Quinceañera is the Spanish word commonly used for the girl celebrating her 15th birthday.
In everyday English, the same word can also refer to the entire celebration. The feminine form reflects the traditional focus on a girl’s transition at age 15. The masculine counterpart, quinceañero, is used in some communities for a boy’s comparable celebration.
The term is built from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and the feminine ending -añera. It is related to quince años, the Spanish phrase for “15 years.” Spelling the word with the ñ is standard in Spanish, although English-language sources sometimes omit the accent mark.
The word should not be confused with dama, a female attendant, or chambelán, a male attendant. Those terms describe members of the court of honor, while quinceañera identifies the central celebrant or, by extension, the event itself.