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maturité

A2 noun 10 min read

maturité

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips maturité in 30 Seconds

Explanation maturité in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning your journey with French. You should think of 'maturité' in its simplest form: biological ripeness. Imagine you are at a market. You want to know if a fruit is good to eat. While you might use the adjective 'mûr' (ripe) more often, you might hear a vendor talk about the 'maturité' of their products. At this stage, you only need to recognize that 'maturité' relates to being 'ready' or 'grown up'. It is a feminine noun, so you say 'la maturité'. You can also use it to describe a child who is very 'grown up' for their age, although simpler words like 'grand' or 'sage' are more common at this level. Think of it as the opposite of being a 'bébé' or 'petit'. You don't need to worry about financial or technical meanings yet. Just focus on the idea of a fruit being ready to eat or a child acting like a big kid. Use simple sentences like 'La maturité du fruit est bonne' (The ripeness of the fruit is good). This level is all about building the foundation and recognizing the word when you see it in simple texts about food or family. Remember, it sounds very similar to the English word 'maturity', which makes it easier to remember!

At the A2 level, you can start using 'maturité' to describe people's behavior in everyday situations. You are now able to talk about personality traits. You might say someone 'fait preuve de maturité' (shows maturity) when they handle a problem well. This is a great phrase to use in school or work contexts. You also learn that 'maturité' is a feminine noun ending in '-ité', which is a common pattern for abstract nouns in French. You can start to use it in comparative sentences, like 'Il a plus de maturité que son frère' (He has more maturity than his brother). You should also be aware that in Switzerland, this word is very important because it refers to the high school diploma. If you have Swiss friends, they will talk about 'passer la maturité'. At A2, you are moving beyond just 'ripe fruit' and starting to use the word to describe the character of people you know. You might also use it to describe a project at school that is 'ready' or 'mature'. It's a useful word for giving compliments or making simple observations about how people grow up and change over time.

By the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'maturité' in more professional and social contexts. You can discuss 'la maturité professionnelle' during a job interview or use it to describe the development of a business idea. You are now expected to understand the difference between 'maturité' (the state) and 'maturation' (the process). For example, you can explain that 'La maturation du vin conduit à sa maturité' (The aging of wine leads to its maturity). You can also use more complex prepositions, such as 'avec maturité' or 'manque de maturité'. At this level, you can participate in discussions about society and how young people are becoming mature later in life. You might read articles that use 'maturité' in a metaphorical sense, like the 'maturité d'un mouvement politique'. You are also starting to see it in financial contexts, such as 'la date de maturité' for a simple savings plan. Your sentences should be more fluid, and you should be able to explain why someone shows maturity in a specific situation. It is no longer just a vocabulary word; it is a tool for expressing nuanced opinions about people's development and the state of various projects or products.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'maturité' with precision across various domains. You should be able to discuss 'la maturité émotionnelle' (emotional maturity) or 'la maturité affective' in the context of psychology or relationships. You can analyze texts that use the word to describe the 'maturité d'une œuvre d'art' (the maturity of a work of art), implying that the artist has reached a peak in their style. In business, you should be able to talk about 'marchés à maturité' (mature markets) and understand the economic implications of this stage. You can also handle the word in legal or formal administrative contexts. Your vocabulary should include related words like 'mûrissement' or 'aboutissement'. You should be able to write an essay discussing the 'maturité' of a society or a legal system. You understand that the word carries a weight of 'completion' and 'stability'. You can also use it in more idiomatic or formal ways, such as 'porter un projet à maturité' (to bring a project to completion). At B2, 'maturité' becomes a key term for abstract reasoning and professional communication, allowing you to describe complex states of development with confidence and accuracy.

