Quinceañera is the Spanish word commonly used for the female celebrant at a fifteenth-birthday celebration.
The term is related to quince años, “fifteen years,” and identifies the girl or young woman whose fifteenth birthday is being marked. In English, quinceañera is also widely used for the celebration itself, not only for the person.
The word is feminine Spanish grammar, reflecting the traditional focus on a girl’s transition from childhood into a new stage of life. Celebrations for boys exist in some communities and may be called quinceañero, although usage varies.
A quinceañera is not automatically a legal adult. The cultural milestone and the legal age of adulthood depend on the country’s laws, which may set adulthood at a different age.