Quinceañera is the Spanish word for the 15-year-old girl being honored at the celebration.
The same word is also used for the event itself, so context determines whether it means the celebrant or the party. In English, quinceañera has become a widely used borrowed term for the complete coming-of-age celebration.
The word is feminine and contains the Spanish ñ. It is related to quince, meaning 15, and the suffix -añera used in the traditional expression. The masculine counterpart is quinceañero.
The celebrant may be called a quinceañera even when her family chooses a simplified party, skips a Mass, or replaces traditional rituals. The word identifies the milestone and its cultural setting, not one mandatory program.