Me pase la luz en rojo...

Question

Hi all,

A Mexican friend asked me about how to say a couple things, but one I´m not sure how to translate since I don´t understand it myself.

Me pasé la luz en rojo y la señal de stop - no lo hice.

I ran a red light and didn´t come to a stop?

I´m really not sure here.

Any help for my friend appreciated.

Thanks Roger

Answer 1

I know I'm going to sound incredibly stupid, but I had no idea a traffic light was also referred to as a semaphore. I've only heard it called "the light" or "traffic light".

Thanks for teaching me some English MrSoprano, LOL. +10 for you.

No, you're right rodneyp. In Spanish it's "semáforo" and I just assumed the word in English was 'semaphore' but 'traffic light' is the right pick. Semaphore in English seems to be applied to 'system of flag signals'. - 00483d91, Sep 7, 2013

True Mr Soprano :) - ian-hill, Sep 7, 2013

Often used to signal between ships. - ian-hill, Sep 7, 2013

OK, I'm not as dumb as I thought then. LOL. - rodneyp, Sep 8, 2013

Answer 2

I don't know how it's said exactly in English but:

• Me pasé la luz en rojo. - He/She didn't stop when the red light of the semaphore was on. He/She passed by without stopping the vehicle.
• Y la señal de stop - no lo hice. - He/She didn't stop the vehicle in front of a 'stop' traffic signal. No hacer el stop is 'not comply with the signal'.

Answer 3

Here in Baja we use brincar or saltar for not stopping at a stoplight. Stop signs are completely ignored.

gracias. And interesting. I´d learned to use saltar for skipping a class or event, so it kind of makes sense for running a light too. Basically, skipping a stop. Thanks. - rogspax, Sep 6, 2013

Does anybody obey stop signs in Mexico? They sure don't in Tijuana. - rodneyp, Sep 7, 2013

Have you heard of the California stop? Well here they don't even slow down. - gringojrf, Sep 7, 2013

Answer 4

En Chile decimos "me pasé una luz roja" or "pasé con roja (about la luz)"

Gracias Chileno. - rogspax, Sep 7, 2013

De nada. :) - chileno, Sep 7, 2013

Answer 5

Perfect, and thanks.

The first part, we usually way ¨I ran a red light¨

The second part ¨I didn´t stop at the light¨¨ (or signal)

I think I was confused, thinking she was saying something more long and complex, when she was actually just being redundant.

Thanks much MrSoprano.

Answer 6

semáforo.

(Del gr. ????, señal, y ??foro).

1. m. Aparato eléctrico de señales luminosas para regular la circulación.

2. m. Telégrafo óptico de las costas, para comunicarse con los buques por medio de señales.

3. m. Otro sistema de señales ópticas. Semáforo de banderas.

Just in case.... it really isn't a false cognate, but in English the first def. is not taken as such.

But that's what it really is.

Answer 7

Gringojrf,

Here in Baja we use brincar or saltar for not stopping at a stoplight.

So you would say something like:

Brinqué la luz roja or Salté la luz roja

A quick Google search seems to confirm my guess with brincar, but shows a different usage for saltar la luz roja. At any rate, I'd like to confirm the usage with you or anyone else who uses those expressions.

Me salté.... - chileno, Sep 7, 2013

You hear them both depending on who you are talking to. - gringojrf, Sep 7, 2013

But it would be more natural to say Salté el semáforo. The salté implies that the light was red. - gringojrf, Sep 7, 2013

Answer 8

Yes, semaphore and semáforo are only very loose cognates. Generally used to mean signalling flags, especially among ships. The only traffic light example I can think of would be for trains. Not where cars and roads cross train tracks, but rather within train yards where all the switching and connecting takes place. They use a light called a semaphore for signalling open-clised, or direction.