Quinceañera describes a young woman celebrating her fifteenth birthday in this tradition.
In Spanish, the feminine noun can refer to the celebrant herself as well as, by extension, the celebration. English usage often uses quinceañera primarily for the event, while Spanish can distinguish the person from the party through context. The masculine form quinceañero is also used in some communities for a boy’s comparable celebration.
The term comes from quince, meaning fifteen, and the feminine suffix associated with a person or role. It is related to the phrase quince años, literally “fifteen years,” which is another common name for the celebration in Spanish-speaking communities.
Usage is not identical everywhere. Families may call the event a quince, quince años, or quinceañera, and English-language communities often use the shortened form quince. These labels describe related customs, but the details of the ceremony, religious service, clothing, and reception vary by region and family.