2 syllables: ma, tures. Stress on tures.
/məˈtʃʊɹz/
Say it backMatures is the third-person singular present tense and/or plural noun form of mature, meaning to become more fully developed or aged. In verbs, it denotes ongoing development or ripening; as a noun (rare), it can reference things that have matured or become ripe. The word carries a sense of progression from immaturity to a more refined state, often with a subtle emphasis on natural growth over time.
Correction tips: • Do slow-mos: enunciate /ˈmeɪ/ then lightly tap /t/ and lead into /ʊə(r)/ or /tjə/ without adding extra syllables. • Use minimal pairs to cue the middle sound: mature vs matures; matiche? vs matures? as you practice, you’ll feel the crisp boundary. • Record and compare with native samples; listen for the final /z/ voicing and ensure your tongue tip is near the alveolar ridge before voicing.
"The olive fruit matures over the warm season, turning from green to a deep purple."
"In the story, the characters matures as they confront difficult truths about themselves and their world."
"The wine matures in oak barrels, gaining complex flavors with time."
Pronounce as MAT-yurz (US/UK) with two syllables: /ˈmeɪ.tʊər(z)/ in careful US; /ˈmeɪ.tjə(r)z/ in UK. The main stress is on the first syllable. The final -es is voiced as /z/ after a voiced consonant or /ɪz/ in some accents. Mouth position: start with the long A vowel in mate, then a light /t/ or alveolar flap, then a near-centering vowel for the second syllable, ending with a voiced alveolar sibilant. Audio reference: you can hear: Pronounce ‘matures’ in natural speech via Forvo or YouGlish by searching “matures.”
Common errors include pronouncing it as two-syllable with a weak second vowel (MA-churs) or turning it into an /ɪz/ ending like ‘matures’ with a schwa plus /z/. Correction: keep the second syllable vowel as a reduced but rounded /tʊə/ or /tjə/ depending on accent. Ensure the /t/ is articulated clearly before the second syllable, and finish with a clear /z/ rather than voicing it as /s/ or dropping it entirely. Practice with minimal pairs: ‘mature’ vs. ‘matures’ to feel the added syllable and voicing.
US: /ˈmeɪ.tʊərz/ with a clear /t/ and a rhotacized or rounded second syllable depending on speaker. UK: /ˈmeɪ.tjəːz/ or /ˈmeɪ.tjəs/ with a central-ish vowel in the second syllable and less rhotics. AU: /ˈmeɪ.tʃuː.əz/ or /ˈmeɪ.tjəz/ reflecting a closer fronted /tʃ/ in many speakers and a lengthened final vowel. Differences focus on the second syllable vowel quality and rhoticity; US tends to a more rhotic, UK non-rhotic with yod-like transition, AU blends /t/ with a softer affricate feel when connecting to the final /əz/.
Two main challenges: the second syllable dynamics and the final voiced s. The /t/ in the middle can be subtle, especially in connected speech; keep it as a light, precise alveolar stop to avoid blending with /d/. The second syllable vowel can vary (tʊər vs tjə) across accents. Also, final /z/ requires keeping voicing, which can be swallowed in fast speech. Practice with slow, then speed, focusing on crisp /t/ and audible /z/ to maintain correct meaning.
The word mAtures often carries a light, almost 'tyoo' quality in the second syllable for many speakers—how do you handle the transition? Answer: aim for /ˈmeɪ.tjər/ in some dialects, but standard guidance keeps the second syllable as /tjə/ or /tʊər/ depending on formality and speed. Practicing with a neutral middle vowel helps you retain clarity while allowing natural variation in casual speech. Use minimal pairs and mimic native media to hear the subtle differences.
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Matures comes from the Latin matura, meaning ripe or ready, from maturus, meaning ripe, ripe for harvest, or ripe in age. The English form inherits -ture suffix from Old French matur, then Latin maturus with the suffix -ure to denote a state or quality. The broader Latin root matur- is paired with phrases referring to ripeness, readiness, and proper timing. The word entered English through Old French and Middle English in the sense of becoming ripe or ready, moving later into figurative senses of development, maturity, and refinement. The concept of maturation has long been linked to natural processes (fruit ripening, aging) and to personal or intellectual development. The noun/verb duality in English solidified in the modern era, with “mature” as the base adjective and “matures” as the third-person form or plural noun usage. First known uses appear in the 14th–15th centuries in texts discussing natural maturation and the progression of states toward readiness or perfection; later centuries broadened to psychological and social maturation. Modern usage often implies a nuanced, time-dependent change toward sophistication, suitability, or readiness, with subtle contrasts between organic growth and deliberate development.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "matures" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "matures" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "matures"
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