenth birthday. The word can also refer to the celebration itself, especially in English-language usage.
Its form combines quince, meaning fifteen, with a feminine noun ending. The related masculine term quinceañero may describe a boy reaching fifteen, but the quinceañera tradition has historically been more prominent and widely recognized. In Spanish, accent marks and the ñ are part of the standard spelling.
The quinceañera is the central honoree, but the celebration usually involves a wider family and community. Parents, godparents, relatives, friends, damas, and chambelanes may have ceremonial roles. Because customs are adapted locally, not every quinceañera includes every traditional element, such as a Mass, court, shoe change, last doll, or formal waltz.