taxi
/ˈtaɡsi/
The Spanish word for cab is taxi.
A taxi refers to a car with a driver that you pay to transport you to a specific destination. When you want to express the action of taking or catching a cab, the most common way is to use the phrase tomar un taxi. If you need to ask if a cab is available, you can say ¿Hay un taxi disponible?
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtaɡsi/.
Did you know?
- In several Latin American countries, you will see taxis libres with a sign on the roof, but the word libre here means the driver is 'available' rather than the car being 'free of charge'.
- The word taxi is actually a shortened form of taxímetro, which refers to the taximeter, the device used to calculate the fare.
- In some Spanish-speaking cities, taxis are color-coded by zone or service type, meaning a driver in a yellow taxi might be forbidden from picking up passengers in a zone reserved for pink ones.
Examples in context
- Ella tomó un taxi.She took a cab.This sentence is useful for showing how to say 'she took a cab' using taxi.Tatoeba #2470825 by Shishir, translation #2470464 by Hybrid
- Te llamaré un taxi.I'll call you a cab.This sentence is useful for showing how to say 'I'll call you a cab' using taxi.Tatoeba #3547511 by marcelostockle, translation #1890880 by CK
- Voy a tomar un taxi.I'll get a cab.This sentence is useful for showing how to say 'I'll get a cab' using taxi.Tatoeba #5058491 by don_ramon, translation #2549650 by CK
- ¡Necesito tomar un taxi!I need to take a taxi!
- Voy a pedir un UberI am going to request an Uber/I am going to call a cab.
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are waiting outside a restaurant.
- Alejandro¿Podemos pedir un taxi?Can we call a taxi?
- ElenaSí, hay uno llegando.Yes, one is arriving.
- AlejandroPerfecto, el taxi nos llevará al hotel.Perfect, the taxi will take us to the hotel.
- ElenaQué bueno, tengo mucho sueño.That's good, I am very sleepy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry taxi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries taxi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
