Spanish Word of the Day Archive
Monday February 19, 2007
quinceañero, noun:
teenager
This word is formed from quince - fifteen - año, meaning year, and the suffix -ero, which usually denotes a person belonging to a group or type. Despite appearances, a quinceañero is not necessarily a fifteen-year-old, but a teenager of any age.
When Latin American girls reach the age of fifteen, it is a tradition for them to hold coming-out balls to celebrate. In Mexico, bands of musicians called los mariachis wearing the traditional costumes of sequin-studded cowboy-style suits and wide-brimmed Mexican hats, play serenades - mañanitas to entertain the guests.
Content By
© HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2006. All rights reserved.
