Quinceañera is the Spanish word commonly used for the traditional celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday.
The term is derived from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and is related to the idea of a fifteenth-birthday observance. In everyday English, quinceañera can mean either the young woman being honored or the event itself, depending on context.
The celebration often includes elements that emphasize family and community. These may include a church service, a formal dress, attendants, a ceremonial entrance, a father-daughter dance, and a meal or party. No single program is universal, and many families adapt the event to local culture, religious practice, and personal preference.
Quinceañera is sometimes written without the ñ or accent mark in informal English, but quinceañera is the standard Spanish spelling. The masculine counterpart, used in some communities for a boy’s fifteenth birthday, is quinceañero.