Quinceañera is the Spanish word commonly used for both the celebration and its female honoree.
The term is related to quince, the Spanish word for fifteen, and años, meaning years, in the longer phrase fiesta de quince años. In ordinary usage, quinceañera can identify the girl turning fifteen, while “quinceañera” is also widely used in English for the entire event.
The terminology is not identical everywhere. Spanish-speaking communities may also say quince años, fiesta de quince años, or simply quince. Regional language, family custom, and whether speakers are discussing the person or the party can affect the preferred expression.
The male form quinceañero is used for a boy’s comparable celebration in some contexts, but it is less internationally standardized than quinceañera. The accent mark over the ñ is part of the Spanish spelling and distinguishes the word’s pronunciation.