semáforo
“semáforo” means “traffic light” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
traffic light
Also: signal light
📝 In Action
Gira a la izquierda cuando el semáforo se ponga en verde.
A1Turn left when the traffic light turns green.
El coche se detuvo porque el semáforo estaba en rojo.
A2The car stopped because the traffic light was red.
Hay un semáforo averiado en el cruce principal.
B1There is a broken traffic light at the main intersection.
indicator system
Also: warning system
📝 In Action
Este producto tiene un semáforo nutricional con mucha azúcar.
B2This product has a nutritional rating showing it's high in sugar.
El semáforo de alerta volcánica está en color naranja.
C1The volcanic alert level is currently orange.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "semáforo" in Spanish:
indicator system→signal light→traffic light→warning system→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: semáforo
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'The light turned green'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Ancient Greek 'sema' (sign or mark) and 'phoros' (bearer). It literally means 'something that carries a sign'.
First recorded: 19th century (originally referring to visual telegraph systems)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do people ever just say 'la luz'?
Yes, just like in English, it's very common to say 'la luz' (the light) or 'las luces' (the lights) when the context is clear.
What is a 'semáforo nutricional'?
It is a labeling system on food packaging that uses red, yellow, and green colors to show if the levels of fat, sugar, or salt are healthy.
Can I use 'semáforo' for a pedestrian signal?
Yes! You can specify 'semáforo para peatones' (pedestrian light), but people usually just call it 'el semáforo'.