maduro
/maˈduɾo/
The English word mature translates to Spanish as maduro. If unsure, use maduro. Wiktionary also lists curado.
Meaning: fully developed (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| maduro | /maˈduɾo/ |
| curado | /kuˈɾado/ |
The adjective maduro is used to describe something that is fully developed. It can describe a person's temperament or be used to describe fruit that is ripe. The related verb madurar is used for both the biological process of ripening and the psychological process of maturing.
Which one should you use?
While maduro can describe a person's temperament, it is the standard word for fruit that is ripe. In contrast, the form curado is used specifically for food products that have undergone a curing or aging process, such as cheese or ham, rather than for human personality.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective maduro must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, changing to madura for feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈduɾo/
Did you know?
- The word curado can be used colloquially in some dialects to mean someone who is very drunk, playing on the idea of being 'preserved' or 'soaked'.
- The term curado can also describe a person who has been 'cleansed' or 'purified' in a religious or spiritual sense.
- While 'mature' in English can describe a fine wine, a Spanish speaker would never use maduro for wine, opting instead for words like añejo or reserva.
Examples in context
- Él se dejó crecer barba para lucir más maduro.He grew a beard to look more mature.This sentence is useful for seeing how someone might use maduro to describe looking more mature.Tatoeba #1218806 by marcelostockle, translation #293142 by CK
- Es una persona muy maduraHe/she is a very mature person
- Este es un enfoque maduro del problemaThis is a mature approach to the problem
- Su respuesta fue muy ponderadaHis/her response was very mature
- Tomaste una decisión muy sensataYou made a very mature decision
- Ya tiene pelos en el pecho, parece más maduroHe has hairs on his chest, he seems more mature
- Juan es un chico muy maduro para su edad.Juan is a very mature boy for his age.
- El profesor tiene un enfoque muy ponderado al tratar con sus estudiantes.The professor has a very mature approach while dealing with his students.
- Es importante tomar decisiones sensatas y maduras en la vida.It's important to make sensible and mature decisions in life.
- ¡Ya eres adulto, actúa de manera más madura!You are already an adult, act more maturely!
- El fruto ya está maduro.The fruit is already ripe.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are checking the fruit in the kitchen.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿está maduro este mango?Daniel, is this mango mature?
- DanielSí, parece que ya está maduro.Yes, it seems that it is already mature.
- ElenaPerfecto, voy a cortarlo ahora.Perfect, I am going to cut it now.
- DanielEstá bien, yo te ayudo.That is fine, I will help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mature” translations and entries maduro, curado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
