The Spanish word quinceañera describes the girl whose 15th birthday is being celebrated.
The term is feminine and is also used for the celebration itself. It derives from quince, meaning fifteen, with a feminine ending referring to a girl or young woman. English-language usage commonly retains the Spanish spelling, including the ñ.
In some communities, the word can refer both to the honoree and to the event. Context normally makes the meaning clear: a family may say that someone is attending a quinceañera or that the quinceañera is entering the reception.
The masculine counterpart is quinceañero, although the feminine term and the celebration named quinceañera are much more widely recognized.