The Spanish word “quinceañera” names the girl being honored in the celebration and literally refers to a fifteen-year-old girl.
The term combines quince, meaning “fifteen,” with a feminine form related to año, meaning “year.” In everyday usage, it can describe both the honoree and, by extension, the birthday celebration itself.
The word is sometimes confused with fiesta de quince años, which more specifically means “fifteenth-birthday party.” Quinceañero is the masculine form used for a boy celebrating a similar milestone.
Terminology varies by country and community. Some Spanish speakers use quince años for the event, while English-language communities commonly use quinceañera for both the honoree and the occasion.