The Spanish word chambelán may describe a male member of a quinceañera’s court of honor.
A chambelán is commonly presented as one of the young men accompanying the celebrant in the formal court. The court may participate in the entrance, photographs, choreographed dances, and other ceremonial moments. The term is especially associated with quinceañera customs in parts of Latin America and Latino communities.
Terminology varies substantially by country. Some families use chambelán, acompañante, or another local expression, while a female court member may be called a dama. Modern celebrations may also use a mixed-gender court or dispense with a court altogether.
Chambelán should not be confused with quinceañero. A quinceañero is a male celebrant marking his own fifteenth birthday, whereas a chambelán is an accompanying court member. Nor is chambelán the same as padrino, a sponsor or honored supporter. These distinctions help explain why one quinceañera can include several different named roles.