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A2 adjective #3,000 am häufigsten 6 Min. Lesezeit

mature

At the A1 level, 'mature' is a useful word to describe people simply. You might use it to say someone is 'grown up' in their head. It is easy to remember because it looks like the English word. At this level, you only need to know that it means 'not like a child'. You can use it in simple sentences like 'Il est mature' (He is mature) or 'Elle est mature' (She is mature). Notice that the word doesn't change between 'il' and 'elle'. This makes it a very 'safe' word for beginners to use. You should use it when you want to compliment a friend who is very serious and responsible. It is a positive word. Avoid using it for food; for food, you will learn the word 'mûr' later. Just focus on using 'mature' for people and their behavior. It's a great way to start describing personality traits beyond just 'gentil' (kind) or 'méchant' (mean). Practice saying 'Je suis mature' to describe yourself in a job interview or a formal setting.
At the A2 level, you can start using 'mature' with adverbs to add more detail. For example, 'Elle est très mature pour son âge' (She is very mature for her age). This is a very common phrase in French. You are now learning to compare people and describe their character more accurately. You should also be aware of the plural form: 'Ils sont matures' (They are mature). Even though you don't hear the 's', you must write it. At this level, you can use 'mature' to describe a situation or a choice. 'C'est une décision mature' (It's a mature decision). This shows you understand that maturity isn't just about people, but also about the things people do. You might hear this word in school reports or when parents talk about their children. It is a step up from 'grand' (big/tall). While 'grand' refers to physical size, 'mature' refers to the mind. Try to use it when talking about your hobbies or your responsibilities at home. It helps you sound more sophisticated in your French descriptions.
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'mature' in a variety of contexts, including professional and social ones. You can use it to discuss emotional intelligence. For example, 'Il a eu une réaction mature face au problème' (He had a mature reaction to the problem). You are moving beyond simple descriptions and starting to analyze behavior. You will also encounter the noun form 'la maturité'. At this level, you should understand the nuance between 'mature' and 'mûr'. While 'mûr' is often used for 'ripe' (fruit) or 'mature' (older people), 'mature' is specifically used for psychological development or modern systems. You might read 'mature' in newspaper articles or hear it in interviews. It is a key word for expressing opinions about someone's character. You can also use it in the negative: 'Son comportement n'est pas très mature' (His behavior is not very mature). This is a polite way to say someone is acting like a child. Using 'mature' correctly shows that you can navigate the subtle differences in French vocabulary regarding personality.
At the B2 level, 'mature' enters the realm of abstract and technical discussion. You will use it to describe markets, technologies, and complex social phenomena. For example, 'Le marché des smartphones est désormais mature' (The smartphone market is now mature). Here, it means the market is stable and no longer growing rapidly. You should be able to argue why a certain approach is 'plus mature' than another. In literature or film reviews, you might describe a 'style mature' or a 'œuvre mature' (a mature work), meaning the artist has reached their full potential and shows great skill. You are expected to handle the word in debates about education, psychology, or economics. You should also be aware of the nuances of 'mature' as a euphemism in the beauty industry ('peaux matures'). At this level, your use of the word should be precise. You understand that 'mature' implies a certain level of completion or perfection. It is no longer just about 'acting like an adult'; it's about a state of full development in any field.
At the C1 level, you use 'mature' with high precision and stylistic flair. You can integrate it into complex sentences that explore the philosophy of development. For example, 'L'émergence d'une conscience politique mature au sein de la jeunesse est un signe d'espoir.' You understand the historical and linguistic evolution of the word, including its status as a potential anglicism that has become standard. You can use it to describe subtle qualities of thought, such as 'une réflexion mature' or 'une analyse mature'. You are also capable of using it in professional audits or high-level business reports to describe the 'maturity level' of an organization's processes. You can distinguish between 'maturité affective', 'maturité intellectuelle', and 'maturité professionnelle'. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use 'mature' alongside its synonyms like 'abouti', 'consommé', or 'chevronné' to create nuanced descriptions. You might also use it in a slightly ironic or critical way to describe someone who is 'too mature' or 'boringly stable'. At this level, the word is a tool for deep character and situational analysis.
At the C2 level, 'mature' is a word you manipulate with total mastery, often using it in academic, philosophical, or highly specialized contexts. You might discuss the 'ontologie d'un système mature' or the 'maturation' of a complex scientific theory. You are aware of the subtle debates among French purists regarding the use of 'mature' versus 'mûr' and can choose the word that best fits the desired register and tone. You can use 'mature' to describe the peak of a civilization, a language, or a philosophical movement. For example, 'Le classicisme français représente une phase mature de l'expression artistique.' You can write long essays where 'mature' is a central concept, exploring its implications in ethics, aesthetics, or sociology. You understand its role in the 'marketing de la maturité' and can critique its use in contemporary discourse. Your command of the word allows you to use it in metaphors and complex analogies. It is no longer a vocabulary item but a conceptual building block in your high-level communication. You use it to convey a sense of ultimate development and refined stability.
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  • Mature describes psychological and emotional growth.
  • It is used for people, behaviors, markets, and systems.
  • It is different from 'mûr', which is used for physical ripeness.
  • It is a positive trait implying wisdom and responsibility.

