4 syllables: ma, tur, i, ties. Stress on tur.
/məˈtʃʊɹɪtiz/
Say it backMaturities refers to the state or quality of being mature, especially in finance where it denotes the length of time until a financial instrument’s principal is repaid. It can also describe the maturation process in biological or social contexts. The term is commonly used in economics, finance, and risk management to discuss time horizons and the aging of assets or investments.
- Common mistakes 1: Under- or over-pronouncing the second syllable; you might say ma-TU-ri-ties with a weak emphasis instead of strong on TU. Correction: raise the second syllable with a tight jaw and a forward tongue to form /tj/ clearly. - Common mistake 2: Final -ties pronounced as -tees or -tiss; correction: end with /tiz/ with a clear /ɪ/ before /z/. - Common mistake 3: Dropping the /r/ in American speech or not fully pronouncing the /r/ when followed by a vowel; correction: maintain rhotic r between syllables in US speech; avoid linking the r to the following vowel as /ɹ/ but keep it as a true rhotic consonant.
"The maturities of the government bonds range from 1 to 30 years."
"The bank evaluated the maturities of its loan portfolio to manage liquidity risk."
"He analyzed the maturities of corporate debt to forecast interest-rate sensitivity."
Break it into four syllables: ma-tu-ri-ties. Primary stress is on the second syllable: ma-TU-ri-ties. IPA: US /məˈtjʊə.rɪ.tiz/ or /məˈtʊr.ɪ.tiz/? the standard is /məˈtjʊə.rɪ.tiz/ in careful speech; UK often /ˌmæt.jʊˈɪə.rɪ.tiz/; AU similar to US with non-rhotic tendencies. Start with /mə/ (unstressed), then /ˈtjʊə/ or /ˈtjuː/ depending on accent, then /rɪ/ or /ri/ and end with /tiz/. Keep the /t/ crisp before the final /ɪz/.”
Two frequent errors: 1) Placing primary stress on the first syllable ma-; correct it to ma-TU-ri-ties with stress on the second syllable. 2) Merging the /tj/ cluster too slowly or as /tʃ/ or /dʒ/; keep the /tj/ transition crisp: /tju/ or /tjʊə/ depending on accent. Also avoid pronouncing the final -ties as -tiss or -tiz without a clear /ɪz/; ensure the final vowel is a clear /ɪ/ then /z/. Practicing with minimal pairs helps lock the right rhythm.”
In US English, expect /məˈtjʊə.rɪ.tiz/ with a rhotic r and a clear /tj/ cluster; UK may reduce the /tj/ to /tju:/ and use /ˌmæt.juˈɪə.rɪ.tɪz/ in some speakers, with non-rhotic r reducing post-vocalic r coloring. Australian often mirrors US but with a more pronounced vowel in /tjʊə/ and sometimes a flatter /ɪ/ in the final syllable. The key differences are rhoticity and vowel quality in the second and third syllables; practice both to sound natural in each region.”
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure with a mid-word /tj/ onset and the final /tiz/ or /tiz/ sound; keeping the secondary syllables unstressed while the second syllable carries primary stress can be tricky. The transition from /tj/ to /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ + /z/ requires precise motor coordination. Also, vowels in the middle syllables may be reduced, causing misplacement of stress if you rush. Slow, deliberate practice helps build muscle memory for the sequence ma-TU-ri-ties.
Yes. The /tj/ sequence is a word-specific feature; some speakers may articulate it as /tju/ or /tʃu/ if the /j/ is blended, which can blur the intended /tj/ blend. Focus on the crisp alveolar stop /t/ followed by a palatal approximant /j/ to form /tj/; ensure the subsequent /ʊə/ or /jʊə/ is clear before the /r/ onset in some dialects. Keeping the /r/ visible in rhotic accents (US) vs. non-rhotic accents (UK/AU) changes the perceived pronunciation slightly.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "maturities"!
- US: emphasize rhotic /r/ and preserve /tj/ cluster; vowels in middle syllables are reduced to /jʊə/ or /juə/ depending; - UK: non-rhotic r; second syllable often pronounced with /jʊə/ or /ɪə/ depending on speaker; maintain clear /ɪ/ before final /tiz/; - AU: more vowel merging but still maintain /tj/ transition; practice with IPA: US /məˈtjʊə.rɪ.tiz/; UK /ˌmæt.jəˈɪə.rɪ.tiz/; AU /ˌmæ.tjʊəˈɹɪ.tiz/; use Minimal Pairs to anchor differences.
Maturities comes from the noun maturity, which derives from the Latin mature (to grow up, ripen) via the Old French maturité, later influenced by the English -ity suffix to form a noun indicating a state or condition. The core concept of ripening or reaching an end point is retained, which in financial language maps to the endpoint of a loan or security where principal is due. Early uses in finance surfaced in the 18th- to 19th-century era of expanding bond markets, where “maturity” referred to the date by which a debt obligation would mature. The plural maturities emerged to describe multiple time horizons or several debt instruments with different due dates. Over time, the term broadened beyond finance to any process of ripening or coming to fruition, including biological maturation and social maturation. First known uses can be traced in financial treatises and accounting texts discussing the maturity date of notes and bonds, with the plural form appearing as markets diversified to issue debt across varying maturities. Today, maturities is widely used in finance, risk management, and economics to discuss time-to-repayment and the aging trajectory of assets.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "maturities" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "maturities" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "maturities" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "maturities"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