At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated command of 'maturité'. You can use it to discuss complex philosophical concepts, such as the 'maturité de la raison' (maturity of reason) in Enlightenment literature. You are aware of its etymological roots in the Latin 'maturitas' and how this influences its use in modern French. You can use the word in highly technical fields, such as biology (discussing the 'maturité sexuelle' or 'maturité cellulaire') or high finance (discussing 'la structure par maturité des taux d'intérêt'). You can appreciate the stylistic nuances of using 'maturité' versus synonyms like 'plénitude' or 'apogée' in a literary analysis. Your speech and writing should reflect an understanding of the word's subtle connotations—for instance, how 'maturité' can sometimes imply a lack of further growth or a risk of decline in an economic context. You can engage in deep debates about 'la maturité civique' or the 'maturité d'une démocratie'. You should also be able to identify and use the word in varied registers, from formal academic papers to nuanced social commentary. At this stage, you are not just using the word; you are playing with its different layers of meaning to express complex, high-level thoughts.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'maturité' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker. You can use the word in all its polysemic glory, moving effortlessly between biological, psychological, financial, and metaphorical meanings. You can use it in creative writing to evoke a sense of time, completion, or even the bittersweet nature of reaching a peak before a decline. You are familiar with rare or archaic uses of the word in historical texts. You can lead professional seminars in French where 'la maturité des processus' is a central theme. You understand the political and social implications of the word in different French-speaking regions, such as the specific educational system in Switzerland versus France. You can use 'maturité' to critique complex systems, discussing the 'manque de maturité institutionnelle' in developing states with nuance and depth. Your ability to use the word is characterized by perfect grammatical accuracy, a wide range of sophisticated collocations, and an intuitive sense of when 'maturité' is the most effective word to convey a specific, multi-layered idea. You can also use it in irony or humor, playing with the expectations of what it means to be 'mature' in modern society.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

maturité in 30 Seconds

Maturité means maturity or ripeness in French.
It is a feminine noun used for people, fruit, and finance.
In Switzerland, it refers to the high school graduation diploma.
Common phrases include 'faire preuve de maturité' (to show maturity).

The French word maturité is a versatile noun that primarily translates to 'maturity' in English. It encompasses a broad spectrum of meanings ranging from biological development to psychological growth and even financial terminology. At its core, it refers to the state of being fully developed or reaching a peak stage of evolution. In everyday French, you will most frequently encounter it when discussing a person's character or the ripeness of agricultural products. However, its utility extends far beyond these simple applications, touching upon professional stability, artistic completion, and the lifespan of investments.

Biological Ripeness: In the context of nature, maturité describes the state of a fruit, vegetable, or seed that is ready to be harvested or consumed. It implies that the organism has reached its full potential in terms of flavor, texture, and reproductive capability.

Les raisins ont atteint une maturité parfaite pour la récolte cette année.

Psychological and Emotional Growth: This is perhaps the most common use in social contexts. It refers to a person's ability to act with wisdom, responsibility, and emotional regulation. A person showing maturité is someone who thinks before they act and handles difficult situations with grace.

Furthermore, the term is used in the business world to describe a 'mature market' (un marché à maturité), where growth has stabilized and competition is established. In finance, it refers to the 'maturity date' of a bond or loan, marking the moment when the principal must be repaid. This multi-faceted nature makes it an essential word for learners to master as they progress from describing simple physical states to complex abstract concepts. Whether you are talking about a fine wine, a responsible teenager, or a long-term investment, maturité is the precise term you need to convey the idea of reaching a finished, optimal, or stable state.

Il fait preuve d'une grande maturité malgré son jeune âge.

Economic and Professional Stability: When a project or a company reaches maturité, it means it has moved past the volatile startup phase and is now operating efficiently with predictable outcomes.

Cette entreprise a enfin atteint sa maturité commerciale.

Le fromage a besoin de temps pour arriver à maturité.

La maturité émotionnelle est la clé d'une relation saine.

Using maturité correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as a feminine noun. It is often preceded by the definite article la, the indefinite article une, or possessive adjectives like sa or leur. One of the most common constructions is faire preuve de maturité, which translates to 'to show maturity' or 'to demonstrate maturity'. This is a standard way to praise someone's behavior in professional or personal settings. Another frequent pattern is arriver à maturité, used for both biological ripening and the completion of abstract ideas or financial instruments.

Prepositional Usage: The preposition avec is frequently paired with this noun to create adverbial phrases. For example, 'Il a géré la crise avec maturité' (He handled the crisis with maturity). Here, maturité acts as a qualifier for the action performed.

Elle a traité le problème avec une maturité surprenante pour son âge.