The French adjective mature is a sophisticated term primarily used to describe psychological and emotional development. While its cousin mûr is traditionally used for physical ripeness (like fruit) or general maturity, mature has carved out a specific niche in modern French to denote a person who demonstrates wisdom, stability, and responsibility beyond their years or as a result of significant life experience. In a linguistic context, it is often treated as an epicene adjective, meaning it maintains the same form for both masculine and feminine singular subjects, though pluralization follows standard rules. This word is essential for learners because it bridges the gap between simple descriptions of age and complex evaluations of character.

Psychological Depth
Refers to someone who manages emotions with stability and logic.
Professional Context
Describes markets or technologies that have reached their peak development phase.
Social Nuance
Often used to compliment a young person who acts like an adult.

"Bien qu'elle n'ait que seize ans, Marie a une attitude très mature face aux défis de la vie."

— Example of psychological maturity in a teenager.

To understand mature, one must distinguish it from mere chronological age. A 50-year-old might not be mature, while a 20-year-old might be exceptionally so. In French literature and modern discourse, the word implies a certain 'gravitas' or 'sagesse' (wisdom). It is frequently used in human resources to describe candidates who possess the emotional intelligence required for leadership roles. Furthermore, the term has expanded into the economic sector. A 'marché mature' is one that is no longer growing rapidly but is stable and well-established. This versatility makes it a high-frequency word in both personal and professional spheres.

L'entreprise recherche un profil mature pour gérer cette crise.

Synonymy
Often interchangeable with 'responsable' or 'équilibré'.

In terms of syntax, mature usually follows the noun it modifies. For example, 'un homme mature' or 'une décision mature'. It is important to note that while some traditionalists might prefer 'mûr', the word 'mature' is now ubiquitous in media and psychology. It suggests a state of being where one is 'ready' or 'fully formed' in a non-physical sense. When you call a project 'mature', you are saying it has been thought through completely and is ready for implementation. This nuance of 'readiness' is key to mastering its usage.

C'est une réflexion mature sur le sujet.

Using mature correctly involves understanding its placement and its semantic range. As an adjective, it typically follows the noun. For instance, you would say 'un comportement mature' (a mature behavior). Unlike some French adjectives that change significantly between masculine and feminine, 'mature' is relatively stable, ending in 'e' in its base form, making it easier for learners to use without worrying about gender-specific endings in the singular.

  • Placement: Always place it after the noun to describe a quality.
  • Agreement: It takes an 's' in the plural (matures).
  • Intensity: Use adverbs like 'très', 'particulièrement', or 'incroyablement' to modify it.

