What is the Spanish feminine term for a girl celebrating her 15th birthday?

The Spanish feminine term for a girl celebrating her 15th birthday is quinceañera.

The word comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and refers both to the celebrant and, commonly, to the celebration itself. In English-language writing, quinceañera is often used for the entire event, while quinceañera can also identify the young woman at its center.

Spanish terminology varies across regions and families. Quince años, meaning “fifteen years,” is another widely used name for the celebration. The masculine form quinceañero is used in some communities for a boy’s 15th-birthday coming-of-age celebration.

The term should not be confused with dama, which generally refers to a female member of the celebrant’s court, or madrina, which means godmother or sponsor. Those people may have ceremonial roles, but they are not the quinceañera herself.