The Concept of 'Lack': To express a lack of maturity, you can use the construction manque de maturité. This is a polite but firm way to criticize someone's childish or irresponsible behavior. For instance, 'Son manque de maturité est un obstacle à sa promotion' (His lack of maturity is an obstacle to his promotion).

In more formal or academic writing, maturité often appears in the context of development. You might read about the maturité d'un système (the maturity of a system) or maturité intellectuelle. In these cases, it functions as a noun of quality. It is important to note that while English speakers might use 'mature' as an adjective, in French, the noun maturité is often preferred in formal structures to describe the state itself, whereas the adjective mûr is used for the quality. However, for people, the adjective mature exists but was traditionally considered an anglicism; today it is widely accepted in psychological contexts, though mûr remains more traditional for general use.

Nous attendons la maturité de ce projet avant d'investir plus.

Financial Expressions: In banking, you will hear 'date de maturité'. This is the specific day a financial obligation becomes due. It is a technical term that every French professional in finance must know.

L'obligation a atteint sa date de maturité hier.

Il faut juger la maturité d'un vin à sa robe et à son nez.

La maturité politique d'un pays se mesure à la stabilité de ses institutions.

You will encounter the word maturité in a variety of real-world French environments. In the workplace, during annual performance reviews (entretiens annuels), a manager might mention your 'maturité professionnelle'. This isn't just about how long you have been at the company, but about your ability to handle stress, mentor others, and take initiative. In the world of French gastronomy and agriculture, maturité is a keyword. If you visit a market in Provence, you might hear a vendor explaining that their melons have reached 'une maturité optimale', meaning they are at the perfect point of sweetness.

In the Education System (Switzerland): If you are in Geneva or Lausanne, students don't talk about their 'Bac', they talk about their 'Matu'. 'J'ai réussi ma maturité' means they have graduated from high school and are ready for university. This is a very specific regional usage that is vital for understanding Swiss French culture.

Elle révise ses examens pour obtenir sa maturité fédérale.

In Wine and Cheese Culture: When visiting a vineyard in Bordeaux or a fromagerie in the Alps, the concept of maturité is central. It describes the aging process where flavors become complex and balanced. A sommelier might say a wine is 'en pleine maturité', indicating it should be drunk now.

In psychological discourse, which is quite popular in French media, experts often discuss 'la maturité affective'. This refers to one's ability to manage relationships and emotions. It is a common topic in magazines like Psychologies Magazine or on radio shows where listeners call in for advice. Furthermore, in the tech world, the 'niveau de maturité numérique' (digital maturity level) of a company is a frequent topic in business journals like Les Échos or L'Expansion. Understanding this word allows you to navigate these diverse topics—from the simple joy of a ripe peach to the complexities of high-level financial planning or educational milestones.

Le sommelier a expliqué que ce vin n'avait pas encore atteint sa maturité.

L'expert souligne le manque de maturité du marché des cryptomonnaies.

Il a passé sa maturité avec mention très bien à Genève.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using maturité is confusing it with the word maturation. While they are related, they are not interchangeable. Maturité is the state of being mature (the destination), whereas maturation is the process of becoming mature (the journey). For example, you would say 'La maturation du fromage prend du temps' (The ripening process of the cheese takes time), but 'Le fromage a atteint sa maturité' (The cheese has reached its maturity). Confusing these two can make your French sound technical or slightly off-balance in casual conversation.

Gender Confusion: Like many French nouns ending in '-ité', maturité is feminine. Learners often mistakenly use masculine articles. Always remember: la maturité, une maturité. This is consistent with other abstract nouns like liberté, fraternité, and égalité.

Faux : Le maturité de ce garçon est incroyable.
Juste : La maturité de ce garçon est incroyable.

Adjective vs. Noun: English speakers often try to use 'mature' as a French adjective directly. While 'mature' is becoming more common in French (especially in psychology), the traditional adjective is 'mûr' (for fruit or people) or 'mûre' (feminine). Using 'maturité' when you need an adjective, or vice-versa, is a common pitfall.

