Feliz quinceañera
/feliθ kinθeaɲeɾa/from spelling rules
Feliz quinceañera is the Spanish way to say happy quinceañera.
This phrase is a greeting used to wish a girl a happy fifteenth birthday celebration.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin American variations, you may also hear Felicidades en tus quince primaveras, which means congratulations on your fifteen springs.
How do you pronounce it?
/feliθ kinθeaɲeɾa/
When do people say it?
An informal way to wish someone a great time during this celebration is to say Que la pases genial en tu Quinceañera.
Did you know?
- In some traditions, the girl changes her shoes from flats to high heels during the celebration to symbolize her transition to womanhood.
- The word quinceañera can refer to the girl herself, the party, or even the specific dress she wears. This single word covers the person, the event, and the fashion of the celebration.
- While an English speaker might just say 'Happy Birthday', a more traditional Spanish greeting for this milestone often involves bendiciones, or 'blessings', to wish the girl spiritual guidance.
Example conversation
Javier arrives at a party to congratulate his niece.
- Elena¡Hola, Javier! Qué bueno que viniste.Hello, Javier! I'm glad you came.
- JavierGracias, Elena. ¡Feliz quinceañera!Thank you, Elena. Happy quinceañera!
- ElenaMuchas gracias por venir a mi fiesta.Thank you very much for coming to my party.
- JavierNo me lo perdería por nada.I wouldn't miss it for anything.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
