zralý

Zralý is a Czech adjective meaning mature or ripe. It describes something that has reached full development or readiness. When applied to fruit or produce, zralý indicates ripeness, as in zralé ovoce or zralé jablko. It can also describe a person or a concept that has attained emotional, intellectual, or moral maturity, for example zralý člověk or zralé rozhodnutí. In everyday language it is commonly contrasted with nezralý, meaning unripe or immature.

Etymology and related forms: Zralý derives from the verb zrát, “to ripen.” The noun form is zralost, which denotes maturity or ripeness, and the concept can be used in both literal and figurative senses. The word is cognate with similar Slavic roots found in languages such as Russian (zrely/zrely) and others, reflecting the shared idea of development and readiness.

Usage notes: Zralý is used for both tangible objects (zralé ovoce, zralé houby) and more abstract notions (zralé rozhodnutí, zralý věk). It is opposed by nezralý, meaning unripe or immature. The adjective inflects for gender and number: masculine singular zralý, feminine singular zralá, neuter singular zralé; plural forms include zralí (masculine), zralé (feminine and neuter).

See also: zralost (maturity, ripeness). The term is common in everyday Czech, biology, food contexts, and discussions of development or maturity.