What language gives the word “quinceañera” its name?

The word “quinceañera” comes from Spanish.

It is formed from quince, meaning “fifteen,” together with a feminine noun ending associated with a girl or young woman. In ordinary use, quinceañera can mean the honoree herself and, depending on context, the celebration held for her fifteenth birthday.

The related expression quince años literally means “fifteen years.” Both terms are used throughout Spanish-speaking communities, though local preferences differ. The word is also widely used in English-language writing about the tradition.

Portuguese-speaking countries have related coming-of-age customs, but Portuguese is not the source of the term quinceañera. The ñ is another visible clue to its Spanish spelling and pronunciation.