The Spanish word quinceañera can mean both the girl celebrating her fifteenth birthday and the celebration itself.
In English, people commonly use quinceañera for the event, as in “a quinceañera party.” In Spanish and bilingual communities, the same word can also identify the young woman who is the central celebrant. Context determines which meaning is intended.
The word is feminine and is connected to quince años, meaning fifteen years. It is pronounced and spelled differently from the masculine quinceañero, which can describe a male celebrant.
A quinceañera is not simply another word for any birthday party. It usually implies a formal cultural tradition, though the exact combination of religious services, attendants, dances, clothing, and reception customs varies widely.