Quinceañera is the Spanish name for the person celebrating a fifteenth birthday.
The feminine noun quinceañera traditionally identifies a girl or young woman reaching age 15. In everyday usage, the same word is also commonly applied to the celebration itself, especially in English-language discussions. The masculine counterpart is quinceañero, though quinceañera traditions have historically centered on girls.
The term comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and a suffix related to a person associated with that milestone. Quinceañera is pronounced with the ñ sound, represented by the letter ñ in Spanish. English spellings sometimes omit the accent or replace the word with “quince.”
The celebrant may choose a large formal event, a modest family gathering, or a modern alternative. The word names the person, not a legal category, religious rank, or marital status. That distinction helps separate the tradition from wedding terminology.