Inklingo
← Dictionary

maduro

mah-DOO-roh/maˈðuɾo/

ripe

Also: ready to eat
A bright yellow banana with a few brown spots, looking perfectly ripe and ready to eat.

📝 In Action

El plátano está muy maduro.

A1

The banana is very ripe.

No compres esos aguacates, todavía no están maduros.

A2

Don't buy those avocados; they aren't ripe yet.

Necesito un tomate maduro para la ensalada.

A2

I need a ripe tomato for the salad.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sazonado (seasoned/ripened)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • fruta madura – ripe fruit
  • en su punto – perfectly ripe/at its best

mature

Also: sensible, middle-aged
An older elephant calmly leading a younger elephant through tall grass.

📝 In Action

Juan es un chico muy maduro para su edad.

B1

Juan is a very mature boy for his age.

Tomaron una decisión madura y responsable.

B2

They made a mature and responsible decision.

Es un hombre maduro de unos cincuenta años.

B2

He is a middle-aged man of about fifty years.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sensato (sensible)
  • juicioso (wise/judicious)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • persona madura – mature person
  • edad madura – middle age

fried ripe plantain

Also: sweet plantain
NounmB1informal
Latin America
Golden-brown slices of fried plantain served on a simple white plate.

📝 In Action

Acompañamos el almuerzo con tajadas de maduro.

B1

We served the lunch with slices of fried ripe plantain.

¿Prefieres el plátano verde o el maduro?

B1

Do you prefer the green plantain or the ripe one?

El maduro frito es mi parte favorita del plato.

B2

The fried sweet plantain is my favorite part of the dish.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tajada (slice (of plantain))

Common Collocations

  • maduro frito – fried ripe plantain
  • arroz con maduro – rice with sweet plantain

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "maduro" in Spanish:

mature→middle-aged→ripe→sensible→sweet plantain→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: maduro

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'The banana is ripe'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'maturus', which originally meant 'timely', 'early', or 'coming at the right time'. Over time, it evolved to describe fruit that was ready to harvest and people who were fully developed.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: maturePortuguese: maduroItalian: maturo

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'maduro' for both men and women?

As an adjective, it changes to match the gender. Use 'maduro' for men/masculine objects and 'madura' for women/feminine objects.

Is 'maduro' offensive when describing an older person?

No, it's actually quite polite. It's similar to calling someone 'mature' or 'distinguished' rather than 'old' (viejo).

Does 'maduro' always mean sweet plantain in every country?

No, while it is common in the Caribbean and Andes, in Spain or Mexico, they usually say 'plátano frito' or 'plátano macho' instead.