Another subtle mistake is using maturité to describe a person's age in a literal sense. In French, if you want to say someone is 'of a certain age', you would use 'un certain âge' or 'la cinquantaine', etc. Maturité specifically refers to the quality of their character or the stage of their life path. Additionally, in a financial context, avoid translating 'maturity date' as 'date de maturation'. The correct term is strictly 'date de maturité' or 'échéance'. Getting these technical terms right is crucial for professional credibility in French-speaking business environments.

Faux : Il a atteint la maturation de 40 ans.
Juste : Il a atteint l'âge de la maturité.

Il ne faut pas confondre la maturité avec la simple expérience professionnelle.

L'usage du mot maturité pour parler d'un diplôme est réservé à la Suisse.

To enrich your French vocabulary, it is helpful to look at words that are similar to maturité. Depending on the context, you might choose a more specific or nuanced term. For example, when talking about human behavior, sagesse (wisdom) is a close relative, but it implies a deeper, more philosophical level of understanding. Expérience is often the cause of maturity, but not the state itself. In a biological or physical sense, développement or croissance might be used, although they focus more on the process of growing rather than the final state of being 'done'.

Maturité vs. Sagesse: While maturité is often about responsibility and emotional control, sagesse (wisdom) implies profound knowledge and good judgment. You can be mature at 20, but wisdom usually takes much longer to acquire.

Sa maturité lui permet de rester calme, mais sa sagesse lui permet de conseiller les autres.

Maturité vs. Plénitude: Plénitude refers to a state of being full or complete, often used for artistic works or spiritual states. A symphony might reach its plénitude, whereas a fruit reaches its maturité.

For the opposite of maturité, the most direct word is immaturité. However, you can also use puérilité (childishness) for behavior, or verdeur (greenness/unripeness) for fruit or young wine. In technical settings, obsolescence is the opposite of maturity in a product's lifecycle—while maturity is the peak, obsolescence is the decline. Understanding these nuances allows you to be more precise. If you want to praise a young person, 'maturité' is perfect. If you want to describe a person who has lived a long and rich life, 'sagesse' might be more complimentary. If you are discussing the peak of a civilization, 'apogée' (zenith) might be the more poetic choice.

L'artiste a atteint sa pleine maturité créative avec ce dernier album.

Il y a une grande différence entre la maturité et la simple vieillesse.

Le projet manque de maturité pour être présenté au client.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root 'mat-' also gives us the word 'matin' (morning) in French, as the morning is the 'early' part of the day, just as maturity is the 'timely' completion of growth.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ma.ty.ʁi.te/

US /ma.ty.ʁi.te/

In French, the stress is always slightly more on the final syllable: ma-tu-ri-TÉ.

Rhymes With

liberté santé beauté vérité qualité société fierté été

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'u' like the English 'u' in 'music'.
Failing to pronounce the 'r' in the back of the throat.
Making the final 'é' sound like a silent 'e'.
Stressing the first syllable instead of the last.
Confusing the 'i' sound with 'ee' in English (it is shorter in French).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize because it is a cognate of the English word 'maturity'.

Writing 2/5

Easy to spell, but remember the accent on the 'é' and the feminine gender.

Speaking 3/5

The French 'u' and guttural 'r' can be tricky for English speakers.

Listening 2/5

Clearly pronounced in most contexts, though it can be fast in casual speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

mûr âge fruit temps grand

Learn Next

sagesse échéance développement épanouissement aboutissement

Advanced

obsélescence caducité plénitude apogée

Grammar to Know

Nouns ending in '-ité' are almost always feminine.

La maturité, la liberté, la fraternité.

The preposition 'de' after 'manque' (lack).

Un manque de maturité.

Using 'faire preuve de' with abstract nouns.

Faire preuve de maturité / de patience.

The placement of the adjective 'pleine' before the noun for emphasis.

En pleine maturité.

Agreement of adjectives with feminine nouns.

Une maturité exceptionnelle.

Examples by Level

Le fruit a une bonne maturité.

The fruit has good ripeness.

Maturité is a feminine noun.

Elle est petite, mais elle a de la maturité.

She is small, but she has maturity.

Use 'de la' because it is an abstract noun.

La maturité de la tomate est importante.

The ripeness of the tomato is important.

Maturité refers to biological readiness here.

