luz roja
/luθ ɾoxa/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "red light" is translated into Spanish as luz roja.
Luz roja is used to refer to a warning light, especially as a traffic signal. While luz roja refers specifically to the red light itself, el semáforo is the more common word used to refer to the entire traffic light device.
Meaning: a warning light, especially as a traffic signal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun luz roja is feminine. The plural form of 'luz roja' is las luces rojas, where both the noun and the adjective are pluralized and the article is changed to match the feminine plural gender.
How do you pronounce it?
/luθ ɾoxa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you do not 'run' a red light as you do in English, but rather you ‘saltar la luz roja’, which translates literally to 'jump the red light'.
- In Spain, the word rojo can also be used as a noun to refer to a communist or a socialist due to the historical association of the color red with those movements.
- The word roja is famously used in Spanish sports culture as a nickname for the national football team, ‘La Roja’, a title popularized by manager Luis Aragonés.
Examples in context
- Para. Hay luz roja.Stop. There's a red light.This sentence is useful for stating that there is a luz roja.Tatoeba #2133515 by marcelostockle, translation #1943872 by Spamster
- Te pasaste una luz roja.You ran a red light.This sentence is useful for describing the action of running a luz roja.Tatoeba #2117508 by marcelostockle, translation #15950 by Swift
- Una luz roja brillaba en la oscuridad.A red light was glowing in the dark.This sentence is useful for describing a luz roja glowing in the dark.Tatoeba #1160410 by Shishir, translation #28421 by CM
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are driving in a car.
- MateoMira, ya cambió a luz roja.Look, it already changed to a red light.
- LucíaTienes razón, voy a frenar ahora.You're right, I'm going to brake now.
- MateoEs peligroso pasar una luz roja aquí.It is dangerous to run a red light here.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, Mateo, yo espero.Don't worry, Mateo, I will wait.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “red light” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries luz, roja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
