What Spanish word names both the girl and the celebration at age 15?

Quinceañera is the Spanish word commonly used for both the girl and her fifteenth-birthday celebration.

The term comes from quince años, the Spanish expression for “fifteen years.” In many communities, it can refer to the young woman herself, as in “the quinceañera,” or to the event held in her honor. English-language usage often adopts the Spanish spelling, including the ñ.

The word is feminine because the traditional celebration centers on a girl’s fifteenth birthday. A boy’s comparable celebration is sometimes called a quinceañero, although terminology and customs differ by place and family. Modern celebrations may also be adapted for broader gender identities or family traditions.

The celebration is especially associated with Latin American and Latino cultures. It is not one identical ceremony worldwide: religious elements, dances, clothing, attendants, and symbolic gifts can change substantially from one community to another.