maduro
/maˈduɾo/
The Spanish word for 'ripe' is maduro.
maduro is used to describe fruit that is advanced to the state of fitness for use. Beyond describing food, you can also use maduro to describe a person's character as being mature or well-developed.
Meaning: advanced to the state of fitness for use (adj)
Which one should you use?
To describe fruit that is still unripe or 'green', the standard term to use is verde instead of maduro.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use madura for feminine singular nouns, such as pera (pear). Use maduras for feminine plural nouns, such as fresas (strawberries). Use maduros for masculine plural nouns, such as plátanos (bananas).
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈduɾo/
When do people say it?
In informal settings, you may hear the idiomatic expression en su punto, which literally means 'at its point' and is used to express that something is ripe or at the optimal moment for consumption.
Did you know?
- The phrase en su punto is so versatile that it is used not only for ripe fruit but also to describe meat cooked to the perfect level of doneness.
- In many Latin American countries, a plátano maduro is not just any ripe banana but specifically a plantain intended to be fried as a savory side dish.
- In Caribbean Spanish, maduro can be used as slang for someone who is 'old-fashioned' or behaves like an older person.
Examples in context
- Este limón no está maduro.This lime isn't ripe.This sentence uses maduro to state that a lime is not ripe.Tatoeba #8390362 by ManuelML, translation #8416188 by cromwellt
- ¿Están maduros estos plátanos?Are these bananas ripe?This sentence uses maduros to ask if bananas are ripe.Tatoeba #2881111 by cueyayotl, translation #60649 by CK
- Un plátano verde no es lo suficientemente maduro para comer.A green banana isn't ripe enough to eat.This sentence uses maduro to explain that a green banana is not ripe enough for eating.Tatoeba #3527421 by cueyayotl, translation #3467357 by tabidots
- Las bananas están maduras.The bananas are ripe.
- Este tomate está perfectamente maduro.This tomato is perfectly ripe.
- Esa piña está madurita, perfecta para comerla.That pineapple is ripe, perfect to eat.
- La sandía está en su punto, disfrutémosla en el picnic.The watermelon is ripe, let's enjoy it on the picnic.
- El aguacate está en su punto justo para preparar guacamole.The avocado is ripe, just perfect to make guacamole.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are at a fruit market.
- Alejandro¿Está maduro este mango?Is this mango ripe?
- MaríaNo, todavía está verde.No, it is still green.
- AlejandroBusquemos uno que esté maduro.Let's look for one that is ripe.
- MaríaMira, este parece perfecto.Look, this one looks perfect.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry maduro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
