Keep the taxi phrases ready
Copy the group for a quick rehearsal in Hola Cards on iOS or Android, or practise directly from this guide.
Spanish taxi phrases
Follow the ride from pickup to payment
At pickup, confirm that the taxi is available and name a landmark or exact address. If you booked through an app, say your name and check the vehicle details in that service.
During the ride, use por aquí, todo recto and en la próxima esquina only when you need to clarify a route. Ask the driver to slow down or repeat instead of pretending you understood.
Before paying, ask whether cards are accepted and request the amount. Fares, meters, receipts and tipping customs vary by place, so verify local rules rather than relying on a phrasebook.
Short replies worth recognising
Sí, suba — yes, get in. A driver may first ask ¿Adónde va?
Son unos veinte minutos — it is about twenty minutes. This is an estimate, not a promise.
Hay mucho tráfico — there is heavy traffic. You can ask whether another route is practical.
Puede pagar con tarjeta — you can pay by card. Confirm before the ride if it matters.
24 Spanish taxi phrases for one complete ride
Six phrases at each stage: pickup, destination, ride and payment.
| Spanish phrase | English | Example / use | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Está libre? | Is this taxi available? | At pickup | Ask and confirm the key detail. |
| ¿Puede venir a esta dirección? | Can you come to this address? | At pickup | Give the driver a precise detail. |
| Tengo una reserva a nombre de Ana. | I have a booking under Ana. | At pickup | Give the driver a precise detail. |
| ¿Viene a recoger a Ana? | Are you here to pick up Ana? | At pickup | Ask and confirm the key detail. |
| ¿Puede ayudarme con la maleta? | Can you help me with the suitcase? | At pickup | A polite request; the driver may offer an alternative. |
| Somos tres personas. | There are three of us. | At pickup | Give the driver a precise detail. |
| Lléveme a esta dirección, por favor. | Take me to this address, please. | Giving the destination | A polite request; the driver may offer an alternative. |
| Voy al aeropuerto. | I am going to the airport. | Giving the destination | Give the driver a precise detail. |
| A la estación central, por favor. | To the central station, please. | Giving the destination | Give the driver a precise detail. |
| ¿Conoce este hotel? | Do you know this hotel? | Giving the destination | Ask and confirm the key detail. |
| La entrada está en la calle de atrás. | The entrance is on the street behind. | Giving the destination | Give the driver a precise detail. |
| Déjeme aquí, por favor. | Let me out here, please. | Giving the destination | A polite request; the driver may offer an alternative. |
| ¿Cuánto se tarda? | How long does it take? | During the ride | Ask and confirm the key detail. |
| ¿Hay mucho tráfico? | Is there heavy traffic? | During the ride | Ask and confirm the key detail. |
| Todo recto, por favor. | Straight ahead, please. | During the ride | Give the driver a precise detail. |
| En la próxima esquina a la derecha. | At the next corner, turn right. | During the ride | Give the driver a precise detail. |
| ¿Puede ir más despacio? | Can you go more slowly? | During the ride | A polite request; the driver may offer an alternative. |
| ¿Puede repetirlo más despacio? | Can you repeat that more slowly? | During the ride | A polite request; the driver may offer an alternative. |
| ¿Cuánto es? | How much is it? | Before paying | Ask and confirm the key detail. |
| ¿Acepta tarjeta? | Do you accept cards? | Before paying | Ask and confirm the key detail. |
| Voy a pagar en efectivo. | I will pay in cash. | Before paying | Give the driver a precise detail. |
| ¿Me da un recibo, por favor? | Can I have a receipt, please? | Before paying | A polite request; the driver may offer an alternative. |
| ¿Tiene cambio? | Do you have change? | Before paying | Ask and confirm the key detail. |
| Creo que hay un error en el importe. | I think there is an error in the amount. | Before paying | Describe the issue without guessing the cause. |
Practise four taxi conversations
Swap roles so you practise the likely driver reply as well as your request.
Pickup
Confirm availability and identify the ride.
¿Está libre? · ¿Puede venir a esta dirección? · Tengo una reserva a nombre de Ana. · ¿Viene a recoger a Ana? · ¿Puede ayudarme con la maleta? · Somos tres personas.
Destination
Give an exact address or landmark.
Lléveme a esta dirección, por favor. · Voy al aeropuerto. · A la estación central, por favor. · ¿Conoce este hotel? · La entrada está en la calle de atrás. · Déjeme aquí, por favor.
