What Spanish word names the traditional fifteenth-birthday celebration?

The Spanish word for the traditional fifteenth-birthday celebration is quinceañera.

The term is built from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and the feminine suffix -añera, which relates to a person or occasion associated with that age. In everyday usage, quinceañera can describe the young woman, the birthday, or the entire formal event, depending on context.

English-language sources often retain the Spanish spelling, including the ñ. The word is sometimes written without the accent mark as quinceanera in informal English, but quinceañera is the standard Spanish spelling.

The celebration is not identical everywhere. Families may emphasize Catholic or other religious traditions, a formal banquet, dancing, regional music, or a symbolic ceremony. Related Spanish-language terms include quince años and fiesta de quince años. These expressions also refer to the fifteenth-birthday observance, but quinceañera is the most recognizable single term for the tradition and its celebrant.