Quinceañera is the Spanish word for the girl celebrating her 15th birthday.
The term comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and is commonly used in English as the name of the entire celebration as well as the person being honored. In Spanish, the feminine ending identifies a female celebrant. A male equivalent is often written quinceañero.
The word is used throughout Spanish-speaking communities, but the event does not look identical everywhere. A family might include a Catholic Mass, a formal entrance, a dance court, a special dress, or a large reception. Other families hold a smaller gathering or adapt the traditions to another faith or cultural setting.
Because quinceañera can describe both person and event, context matters. “The quinceañera entered the hall” means the honoree, while “They attended a quinceañera” generally means they attended the celebration.