What Spanish word names the young woman celebrated at a quinceañera?

The Spanish word quinceañera names the young woman celebrated at the ceremony.

The feminine noun is formed from quince, meaning fifteen, and refers to a girl marking her fifteenth birthday. In everyday English, quinceañera can also describe the entire celebration, especially the party or formal event held for the birthday.

The related phrase quince años literally means “fifteen years” and is often used for the celebration as well. A quinceañera is therefore both a person-centered term and a cultural name for a milestone occasion.

Terminology can differ by region. Some Spanish speakers use quinceañera for the celebrant and quince años for the event, while English-language communities frequently use quinceañera for both. Madrinas are female sponsors, damas are female attendants, and chambelanes are male attendants, so those terms are not synonyms.