Il n'a pas beaucoup de maturité.

He does not have much maturity.

Negative construction: 'pas beaucoup de'.

Regarde la maturité de ces raisins.

Look at the ripeness of these grapes.

Imperative form: 'Regarde'.

C'est l'âge de la maturité.

It is the age of maturity.

Common expression for reaching adulthood.

La maturité vient avec le temps.

Maturity comes with time.

Present tense for a general truth.

Ma sœur a beaucoup de maturité.

My sister has a lot of maturity.

'Beaucoup de' is always followed by 'de'.

Il fait preuve de maturité dans son travail.

He shows maturity in his work.

The phrase 'faire preuve de' is very common.

Nous attendons la maturité des bananes.

We are waiting for the bananas to ripen.

Waiting for a state to be reached.

Elle a passé sa maturité en Suisse.

She took her high school diploma in Switzerland.

Specific Swiss meaning for high school graduation.

Son manque de maturité est un problème.

His lack of maturity is a problem.

'Manque de' is a common noun phrase.

Ce vin a atteint sa pleine maturité.

This wine has reached its full maturity.

'Pleine' is the feminine adjective modifying 'maturité'.

Tu dois agir avec plus de maturité.

You must act with more maturity.

Using 'avec' to form an adverbial phrase.

La maturité d'esprit est une qualité.

Maturity of mind is a quality.

'D'esprit' specifies the type of maturity.

Les enfants gagnent en maturité à l'école.

Children gain maturity at school.

The verb 'gagner en' means 'to gain in'.

Le projet a enfin atteint un certain degré de maturité.

The project has finally reached a certain degree of maturity.

Using 'degré de' to quantify maturity.

Il a géré cette situation difficile avec une grande maturité.

He handled this difficult situation with great maturity.

'Une grande' adds emphasis to the noun.

La maturité affective est essentielle pour un couple.

Emotional maturity is essential for a couple.

'Affective' is the adjective for emotions/relationships.

L'entreprise cherche des candidats ayant une maturité professionnelle.

The company is looking for candidates with professional maturity.

Present participle 'ayant' used as an adjective.

Vérifiez la date de maturité de votre placement financier.

Check the maturity date of your financial investment.

Technical financial term for an end date.

La maturité des idées vient après de longues discussions.

The maturity of ideas comes after long discussions.

Abstract use of maturity for concepts.

Il ne faut pas confondre maturité et expérience.

Maturity and experience should not be confused.

Infinitive 'confondre' used in a general rule.

Le fromage a besoin de plusieurs mois pour arriver à maturité.

The cheese needs several months to reach maturity.

Phrase 'arriver à maturité'.

La maturité d'un marché se caractérise par une croissance stable.

The maturity of a market is characterized by stable growth.

Economic context for market cycles.

Son œuvre témoigne d'une maturité artistique exceptionnelle.

His work bears witness to exceptional artistic maturity.

The verb 'témoigner de' means 'to show/bear witness to'.

L'adolescence est une période de transition vers la maturité.

Adolescence is a transition period toward maturity.

Developmental psychology context.

Le leader doit faire preuve de maturité politique en temps de crise.

The leader must show political maturity in times of crisis.

Political science context.

Le placement arrive à maturité dans trois ans.

The investment reaches maturity in three years.

Intransitive use of 'arriver à'.

Elle a acquis une maturité qui force le respect.

She has acquired a maturity that commands respect.

Relative clause 'qui force le respect'.

La maturité d'un système informatique garantit sa fiabilité.

The maturity of a computer system guarantees its reliability.

Technical/Engineering context.

Il a réagi avec la maturité que l'on attend d'un adulte.

He reacted with the maturity expected of an adult.

Passive-like construction with 'on'.

L'analyse de la structure par maturité des taux est complexe.

The analysis of the term structure of interest rates is complex.

Advanced financial terminology ('structure par maturité').

Cette décision révèle une certaine maturité civique de la population.

This decision reveals a certain civic maturity in the population.

Sociological/Political context.

La maturité physiologique précède souvent la maturité psychologique.

Physiological maturity often precedes psychological maturity.

Scientific/Academic contrast.

