The Spanish word for the girl celebrated at a traditional 15th-birthday fiesta is quinceañera.
The word combines quince, meaning fifteen, with a feminine ending. It identifies the female celebrant rather than the party itself, although English commonly uses quinceañera for both the person and the event. The male form is quinceañero, a related term used for a boy celebrating the same milestone.
A quinceañera traditionally reaches the age of fifteen in a ceremony or party that represents a transition from childhood to young adulthood. The meaning is cultural rather than a legal change of status. Turning fifteen does not generally confer a new legal age category in the countries where the tradition is practiced.
The spelling includes the letter ñ, producing the sound represented by “ny” in English approximations. In English writing, the accent mark is sometimes omitted, but quinceañera is the standard Spanish spelling. Families may also use quince, quince años, or fiesta de quince años for the celebration.