The traditional Spanish term for a male celebrant marking his 15th birthday is quinceañero.
Quinceañera is the familiar feminine term associated with the celebration, while quinceañero is the corresponding masculine form. In practice, families and communities use these terms differently, and “quinceañera” may also describe the broader event rather than only the honoree.
Modern celebrations are not limited to one rigid format. Some families hold a quinceañera for a girl, some organize a quinceañero for a boy, and some use inclusive or family-specific forms. The essential feature is the fifteenth-birthday milestone and its public celebration.
The terms are sometimes misspelled because Spanish spelling conventions are unfamiliar to English speakers. The standard forms use ñ, and the masculine and feminine endings distinguish the traditional grammatical forms.