Quinceañero is the Spanish word commonly used for a boy celebrating a traditional fifteenth birthday.
The masculine form parallels quinceañera, which traditionally refers to a girl or young woman and to her celebration. Both words derive from quince años, meaning “fifteen years.” In English, people may describe either event as a quinceañera because the feminine term is much more widely recognized.
A quinceañero celebration can include formal clothing, a church service, a court, family rituals, dancing, and a reception. The exact format depends on cultural background and family preference. It is not accurate to assume that every fifteenth-birthday celebration follows the same gendered customs.
The word is also distinct from quince, which is often used as a shortened name for the event itself. Regional usage can vary, but quinceañero is the standard masculine counterpart in Spanish.