The Spanish word quinceañera means both the female celebrant and her fifteenth-birthday celebration.
The term comes from quince, meaning fifteen, combined with a feminine ending related to a young woman. In English, quinceañera is often used primarily for the party or ceremony, while Spanish usage can identify the girl herself as well as the occasion.
The word is sometimes written quinceanera when an accent mark is unavailable. The ñ is pronounced like the “ny” sound in Spanish. Related expressions include quince años, literally “fifteen years,” and fiesta de quince años, “fifteenth-birthday party.”
Usage is not identical everywhere. Families and communities may use regional terms, and celebrations can be religious, secular, or a mixture of both. The word should not be confused with quince, the fruit, although both forms ultimately reflect the same Spanish spelling for “fifteen” when the accent and ñ are considered.