Quinceañera is the Spanish word used for both the girl reaching 15 and the celebration honoring her.
The term is formed from quince, meaning “fifteen,” with a feminine ending. In ordinary usage, it can identify the celebrant herself, as in “the quinceañera,” or the event, as in “her quinceañera was held on Saturday.” Context usually makes the meaning clear.
The masculine counterpart, quinceañero, is much less common in the traditional usage because the ceremony historically centers on girls. Boys’ fifteenth-birthday celebrations exist in some communities, but they are not the standard meaning of quinceañera.
English-language communities commonly retain the Spanish spelling, including the ñ. The word is therefore more precise than generic terms such as birthday party or debut, which may describe celebrations with different cultural histories.