Le roman atteint sa maturité stylistique dans le dernier chapitre.

The novel reaches its stylistic maturity in the last chapter.

Literary criticism context.

Le manque de maturité institutionnelle freine le développement du pays.

The lack of institutional maturity slows the country's development.

Political/Economic analysis.

La maturité de la réflexion philosophique demande du recul.

The maturity of philosophical reflection requires perspective.

Abstract philosophical context.

Nous devons évaluer la maturité technologique de ce nouveau procédé.

We must evaluate the technological maturity of this new process.

Industrial/Innovation context.

Il est parvenu à un stade de maturité où plus rien ne l'étonne.

He has reached a stage of maturity where nothing surprises him anymore.

Advanced phrase 'parvenu à un stade de'.

L'œuvre de Proust est l'apogée de la maturité littéraire française.

Proust's work is the zenith of French literary maturity.

High-level literary evaluation.

L'échéance de la dette est corrélée à sa maturité résiduelle.

The debt's due date is correlated to its residual maturity.

Technical financial term 'maturité résiduelle'.

La maturité d'une démocratie se juge à sa capacité d'autocritique.

A democracy's maturity is judged by its capacity for self-criticism.

Abstract political philosophy.

Le concept de maturité numérique dépasse la simple adoption d'outils.

The concept of digital maturity goes beyond the simple adoption of tools.

Corporate strategy/Digital transformation context.

On observe une maturité précoce chez certains enfants surdoués.

Early maturity is observed in some gifted children.

Psychological/Pedagogical observation.

La maturité de l'esprit ne saurait être dissociée de l'expérience vécue.

Maturity of the mind cannot be dissociated from lived experience.

Formal 'ne saurait être' construction.

Le traité a été signé à la maturité des négociations diplomatiques.

The treaty was signed at the culmination of diplomatic negotiations.

Metaphorical use in international relations.

La maturité de la vigne est tributaire des conditions climatiques.

The maturity of the vine is dependent on climatic conditions.

Formal 'tributaire de' meaning 'dependent on'.

Common Collocations

atteindre la maturité

faire preuve de maturité

maturité affective

date de maturité

pleine maturité

manque de maturité

maturité d'esprit

arriver à maturité

examen de maturité

maturité numérique

Common Phrases

L'âge de la maturité

— Adulthood or the prime of life. Usually refers to the period between 30 and 50.

Elle est entrée dans l'âge de la maturité avec sérénité.

Gagner en maturité

— To become more mature over time. Often used for teenagers or young professionals.

Il a beaucoup gagné en maturité cette année.

Porter à maturité

— To develop something until it is complete. Used for ideas, plans, or projects.

Nous devons porter ce projet à maturité avant de le lancer.

Degré de maturité

— The level or stage of development. Can be used for fruit or complex systems.

Le degré de maturité des raisins est contrôlé chaque jour.

Avec maturité

— In a mature way. Describes how an action is performed.

Elle a répondu aux critiques avec maturité.

Manque de maturité

— A lack of maturity. A common way to describe irresponsible behavior.

Son manque de maturité l'empêche de réussir.

Maturité professionnelle

— The ability to handle work responsibilities effectively.

La maturité professionnelle est un atout majeur.

Maturité intellectuelle

— The full development of one's mental faculties.

Il a atteint une grande maturité intellectuelle.

Maturité sexuelle

— Biological readiness for reproduction.

L'animal a atteint sa maturité sexuelle.

Maturité civique

— The responsibility and awareness shown by a citizen.

Le vote montre la maturité civique d'un peuple.

Often Confused With

maturité vs maturation

Maturation is the *process* of becoming mature, while maturité is the *state* itself.

maturité vs vieillesse

Vieillesse refers to biological old age, whereas maturité refers to development and wisdom.

maturité vs majorité

Majorité refers to the legal age of adulthood (18), while maturité is a character trait.

Idioms & Expressions

"Arriver à maturité"

— To reach the perfect point of development. Used for fruit, wine, and abstract projects.

Le plan est enfin arrivé à maturité.

neutral

"L'âge de raison"

— Technically refers to age 7, but often used to describe the start of maturity.

