The Spanish term for the young woman celebrating a traditional quinceañera is quinceañera. The same word is also widely used for the celebration itself, so its meaning depends on context.
The word is formed from quince, meaning 15, and the feminine ending -añera associated with the year-based milestone. In English-language writing, quinceañera is often used without translation because the event has become familiar beyond Spanish-speaking countries.
A common mix-up is to use quinceañera only for the party. In many descriptions, the quinceañera is the honoree, while the event may also be called a quinceaños celebration or simply quince años.
Terminology varies by region and family. Some communities use quinceañera for the honoree and quince años for the celebration, while English speakers may use “quince” informally for both. These differences do not change the central connection to the number 15.