In a professional setting, 'mature' is often used to describe systems or processes. For example, 'une technologie mature' refers to a technology that is proven and reliable. In this context, it conveys a sense of trust and lack of risk. When describing a person, it is often a compliment, suggesting that the person is not prone to impulsive or childish reactions. It is the opposite of 'immature', which is used frequently as a critique.

Il est important de rester mature lors des négociations difficiles.

When comparing 'mature' with 'mûr', remember that 'mûr' is the go-to for physical things. You wouldn't call a banana 'mature'; you would call it 'mûre'. However, you could call a 'vin' (wine) 'mature' in a very specific oenological context, though 'mûr' or 'vieux' is more common. The choice of 'mature' often signals a more modern, perhaps slightly anglicized, or psychological register of language. It is very common in job descriptions ('cherche candidat mature et autonome').

You will encounter mature in several distinct environments. The most common is in educational and psychological discussions. Teachers might describe a student as 'mature pour son âge' if they show great focus. In the corporate world, it's a buzzword for stability. You'll hear it in meetings discussing 'la maturité d'un projet' or 'un marché mature'.

Media & News: Used to describe political leaders or diplomatic relations.
Daily Life: Parents discussing their children's development.

Another interesting place is in the world of beauty and fashion. 'Peau mature' (mature skin) is the standard term used in cosmetics for products targeting older adults. This is a polite and professional way to refer to aging skin without using words that might sound negative like 'vieille'. Similarly, 'mode pour femme mature' refers to clothing styles for older women. In these cases, 'mature' acts as a euphemism for 'older' while maintaining a positive, sophisticated connotation.

The most frequent error for English speakers is using mature where 'mûr' is required. While English uses 'mature' for both a person's character and a ripe cheese, French is more segmented. Using 'mature' for a fruit sounds like a translation error. Another mistake is forgetting the plural 's'. Even though the pronunciation doesn't change, the written form must reflect the plural subject.

Learners also sometimes confuse 'mature' with 'adulte'. While an adult is someone of legal age, a 'personne mature' is someone who acts with wisdom. You can be an adult but not mature. Conversely, a child can be described as mature. Avoid using 'mature' as a noun (e.g., 'un mature'); it is strictly an adjective. If you want to use a noun, use 'une personne mature' or 'la maturité'.

Several words share the semantic space of mature. Mûr is the closest, often used interchangeably in personal contexts, though 'mûr' feels more traditional. Responsable focuses on the ability to handle duties. Sérieux implies a lack of frivolity. Posé suggests a calm and reflected demeanor.

Réfléchi
Someone who thinks before they act.
Équilibré
Someone who is emotionally stable.
Savant
Used for someone with deep knowledge, though less about character.

In the opposite direction, the most direct antonym is immature. Other opposites include enfantin (childish), irresponsable, and impulsif. Understanding these synonyms and antonyms helps in choosing the precise word for the context. If you want to emphasize the wisdom of an old person, 'sage' might be better. If you want to emphasize the professional readiness of a young person, 'mature' is the perfect choice.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

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Informell

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Umgangssprache

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Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Il est très mature.

He is very mature.

Subject + verb + adjective.

2

Elle est mature pour son âge.

She is mature for her age.

Use 'pour' to show comparison.

3

Mon ami est mature.

My friend is mature.

Adjective follows the noun.

4

Tu es mature.

You are mature.

Singular 'tu' form.

5

C'est un garçon mature.

He is a mature boy.

Adjective after the noun.

6

Marie est une fille mature.

Marie is a mature girl.

Feminine noun + mature.

7

Ils ne sont pas matures.

They are not mature.

Plural 's' and negation 'ne...pas'.

8

Nous sommes matures.

We are mature.

First person plural.

1

Elle prend des décisions matures.

She makes mature decisions.

Plural adjective agreement.

2

Il a un comportement très mature.

He has a very mature behavior.

