Padrino is the Spanish word for a male family sponsor or godparent who may support a quinceañera.
In quinceañera customs, padrinos and madrinas may help pay for, organize, or symbolically provide elements of the celebration. Their involvement reflects broader Latin American ideas of extended kinship and compadrazgo, in which trusted adults take on supportive social or religious roles.
The exact duties are not universal. One family may invite godparents to sponsor a religious service, while another may ask relatives or close family friends to contribute to clothing, music, decorations, or photographs. Some celebrations do not use formal sponsors at all.
Padrino is masculine singular; madrina is the feminine counterpart. The word does not mean the celebrant, dancer, or birthday itself. It names a supporting person, so the role should not be mistaken for a required member of every quinceañera.