Drivers are the most patient Spanish teachers you'll ever meet
A taxi ride is 15 minutes of one-on-one Spanish practice with someone who usually loves to chat. The trouble is that beginners freeze on the first question and spend the rest of the ride staring at their phone.
There are two parts to get right. First, the practical part: confirm the ride, agree on a price before you get in a street taxi, and say where to stop. Then the small talk, which is almost always the same three or four questions.
Learn both and every ride becomes free speaking practice.
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Essential words and phrases for this topic.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Usted es [nombre]? | Are you [name]?(Confirm your rideshare driver) |
| ¿Cuánto me cobra hasta…? | How much to…?(Ask before getting in a street taxi) |
| Voy para… | I'm going to… |
| Aquí está bien / Aquí nomás | Here is fine("Aquí nomás" is common in Mexico and Peru) |
| En la esquina, por favor | At the corner, please |
| ¿Tiene cambio? | Do you have change? |
| Hay mucho tráfico | There's a lot of traffic |
| ¿Puede bajar el aire / la música? | Can you turn down the AC / music? |
Read each question out loud, then answer in Spanish.
¿Para dónde va?
Where are you going?
¿De dónde es usted?
Where are you from?
¿Cuánto tiempo lleva aquí?
How long have you been here?
¿Le gusta la ciudad?
Do you like the city?
¿Viene de vacaciones o por trabajo?
Are you here on vacation or for work?
¿Ya probó la comida de aquí?
Have you tried the food here yet?
¿Habla español?
Do you speak Spanish?
¿Por dónde lo dejo?
Where should I drop you off?
Quick speaking test
How would you say this in Spanish?
Where are you going?
Practice both sides out loud to build natural rhythm.
You flag a yellow taxi outside a mall.
Buenas. ¿Cuánto me cobra hasta El Poblado?
Hi. How much to El Poblado?
Va con taxímetro, más o menos doce mil.
It's on the meter, about twelve thousand.
Listo, gracias.
Okay, thanks.
¿Y usted de dónde es?
And where are you from?
De Canadá. Estoy aprendiendo español.
From Canada. I'm learning Spanish.
¡Pues habla muy bien!
Well, you speak really well!
Arriving at your destination.
¿Por dónde lo dejo?
Where should I drop you off?
En la esquina, por favor. Aquí está bien.
At the corner, please. Here is fine.
Perfecto. Que le vaya bien.
Perfect. Have a good one.
Gracias, igualmente.
Thanks, you too.
Step into a real situation and respond in Spanish.
Your driver wants to know all about you. Keep the conversation going for the whole ride.
Your role: The passenger
What to say
Answer these out loud without pausing: where you're from, how long you've been here, and whether you like the city. Then ask one question back.
"Soy de Canadá, llevo dos semanas aquí y me encanta la ciudad. ¿Y usted es de aquí?"
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