Signification
To use a taxi for transportation.
Contexte culturel
Taxis are highly regulated. In Madrid, they are white with a red diagonal stripe. In Barcelona, they are black and yellow. You hail them by raising your arm when the green light is on. Never use 'coger' for transport. Use 'tomar' or 'pedir'. Also, it's safer to use 'sitio' taxis (from a fixed stand) or apps rather than hailing random cars on the street in some areas. Like Mexico, 'coger' is a taboo verb. Use 'tomar'. Taxis in Buenos Aires are black with a yellow roof. In Colombia, it's common to say 'coger un taxi', but 'tomar' is also very frequent and safer if you want to be perfectly neutral across all social classes.
Regional Taboo
Remember the Spain vs. LatAm difference. It is the most common 'embarrassing' mistake for students.
The Green Light
In Spain, if the taxi has a green light on top, it is free. If it's off or red, it's occupied.
Signification
To use a taxi for transportation.
Regional Taboo
Remember the Spain vs. LatAm difference. It is the most common 'embarrassing' mistake for students.
The Green Light
In Spain, if the taxi has a green light on top, it is free. If it's off or red, it's occupied.
Tipping
Don't feel pressured to tip 20%. Rounding up to the next Euro is perfectly fine in Spain.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'coger' in the present tense.
Yo siempre _______ un taxi para ir al trabajo.
The 'Yo' form of 'coger' requires a 'j' to maintain the sound: 'cojo'.
You are in Mexico City. Which phrase should you use?
I want to take a taxi.
In Mexico, 'coger' is vulgar. 'Tomar' is the correct and polite verb to use.
Match the situation to the best sentence.
It's raining and you don't want to walk.
Taking a taxi is the logical response to avoiding rain while traveling.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ¿Cómo vas al aeropuerto? B: _______ un taxi.
The speaker is talking about themselves, so the first person singular 'Cojo' is needed.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesYo siempre _______ un taxi para ir al trabajo.
The 'Yo' form of 'coger' requires a 'j' to maintain the sound: 'cojo'.
I want to take a taxi.
In Mexico, 'coger' is vulgar. 'Tomar' is the correct and polite verb to use.
It's raining and you don't want to walk.
Taking a taxi is the logical response to avoiding rain while traveling.
A: ¿Cómo vas al aeropuerto? B: _______ un taxi.
The speaker is talking about themselves, so the first person singular 'Cojo' is needed.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsYes, in Spain it is perfectly neutral and polite. In Latin America, it is considered vulgar.
Yes, in Spain you can 'coger el autobús', 'coger el tren', or 'coger el metro'.
In Spanish, 'g' before 'o' sounds hard (like 'go'). To keep the soft 'j' sound of 'coger', we must change the letter to 'j'.
In Spain, it's not required. Most people just leave the small change.
Expressions liées
Tomar un taxi
synonymTo take a taxi
Pedir un taxi
similarTo order a taxi
Ir en taxi
similarTo go by taxi
Parar un taxi
specialized formTo stop a taxi
Bajar del taxi
contrastTo get out of the taxi