During the ride
Clarify time, traffic and route.
¿Cuánto se tarda? · ¿Hay mucho tráfico? · Todo recto, por favor. · En la próxima esquina a la derecha. · ¿Puede ir más despacio? · ¿Puede repetirlo más despacio?
Payment
Confirm method, amount and receipt.
¿Cuánto es? · ¿Acepta tarjeta? · Voy a pagar en efectivo. · ¿Me da un recibo, por favor? · ¿Tiene cambio? · Creo que hay un error en el importe.
Two mini dialogues for useful decisions
Passenger: ¿Está libre? Driver: Sí, suba. ¿Adónde va? Passenger: A la estación central, por favor. This confirms availability and destination before moving.
Passenger: ¿Acepta tarjeta? Driver: Sí. Passenger: ¿Cuánto es? Driver: Son dieciocho euros. Passenger: ¿Me da un recibo, por favor? Ask about payment before assuming.
Regional note: taxi is widely understood. In Spain, coger un taxi is common; tomar un taxi is neutral across much of the Spanish-speaking world. Avoid memorising one universal rule for fares or tips.
Hola Cards is a Spanish flashcard app from holacards.org for iOS and Android. Its mobile app can turn a titled Spanish–translation list into a custom group for audio, writing and pronunciation practice. It does not call taxis, track rides or show live prices.
Prepare the rest of the journey with these related guides.
Spanish travel phrases Spanish transportation words Spanish directions phrases Spanish airport phrases
A five-minute taxi rehearsal
- Choose one stage and cover the translation.
- Say the passenger phrase aloud, then answer as the driver.
- Repeat the address, time or price back to confirm it.
- Change one destination or payment method and repeat.
- Use the current booking service and local information for real ride details.
Taxi vocabulary checked against learner and dictionary usage
SpanishDictionary documents taxi vocabulary and phrases including parada de taxi, pedir un taxi and tomar un taxi. Dialogues are original learning examples.
FAQ
How do I ask whether a taxi is available in Spanish?
Ask ¿Está libre? For a booked ride, say Tengo una reserva a nombre de [name].
How do I tell a taxi driver my destination?
Say Lléveme a esta dirección, por favor and show the written address.
How do I ask how long the ride takes?
Ask ¿Cuánto se tarda? A likely answer is Son unos veinte minutos.
How do I ask whether I can pay by card?
Ask ¿Acepta tarjeta? Confirm before the ride if cash is not an option.
Is coger un taxi correct everywhere?
It is common in Spain. Tomar un taxi is broadly neutral and avoids regional meanings of coger.
Can Hola Cards book or track a taxi?
No. Hola Cards is for studying Spanish; use a local operator or booking service for the ride.
Copy the 24 Spanish taxi phrases
Save the block in notes or paste it into a custom group in the mobile Hola Cards app.
**Spanish in a taxi: 24 phrases**
¿Está libre? - Is this taxi available?
¿Puede venir a esta dirección? - Can you come to this address?
Tengo una reserva a nombre de Ana. - I have a booking under Ana.
¿Viene a recoger a Ana? - Are you here to pick up Ana?
¿Puede ayudarme con la maleta? - Can you help me with the suitcase?
Somos tres personas. - There are three of us.
Lléveme a esta dirección, por favor. - Take me to this address, please.
Voy al aeropuerto. - I am going to the airport.
A la estación central, por favor. - To the central station, please.
¿Conoce este hotel? - Do you know this hotel?
La entrada está en la calle de atrás. - The entrance is on the street behind.
Déjeme aquí, por favor. - Let me out here, please.
¿Cuánto se tarda? - How long does it take?
¿Hay mucho tráfico? - Is there heavy traffic?
Todo recto, por favor. - Straight ahead, please.
En la próxima esquina a la derecha. - At the next corner, turn right.
¿Puede ir más despacio? - Can you go more slowly?
¿Puede repetirlo más despacio? - Can you repeat that more slowly?
¿Cuánto es? - How much is it?
¿Acepta tarjeta? - Do you accept cards?
Voy a pagar en efectivo. - I will pay in cash.
¿Me da un recibo, por favor? - Can I have a receipt, please?
¿Tiene cambio? - Do you have change?
Creo que hay un error en el importe. - I think there is an error in the amount.
Review travel Spanish in Hola Cards
Save the group and revisit it before a trip. Available for iOS and Android.
