Quinceañera is the Spanish word commonly used for both the girl celebrating her fifteenth birthday and the celebration honoring her.
The term is formed from quince, meaning fifteen, and añera, a feminine form connected with years. In everyday usage, context usually makes the meaning clear: it can refer to the honoree, the event, or, in some descriptions, the broader tradition. The masculine counterpart for a boy's fifteenth-birthday celebration is quinceañero, although the feminine tradition is much more widely recognized.
English-language discussions often preserve the Spanish spelling, including the ñ. That letter is important because it distinguishes Spanish words and reflects the term's linguistic origin. English texts sometimes omit the accent or replace the ñ, but quinceañera is the standard Spanish form.
The word should not be confused with names for members of the ceremonial court. A chambelán is generally a male attendant, while a dama is generally a female attendant. Those terms describe participants, not the central celebration or its honoree.