Il a enfin atteint l'âge de raison.

common

"Être mûr pour quelque chose"

— To be ready for something (related to the adjective form).

Il est mûr pour ce nouveau poste.

informal

"Un manque criant de maturité"

— A glaring or obvious lack of maturity.

Il montre un manque criant de maturité dans ses choix.

emphatic

"La maturité du talent"

— When an artist's skill reaches its highest level.

On sent la maturité du talent dans ce tableau.

literary

"Pleine maturité"

— The absolute peak of development.

Le fromage est en pleine maturité.

neutral

"Maturité tardive"

— Becoming mature later than average.

C'est un génie à la maturité tardive.

neutral

"Maturité précoce"

— Becoming mature earlier than average.

Sa maturité précoce a surpris ses professeurs.

neutral

"Signe de maturité"

— A specific action that proves someone is mature.

S'excuser est un signe de maturité.

neutral

"Maturité de l'esprit"

— Wisdom and mental stability.

La maturité de l'esprit vient avec les épreuves.

formal

Easily Confused

maturité vs mature

It looks like the English adjective.

In French, 'mature' is an adjective (often used in psychology), while 'maturité' is the noun. For fruit, use 'mûr'.

Il est très mature (Adjective). Il a de la maturité (Noun).

maturité vs mûrissage

Related to ripening.

Mûrissage refers specifically to the technical artificial ripening of fruit (like bananas in a warehouse).

Le mûrissage des bananes est contrôlé.

maturité vs échéance

Both used in finance.

Échéance is the deadline or due date, while maturité is the time until that date.

L'échéance est demain.

maturité vs sagesse

Both imply being 'grown up'.

Sagesse is deeper wisdom; maturité is more about responsible behavior and development.

Sa sagesse vient de ses voyages.

maturité vs achèvement

Both imply completion.

Achèvement is the physical finishing of a task; maturité is the state of being fully developed.

L'achèvement des travaux.

Sentence Patterns

Le [nom] a une bonne maturité.

Le fruit a une bonne maturité.

Il fait preuve de [nom].

Il fait preuve de maturité.

Agir avec [nom].

Il a agi avec maturité.

Atteindre la [adjectif] maturité.

Atteindre la pleine maturité.

Le manque de [nom] est un [problème].

Le manque de maturité est un obstacle.

Porter [quelque chose] à maturité.

Porter une idée à maturité.

La maturité de [concept] se mesure à [critère].

La maturité d'un pays se mesure à ses lois.

[Nom] est tributaire de la maturité de [nom].

Le succès est tributaire de la maturité du marché.

Word Family

Nouns

maturation

immaturité

mûrissement

Verbs

mûrir

Adjectives

mûr

mûre

mature

immature

prématuré

prématurité

maturiste

mûrissage

mûraie

How to Use It

frequency

High, especially in professional, educational, and culinary contexts.

Common Mistakes

Le maturité → La maturité
Maturité is a feminine noun. All nouns ending in -ité are feminine.
Un manque du maturité → Un manque de maturité
After 'manque', use 'de' without the article for abstract nouns.
La maturation du projet est finie. → Le projet a atteint sa maturité.
Use 'maturité' for the state of being finished/ready.
Il est très maturité. → Il a beaucoup de maturité. / Il est très mature.
Maturité is a noun, not an adjective. You cannot use 'est' + noun in this way.
La date de maturation → La date de maturité
In finance, the technical term is always 'date de maturité'.

Tips

Gender Rule

Remember that almost all French words ending in '-ité' are feminine. This will help you with 'maturité', 'liberté', 'égalité', etc.

Swiss Context

If you are in Switzerland, 'la maturité' is a very common topic for teenagers because it's their big graduation exam.

Fruit Ripeness

Use 'maturité' to talk about why a fruit tastes so good—it has reached its perfect state!

Job Interviews

Mentioning your 'maturité professionnelle' is a great way to describe your experience and reliability to a French employer.

Emotional Growth

Use 'maturité affective' when discussing relationships or emotional intelligence.

Investment Terms

Always look for the 'date de maturité' on financial documents to know when you get your money back.

Better Writing

Use 'faire preuve de maturité' instead of just 'être mature' to sound more like a native speaker.

