Quinceañera is the Spanish word for the young woman being honored at a fifteenth-birthday celebration.
The term comes from quince, meaning fifteen, and the feminine ending -añera associated with the occasion. In common English and Spanish usage, quinceañera can also refer to the party itself, so the surrounding sentence determines whether it means the person or the event.
The honoree is typically presented to family and friends during the celebration. She may wear a formal dress, take part in a religious service, dance with a court, and receive symbolic gifts. These elements are customary rather than compulsory.
The male equivalent is quinceañero, although the feminine tradition is much more widely recognized. Modern families may also adapt the celebration for boys, siblings, or nonreligious settings, demonstrating how the custom continues to evolve.