Semáforo
 

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for December 5, 2009

semáforo (masculine noun (el)) — traffic signal, stop light, traffic light, semaphore. Look up semáforo in the dictionary

Estuve esperando y esperando y parecía que el semáforo nunca iba a cambiar a verde.
I was waiting and waiting and it seemed like the light was never going to change to green.

Esta ciudad es tan aburrida, que no hay nada qué hacer, salvo ver el cambio en la luz de los semáforos.
This town is so boring, there is nothing to do except watch the traffic lights change.

Se pasó un semáforo en rojo. / Se pasó un alto.
She went through a red traffic light. / She ran a red light.

Quizás debería ponerlo en el hilo de chistes, pero...

¿Por qué en Lepe los semáforos están a 20 metros arriba de la carretera?
...
...
Para que nadie los salte.

I hope no one minds this request, but I really LOVE that you always put the Spanish sentence first. Because I always read it first and try not to look at the English until I understand the Spanish. Was this one switched on purpose? Or would it be possible for one of the moderators to change it back? THANKS!!

pjt - I know that often humor doesn't translate, so I won't ask you to explain your joke (I honestly don't get it....) But tell me, is "arriba de la carretera" more or less equivalent to "above the road"?

Tambien prefiero que el español es primero:)

Los semáforos se están poniendo muy bien para cogerme cuando yo los salté

(Saltar el semáforo significa run a red light)) Jump the street light

It translates into BrE ("to jump the lights").

That was my intention. Quizás habría sido mejor decir "por encima de la carretera".

¿Por qué en Lepe los semáforos están a 20 metros de altura?

Para que nadie se los salte.

I'm a bit more confused now than before.... How could "arriba de la carretera" translate to "to jump the lights"? I thought that your punchline was "jump the lights". No?

The correct way of saying this is "a x m. de altura".

Saltarse un semáforo = jump / go through

If the traffic light is high, you can't "saltártelo" (jump over it/go through it).

Clearer? :thinking: :D

Edited for clarity.

Gracias, Irma.

@Lou Ann & Bob: Order of sentences has been changed.