The Spanish term for the girl traditionally celebrating her fifteenth birthday is quinceañera.
The word comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” with the feminine ending -añera in the customary term. In everyday English, quinceañera commonly describes both the honoree and the birthday celebration, so context determines which meaning is intended.
The masculine counterpart is quinceañero, a term used for a boy’s fifteenth-birthday celebration in traditions that adapt the custom for boys. Related roles have their own names: a madrina is a female sponsor or ceremonial supporter, while members of the honoree’s court may have different titles depending on the community.
Spelling matters because the ñ is part of the Spanish word. English-language writing often omits accent marks or uses simplified spelling, but quinceañera is the standard form in Spanish. The celebration is not identical everywhere; families may emphasize religious, cultural, social, or purely celebratory elements.