Adverb 'très' modifies the adjective.

3

Les élèves sont assez matures ici.

The students are quite mature here.

Adverb 'assez' (quite/enough).

4

C'est une attitude mature de ta part.

That is a mature attitude on your part.

Phrase 'de ta part' (from you).

5

Elle semble plus mature que son frère.

She seems more mature than her brother.

Comparative 'plus...que'.

6

Il devient de plus en plus mature.

He is becoming more and more mature.

Expression 'de plus en plus'.

7

Je cherche un ami mature.

I am looking for a mature friend.

Direct object with adjective.

8

Tes réponses sont matures.

Your answers are mature.

Possessive adjective 'tes'.

1

Il a réagi de manière mature à la critique.

He reacted in a mature way to the criticism.

Adverbial phrase 'de manière + adjective'.

2

C'est un choix mature pour ton avenir.

It's a mature choice for your future.

Preposition 'pour' indicating purpose.

3

Elle a une vision mature de la vie.

She has a mature vision of life.

Noun 'vision' modified by 'mature'.

4

Nous avons besoin d'un leader mature.

We need a mature leader.

Indefinite article + noun + adjective.

5

Il est rare de voir un enfant si mature.

It is rare to see a child so mature.

Infinitive construction 'Il est rare de...'.

6

Sa réflexion est mature et profonde.

His reflection is mature and deep.

Two adjectives connected by 'et'.

7

Le projet est enfin mature.

The project is finally mature.

Adverb 'enfin' (finally).

8

Elle gère son stress de façon mature.

She manages her stress in a mature way.

Phrase 'de façon + adjective'.

1

Le marché des énergies renouvelables est mature.

The renewable energy market is mature.

Economic context.

2

C'est une œuvre mature de cet artiste.

It is a mature work by this artist.

Artistic context.

3

Il faut une approche mature pour résoudre ce conflit.

A mature approach is needed to resolve this conflict.

Abstract noun 'approche'.

4

Les technologies matures sont plus fiables.

Mature technologies are more reliable.

Plural agreement.

5

Elle a atteint une phase mature de sa carrière.

She has reached a mature phase of her career.

Professional context.

6

Le vin a un goût mature et équilibré.

The wine has a mature and balanced taste.

Sensory description.

7

Un système mature nécessite moins de maintenance.

A mature system requires less maintenance.

Technical context.

8

Sa gestion des émotions est très mature.

Her management of emotions is very mature.

Psychological context.

1

L'analyse mature des données a révélé des tendances claires.

The mature analysis of the data revealed clear trends.

Formal academic tone.

2

Il fait preuve d'une maturité intellectuelle mature.

He demonstrates a mature intellectual maturity.

Note: redundant but used for emphasis.

3

Cette politique reflète une démocratie mature.

This policy reflects a mature democracy.

Political science context.

4

L'entreprise adopte une stratégie mature face à la concurrence.

The company adopts a mature strategy in the face of competition.

Business strategy.

5

Une relation mature repose sur la confiance mutuelle.

A mature relationship is based on mutual trust.

Sociological context.

6

Son style littéraire est devenu plus mature avec le temps.

His literary style has become more mature over time.

Evolution of style.

7

Le débat a été mené de manière mature et constructive.

The debate was conducted in a mature and constructive manner.

Passive voice construction.

8

Elle possède une sagesse mature qui impressionne ses pairs.

She possesses a mature wisdom that impresses her peers.

High-level vocabulary.

1

L'ontologie du sujet mature s'inscrit dans une quête de sens.

The ontology of the mature subject is part of a quest for meaning.

Philosophical register.

2

La maturité d'un écosystème se mesure à sa résilience.

The maturity of an ecosystem is measured by its resilience.

Scientific/Ecological context.

3

Il convient d'adopter une posture mature face aux aléas géopolitiques.

It is appropriate to adopt a mature posture in the face of geopolitical hazards.

