Useful vocabulary and phrases
cab = taxi
Find a taxi =…
| find a cab | book a cab |
| hail a cab | find a taxi rank |
| flag down a cab |
Where to?
| … and …. | …, then… (*if making two stops) |
| The corner of …and … | Do you know where this is? |
| …, between …and … | Follow that cab |
Getting help from the driver
| Could you open the boot? (UK English) | Could you help me with my case? |
| Could you pop the trunk? (US English) |
Wait a minute
| Hold on a second, someone else is coming | There’s someone else coming |
Requests en route
| Could you turn on the radio? | Is it possible you could lend me your phone? |
| Could you roll down the window? |
Picking up a friend
| Can we make a quick stop at… | We need to make a detour via… |
| Can we pull over here? I need to pick up my friend. |
Stop
| Here is fine. | At the…is fine. |
| Here is OK. | Just by the …is fine. |
Paying
| Here’s … | Do you take cards? |
| Put it on my card. |
Tipping
| Keep the change | Round it up to… |
| Make it… |
*Note: In America, tipping is almost everywhere, including taxis.
The easiest way to tip is to let the driver ‘keep the change’.
However, if you think the change is too small or too large, you can tell the driver to ’round it up to…”.*
*In the UK tipping is not such a big issue, but many drivers still expect it.
Dialogues
Dialogue 1
“Taxi!”
“Where to?”
“The corner of Jones and 5th please.”
“Just here on the corner is fine”
“That’ll be $4.35”
“Keep the change”
“Thank you very much. Don’t forget your belongings”
Dialogue 2
“Did you order a cab?”
“Yes. Do you mind opening the boot?”
“Not at all. Where are you heading to?”
“5th Avenue, between 21st and 22nd”
“Just here is fine”
“That’ll be $3.10”
“Round it up to 4”
“Here’s your change. Don’t forget your belongings”