Quince is a common Spanish abbreviation for a quinceañera celebration.
In Spanish, quince means 15. In many communities, speakers use quince as a shortened form of quinceañera or quince años when the context is clear. English speakers also use “quince” for the party, especially in discussions of planning, invitations, dresses, and venues.
The abbreviation is connected directly to the traditional age rather than to a particular religious ritual. A quince can include a church service, but it can also be a secular reception. The word therefore identifies the celebration informally without specifying exactly which customs a family will follow.
Other expressions remain common, including quinceañera, quince años, and fiesta de quince años. Regional usage varies, and the same event may be described differently by relatives, vendors, and local communities. “Quince” should not be confused with boda, the Spanish word for wedding, because the celebration marks a fifteenth birthday rather than a marriage.