adjective
ripe, mature
B1
Reif: adjective meaning 'ripe' (ready to eat) and 'mature' (developed). It is gradable (comparative reifer, superlative am reifsten) and has antonym unreif. Used for fruit, ideas or people; not a participle and no special preposition or reflexivity. Common in everyday and figurative contexts.
Examples
Nach Jahren der Übung wurde sie zu einer reifen Künstlerin.
After years of practice, she became a mature artist.
Als die Äpfel reif waren, sammelten die Bauern die Früchte, damit sie nicht vom Sturm beschädigt wurden.
When the apples were ripe, the farmers gathered the fruit so that they would not be damaged by the storm.
Die Banane ist reif.
The banana is ripe.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a ripe (yellow) banana with the label 'reif' on it.
Sounds like English 'safe' with an 'r' — think 'ripe' fruit is ready and safe to eat.
Notes
'reif' can describe fruit (ripe) or people/ideas (mature). Used both literally and figuratively.