Maturité vs. Maturation

Think of 'maturation' as the verb-like process and 'maturité' as the noun-like result.

Compliments

Telling a young person they have 'beaucoup de maturité' is one of the best compliments you can give in French.

Avoid 'Le'

Never say 'le maturité'. It sounds very wrong to native ears. It is always 'la'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'MATURity' in English, but add a French accent 'É' at the end. It's almost the same word, just more elegant!

Visual Association

Imagine a bright red apple (the state of being mûr) and a person calmly mediating a dispute (showing maturité).

Word Web

mûr fruit sagesse adulte responsable vin finance Suisse

Challenge

Try to use 'maturité' in three different contexts today: once for food, once for a person's behavior, and once for a project you are working on.

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'maturitas', which comes from 'maturus', meaning 'timely', 'ripe', or 'early'. The word has existed in French since the 12th century.

Original meaning: The original Latin meaning focused on the harvest being ready at the right time.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > French

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'maturité' with older people; while it is usually a compliment, focusing too much on it might inadvertently highlight their age.

English speakers often use 'maturity' more frequently for financial dates or psychological states, whereas French speakers use it very naturally for food quality as well.

Le 'Dictionnaire de l'Académie française' defines it as the state of what is ripe. In Swiss literature, 'la maturité' is a common theme in coming-of-age stories. The financial 'date de maturité' is a standard term in global banking.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the grocery store

Est-ce que ces pêches sont à maturité ?
Je cherche des fruits avec une bonne maturité.
Le degré de maturité est parfait.
Ils arrivent à maturité demain.

At school or work

Il fait preuve de maturité professionnelle.
Ce projet manque encore de maturité.
Elle a beaucoup de maturité pour son poste.
C'est un signe de maturité.

In Switzerland (Education)

J'ai réussi ma maturité.
Elle révise pour sa matu.
Le diplôme de maturité est nécessaire.
Il passe sa maturité fédérale.

In Banking/Finance

Quelle est la date de maturité ?
Le titre arrive à maturité.
Structure par maturité des taux.
Maturité résiduelle de la dette.

Personal Growth

Il a gagné en maturité.
La maturité vient avec l'expérience.
C'est l'âge de la maturité.
Agir avec maturité.

Conversation Starters

"Penses-tu que la maturité dépend de l'âge ou de l'expérience ?"

"À quel âge as-tu eu l'impression d'atteindre la maturité ?"

"Est-ce que tu trouves que les jeunes d'aujourd'hui manquent de maturité ?"

"Quelle est, selon toi, la plus grande preuve de maturité chez un ami ?"

"Comment peut-on aider un enfant à gagner en maturité ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez une situation où vous avez dû faire preuve de maturité.

Que signifie pour vous 'atteindre la maturité' dans votre vie professionnelle ?

Comparez votre maturité d'aujourd'hui avec celle d'il y a dix ans.

Pensez-vous que la maturité émotionnelle est plus importante que la maturité intellectuelle ?

Écrivez sur un projet qui a enfin atteint sa maturité.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is feminine. You should always use feminine articles: 'la maturité' or 'une maturité'. Most French nouns ending in '-ité' follow this rule.

In Switzerland, it refers to the high school graduation certificate (the 'Matu'), which allows students to enter university. It is equivalent to the 'Bac' in France.

Yes, it is very common. It refers to the ripeness of the fruit. Example: 'Ces pêches ont atteint leur maturité'.

Maturité is the state (being mature), while maturation is the process (getting mature). For example, the maturation of wine leads to its maturity.

The most common way is 'faire preuve de maturité'. Example: 'Il a fait preuve de beaucoup de maturité'.

Yes, 'mature' is an adjective in French, but it was originally considered an anglicism. It is now common in psychology and everyday speech, though 'mûr' is more traditional.

In finance, it is the maturity date—the date when a bond, loan, or investment becomes due for repayment.

You say 'un manque de maturité'. This is a common way to describe someone acting childishly.

Usually, yes. It implies development and wisdom. However, in economics, a 'marché à maturité' might imply that there is no more room for growth.

Depending on the context, you can use 'sagesse' (wisdom), 'expérience' (experience), or 'développement' (development).