The traditional Spanish-language term for a male who celebrates his fifteenth birthday is quinceañero.
Quinceañero is the masculine counterpart to quinceañera. Both words derive from quince, meaning fifteen, and refer to a person reaching the age traditionally associated with the milestone. In many English-language discussions, quinceañera is more familiar because the celebration has historically centered on girls, but families and communities may use quinceañero for a boy’s celebration.
The exact format is not universal. A quinceañero celebration may include a church service, formal clothing, family speeches, dancing, or a reception, but none of those elements is required in every family or country.
The word should not be confused with padrino or madrina, terms for godfather-like sponsors or honored adults in some ceremonies. It also differs from quinceañera, which is feminine in Spanish. Accent marks and regional usage may vary in informal English writing.