What Spanish word means the female guest of honor at a quinceañera?

The Spanish word for the female guest of honor at a quinceañera is quinceañera.

The term is derived from quince, meaning fifteen, and the feminine ending -añera associated with the person reaching the milestone. In ordinary usage, quinceañera can refer to both the celebrant and the celebration itself, depending on context.

The word is not the same as dama. A dama is traditionally one of the female attendants in the celebrant’s court. Madrina means godmother or female sponsor, while chambelana generally refers to a male escort or attendant in quinceañera terminology.

Spelling varies in informal English, where quinceanera is often written without the ñ or accent mark. In Spanish, the standard form is quinceañera, with ñ and an accent on the final syllable.