the lights were green

Question

How would you say that in Spanish?

las luces estaban verdes? el semaforo estaba en verde?

El semáforo estaba en verde. - annierats, Oct 29, 2013

Answer 1

Since there is only one green light for a stoplight, I would say: El semáforo estaba verde or as you have said, .......en verde.

it seems to normally be '' estar en verde'', I looked up a Driving School text book. - annierats, Oct 29, 2013

Answer 2

Are you talking about a traffic light?

A traffic light may be a "luz" or a "semáforo".

A lamp may be a "luz" or a "lámpara".

Light in general (illumination of some sort) may be "luz".

---

According to this source, this is how you would translate the following sentence about a stoplight:

The traffic stopped when the light turned red.

El tráfico se detuvo cuando el semáforo se puso rojo.

---

Since you put down the word "semáforo", I assume you are referring to traffic lights. Therefore, I would suggest reading this thread. According to it:

• In Mexico: La luz está roja. = The traffic light is red.
• In Chile: El semáforo dio rojo. = The traffic light was red.
• In Spain: El semáforo está en rojo. = The traffic light is red.
• In Colombia: El semáforo está en rojo. = The traffic light is red. & El semáforo se puso en rojo. = The traffic light was red.

Answer 3

If I'm understanding it right then I think it should be the first one except with eran in place of estaban.

Las luces eran verdes.