Inklingo

madurar

mah-doo-RAHR/ma.ðu.ˈɾaɾ/

to ripen

Also: to grow
VerbA2regular ar
A green banana turning into a bright yellow, ripe banana.
gerundmadurando
past Participlemadurado
infinitivemadurar

📝 In Action

Los plátanos maduran más rápido fuera de la nevera.

A2

Bananas ripen faster outside of the fridge.

Deja que el aguacate madure un poco antes de comerlo.

B1

Let the avocado ripen a bit before eating it.

El vino necesita tiempo para madurar en la barrica.

B2

The wine needs time to age (ripen) in the barrel.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sazonar (to season/ripen)

Antonyms

  • podrir (to rot)

Common Collocations

  • madurar al solto ripen in the sun
  • madurar en el árbolto ripen on the tree

to mature

Also: to grow up
VerbB1regular ar
A small child and a tall adult standing side by side, showing growth.
gerundmadurando
past Participlemadurado
infinitivemadurar

📝 In Action

Mi hermano ha madurado mucho desde que vive solo.

B1

My brother has matured a lot since he's been living alone.

A veces las personas tardan en madurar.

B1

Sometimes people take a long time to grow up/mature.

¡Ya es hora de que madures!

B2

It's about time you grew up!

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • infantilizarse (to become childish)

Common Collocations

  • madurar de golpeto grow up overnight/suddenly
  • madurar emocionalmenteto mature emotionally

to develop

Also: to think through
VerbB2regular ar
A small green sprout growing into a large, leafy tree.
gerundmadurando
past Participlemadurado
infinitivemadurar

📝 In Action

Necesitamos madurar la idea antes de presentarla al jefe.

B2

We need to develop the idea further before presenting it to the boss.

El plan de negocio se está madurando poco a poco.

B2

The business plan is being developed little by little.

Es una propuesta interesante, pero hay que madurarla.

C1

It's an interesting proposal, but it needs to be thought through.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • madurar un proyectoto develop/mature a project
  • madurar una decisiónto think over a decision

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesmaduraran
yomadurara
maduraras
vosotrosmadurarais
nosotrosmaduráramos
él/ella/ustedmadurara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesmaduren
yomadure
madures
vosotrosmaduréis
nosotrosmaduremos
él/ella/ustedmadure

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesmaduraron
yomaduré
maduraste
vosotrosmadurasteis
nosotrosmaduramos
él/ella/ustedmaduró

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesmaduraban
yomaduraba
madurabas
vosotrosmadurabais
nosotrosmadurábamos
él/ella/ustedmaduraba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesmaduran
yomaduro
maduras
vosotrosmaduráis
nosotrosmaduramos
él/ella/ustedmadura

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "madurar" in Spanish:

to developto growto matureto ripen

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: madurar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence correctly describes fruit becoming ready to eat?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Latin word 'maturare', which means 'to make ripe' or 'to bring to full growth'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: matureFrench: mûrir

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'madurar' a regular verb?

Yes, it follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar.

Can 'madurar' be used for wine or cheese?

Yes! Just like in English, it is used to describe the aging process that makes food or drink better over time.

What is the difference between 'crecer' and 'madurar'?

'Crecer' is about physical size (getting taller/bigger), while 'madurar' is about internal readiness, personality growth, or the ripening of fruit.