Is it a cab or taxi in British English?

Both are correct, regardless of whether you're speaking British or American English.



In British English, both "taxi" and "cab" are used interchangeably and are perfectly understood, though they carry slightly different cultural weights. "Taxi" is the more formal and standard term used in official contexts and signage. "Cab" is very common in casual speech, particularly in London, where the iconic vehicles are almost always referred to as "Black Cabs." Historically, "cab" is short for cabriolet, a type of horse-drawn carriage, while "taxi" comes from taximeter. In 2026, you will frequently hear Londoners say they are "grabbing a cab" or "calling a taxi." However, there is a technical distinction in the UK: a "taxi" (like a Black Cab) can be hailed on the street, whereas a "Private Hire Vehicle" (like an Uber or a minicab) must be pre-booked and is technically not a "taxi" in the eyes of the law, though most people will still casually call them "cabs."

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A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice.

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A hackney or hackney carriage (also called a cab, black cab, hack or London taxi) is a carriage or car for hire. A hackney of a more expensive or high class was called a remise.

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London's official taxis, black cabs can be hailed in the street or at designated ranks located in prominent places, including many train, Tube and bus stations. They can also be booked through the Gett app and by phone. If the yellow taxi sign on the front is illuminated, the cab is available for hire.

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To order a cab, you can say, May I book a taxi at (time)? or When is the soonest I could book a taxi for? After you receive the answer, you will be asked about the location where the driver should pick you up and the destination point where the driver will need to drop you off.

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If you see that the light is on (you'll know if it is, it's a bright yellow light), then to hail the cab simply stand on the side of the pavement and extend your arm outward. There's no need to shout “taxi” and indeed, it's actually illegal to shout “taxi” whilst trying to hail a cab.

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A hackney or hackney carriage (also called a cab, black cab, hack or London taxi) is a carriage or car for hire.

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Can I buy a taxi for personal use? Yes, you can buy a London taxi and keep it as a personal vehicle. However, you should ensure that you aren't misleading people into thinking the black cab is for hire – to do so, make sure the cab is modified so it's fit for private use.

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A symbol of London and Britain, the black taxi is a common sight on the streets of the UK. The hackney carriages carry a roof sign TAXI that can be illuminated at night to indicate their availability for passengers.

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The word taxi, coming from the meter that calculates the fare (taximeter ), and cab from cabriolet , which originally was a covered horse drawn carriage. In some countries it's known as a taxi, and in others it's a cab. Most English speaking countries will know it as either or both.

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Cab is a shortened version of the word cabriolet, which refers to a type of car with a removable or folding roof. “Cab is short for “cabriolet. When horse-drawn carriages took people from place to place, there were different types of carriage you could hire.

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Circulation, airway, breathing (the order that laypeople are taught the steps of CPR). CAB replaces airway, breathing, circulation (ABC). The difference from ABC is that CAB employs chest compressions before opening the airway and giving positive-pressure breaths.

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That said, hailing is a fairly specific word that not everyone uses. If someone uses call a taxi, I wouldn't be surprised if they then go and hail a taxi.

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When the automobile took over from carriages the job of carrying passengers for a fee, it took over the name taximeter cab as well. This name was soon shortened to taxicab, and that was later shortened to taxi and sometimes just cab.

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From Driver Rule 54-20 (in PDF): It is against the law to refuse a person based on race, disability, or a destination in New York City. A taxicab driver is required to drive a passenger to any destination in the five boroughs. You can make a refusal complaint by calling 3-1-1.

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Tipping taxi drivers It is polite to tip 10 to 15% of the taxi fare for black cabs and licensed minicabs in London. However, most people simply round up the fare to the nearest £1 and tell the driver to keep the change.

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The distance you are travelling should impact your choice. Hiring a cab in London is quite economical if you are travelling small distances within the city. The fares will usually stay under your budget for short distance travelling. However, for longer routes, the prices can go a little higher when compared with Uber.

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Private hire vehicles must never stop or wait in taxi ranks, or the driver will be subject to a Penalty Charge Notice and potentially licensing action.

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