Quinceañero can describe a boy celebrating his fifteenth birthday in a quinceañera-style tradition.
The term uses the masculine Spanish ending -ero, while quinceañera uses the feminine ending -era. Both words connect to quince, meaning fifteen, and describe a fifteenth-birthday milestone.
Traditional quinceañera customs have historically focused on girls, especially on a transition framed as young womanhood. In contemporary communities, however, families may adapt the celebration for boys, LGBTQ+ celebrants, or anyone who wants a similar cultural milestone.
Usage varies by Spanish-speaking region and by family. Some people use quinceañero for the boy, while others describe the event simply as a quince años celebration. The important distinction is that the term refers to the celebrant, not automatically to one fixed ceremony format.