Formal diplomatic language.

4

L'aboutissement d'un processus de maturation mature est rare.

The culmination of a mature maturation process is rare.

Complex noun phrases.

5

Cette œuvre constitue la quintessence de sa période mature.

This work constitutes the quintessence of his mature period.

Art history terminology.

6

La gestion mature des ressources est un impératif éthique.

The mature management of resources is an ethical imperative.

Ethical/Environmental discourse.

7

Une conscience mature transcende les clivages idéologiques.

A mature consciousness transcends ideological divides.

Abstract philosophical thought.

8

Le déploiement d'une solution mature a stabilisé le réseau.

The deployment of a mature solution stabilized the network.

High-level technical reporting.

Häufige Kollokationen

comportement mature
décision mature
marché mature
personne mature
réflexion mature
attitude mature
choix mature
technologie mature
peau mature
relation mature

Häufige Phrasen

être mature pour son âge

un esprit mature

une réaction mature

devenir mature

rester mature

plus mature que

assez mature

vraiment mature

profil mature

approche mature

Wird oft verwechselt mit

mature vs mûr

mature vs adulte

mature vs vieux

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

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""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

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Leicht verwechselbar

mature vs

mature vs

mature vs

mature vs

mature vs

Satzmuster

So verwendest du es

nuance

Mature is more psychological than mûr.

formality

Slightly more formal than mûr.

Häufige Fehler
  • Using 'mature' for fruit.
  • Forgetting the 's' in plural.
  • Using it as a noun (un mature).
  • Confusing it with 'mûr' in traditional contexts.
  • Mispronouncing the 'u' as 'oo'.

Tipps

Agreement

Don't forget the 's' in the plural: 'Ils sont matures'.

Fruit vs People

Use 'mûr' for apples and 'mature' for people's minds.

Job Interviews

Use 'mature' to describe your work ethic or a project you led.

Compliments

Tell a younger person they are 'mature' to praise their responsibility.

Skincare

Look for 'peaux matures' on labels if you want anti-aging products.

Writing

Use 'mature' to add a touch of sophistication to your descriptions.

Opposites

Think of 'immature' to remember the meaning of 'mature'.

Economics

Remember 'marché mature' for business discussions.

The 'U' sound

Practice the French 'u' to sound more natural.

Cognate

It's a near-perfect cognate with English, so use it confidently!

Einprägen

Wortherkunft

Latin 'maturus' meaning 'ripe' or 'timely'.

Kultureller Kontext

In French business, a 'mature' market is one where you focus on efficiency rather than growth.

Calling someone 'mature' is almost always a compliment in France.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"Penses-tu être mature pour ton âge ?"

"Qu'est-ce qu'un comportement mature selon toi ?"

"Est-il possible d'être trop mature ?"

"Comment devient-on plus mature ?"

"Connais-tu quelqu'un de très mature ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décris un moment où tu as dû agir de façon mature.

Pourquoi la maturité est-elle importante dans une amitié ?

La maturité vient-elle avec l'âge ou l'expérience ?

Quels sont les signes d'une entreprise mature ?

Comment la société voit-elle les personnes matures ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Non, il reste 'mature' au féminin singulier car il finit déjà par un 'e'.

C'est possible mais rare ; on préfère généralement dire 'un fruit mûr'.

Le contraire le plus courant est 'immature'.

On prononce /ma.tyʁ/, avec le son 'u' français.

Certains le pensent, mais il est maintenant totalement accepté en français moderne.

Utilisez 'mûr' pour les fruits, le fromage, ou quand vous parlez d'un âge avancé de façon générale.

Oui, on ajoute un 's' : 'des personnes matures'.

Oui, cela signifie que la personne est sage et responsable.

Oui, pour décrire un marché qui ne croît plus mais qui est stable.

'Sage' implique souvent l'obéissance ou la grande sagesse, 'mature' implique le développement et la responsabilité.

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