Spanish · BeginnerTaxi, por favorTaxi, Please

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00:00Intro
Hello everyone! Welcome to our Spanish podcast.
Hello, Diego! What a pleasure to be here with you today.
Likewise, Camila. Today I left my house very early.
Ha, ha, ha! You always leave running in the mornings.
It is true. Yesterday I walked a lot under the hot sun.
And you ended up very tired in the afternoon, right?
Yes, I got very tired at the end of the day.
Traffic in the city can be very heavy.
Walking long distances in a hurry is not easy.
That is why today we talk about taxis in the city.
Today we are going to learn simple phrases for traveling by taxi.
I like this topic. It is something very useful for every day.
I like to walk when I have free time.
I disagree. In a hurry, I prefer to take a taxi.
What a difference! But you are completely right, Camila.
So we are going to join our two experiences.
I would like a clear plan to move around the city.
Perfect. With these phrases we are going to hail a taxi without fear.
Today we learn six very practical phrases for the ride.
They are phrases to stop the car, talk, and pay.
We are going to listen to our six phrases of today, in order.
Our first phrase is: Taxi, please.
The second phrase asks: Are you free?
The third phrase gives the destination: To downtown, please.
The fourth phrase checks the price: How much does the ride cost?
The fifth phrase prepares the payment: I am going to pay in cash.
And the sixth phrase finishes the ride: I get off here, thank you.
Six clear phrases for A1 and A2 level students.
Last Saturday you took a taxi in Oaxaca, right?
No, it was you who traveled by taxi in Oaxaca, Diego.
Ha, ha, ha! It is true. I will tell you my full Saturday story.
Last Saturday I left home in a hurry, to see my friend.
Your friend Mateo asked to meet you at the artisan market, right?
Yes. The appointment was at ten o'clock sharp.
That area has stone streets, and many colorful shops.
I carried a very heavy backpack, with books and clothes.
Oh, no! Walking with weight under the sun is very tiring.
I saw a lot of traffic on the avenue, and I raised my hand to stop a taxi.
On that avenue many yellow and white taxis pass by.
The car stopped next to the sidewalk, and I asked: Are you free?
That is the perfect question before opening the door.
The driver smiled kindly, and I got into the back seat.
Getting in the back is very comfortable when you carry heavy things.
I sat comfortably, and said: To downtown, please.
A short and direct phrase to state the place.
The taxi moved forward along stone streets, under the morning sun.
That route through the old neighborhoods is very pretty.
I watched the road calmly, and asked: How much does the ride cost?
It is very good to know the price before arriving.
The driver told me that the ride cost fifty pesos.
A fair price to cross the city calmly.
We arrived near the central plaza, but I saw many people at the entrance.
On weekends, there are flower stalls on that street.
I pointed to the quiet corner, and said: I get off here, thank you.
Very good idea, to avoid getting trapped in the line of cars.
I took out a bill from my wallet, and said: I am going to pay in cash.
Taxi drivers prefer cash for short trips.
I paid with a hundred-peso bill, and received my change.
And you arrived on time to have hot chocolate with Mateo.
Yes, I arrived five minutes before ten in the morning.
Your story shows our six phrases of today very well.
Now we are going to study each phrase, with calm and good examples.
We are going to start with our first phrase of today: Taxi, please.
This phrase is used to ask for a taxi, on the street or at the hotel.
Exactly. That is, you decide to travel by taxi and not walk.
For example, if you see an available taxi on the street, you say: Taxi, please.
Or at the hotel entrance you ask for help saying: Taxi, please.
It is a simple phrase, and everyone understands it immediately.
Now we move on to our second phrase: Are you free?
We use it when the taxi stops, and we roll down the window.
It means asking if the driver can take you right now.
If the taxi does not carry other passengers, the driver says yes.
On the street we say with respect: Hello, good morning, are you free?
If the taxi driver says yes, you open the door with confidence.
Our third useful phrase is: To downtown, please.
This phrase says your destination, with clarity and respect.
Please at the end of the phrase shows good politeness.
You can change the word center for hotel, museum, or market.
For example: To the market, please, or to the airport.
The driver understands immediately where you want to go today.
We are going to move on to the fourth phrase of today: How much does the ride cost?
With this question we know the cost of the transportation service.
That is, you ask how much money you need to pay at the end.
In many cities we ask the cost before departing.
The driver can answer: Fifty pesos, or sixty pesos.
That way you know if you have the exact money in your wallet.
The fifth phrase serves to pay: I am going to pay in cash.
Cash means paying with paper bills or metal coins.
Many taxis in Latin America do not accept bank cards.
That is why letting the driver know helps avoid surprises.
If you have small change, the taxi driver greatly appreciates your help.
And our sixth phrase to end the ride is: I get off here, thank you.
We use it when we arrive at the corner, or in front of the building.
It means that you want to exit the car at that exact point.
The verb bajarse indicates exiting the car safely.
You say: I get off here, thank you, and the driver stops the car.
They are six complete phrases for any trip in the city.
Now we are going to talk about these phrases, in real life.
In Latin America, we use the taxi every day.
There are street taxis, and also station or stand taxis.
A taxi stand is a fixed place, where safe cars wait.
When you are in a hotel, you can ask for a stand taxi.
But when you walk along the street, you raise your hand calmly.
I always look for official taxis, with visible license plates and numbers.
That is a good rule, to travel with peace of mind.
Camila, do you always carry coins when you get into a taxi?
Yes, Diego. I always carry small bills of twenty and fifty pesos.
Once I got in with a large five-hundred-peso bill.
Ha, ha, ha! The driver had no change for you, right?
He had no change, and we had to stop at a small shop.
That is why it is better to say in advance: I am going to pay in cash.
That way the taxi driver knows, if he has change for your bill.
Another important thing is to always greet when getting into the car.
A kind greeting changes the whole atmosphere.
Drivers are kind, and know the city very well.
Sometimes they recommend good local food spots to you.
Don Carlos in Oaxaca told you about a good market, right?
Yes, he recommended buying sweet bread, and fresh cheese.
Those tips make the taxi ride very pleasant.
And if traffic is heavy, you just need to have patience.
Now the moment has come, to test what we learned.
I love challenges! I am ready for your questions, Camila.
We are going to start with our mini quiz, of six situations.
I am ready to answer, with today's phrases.
Here comes situation number one.
You arrive late for an appointment, and you have a very heavy suitcase. What do you say?
I say decisively: Taxi, please.
Excellent answer! In a hurry and with weight, a taxi is the best option.
That phrase helps me solve the problem immediately.
We move on now to situation number two.
A taxi stops on the sidewalk, and you look at the driver. What do you ask?
I ask with a smile: Are you free?
Very good, Diego! We always confirm if the taxi can take us.
It is a brief and very polite question to begin.
Now listen carefully to situation number three.
You are already seated in the back seat of the car. What do you say?
I answer very clearly: To downtown, please.
Perfect! You indicate your destination with kindness and precision.
That way the driver knows exactly the route he must take.
We go straight to situation number four.
The car starts to move forward, and you want to know the price. What do you ask?
I ask calmly: How much does the ride cost?
Exactly! Asking the price gives you security before arriving.
And it allows me to prepare the money with time.
Here we have situation number five.
You arrive at your destination, and you have bills in your hand. What do you say?
I take out the money, and say: I am going to pay in cash.
Very good! Letting them know the payment method makes paying easier.
The driver knows immediately, how you are going to pay.
And we finish our quiz with situation number six.
The car arrives at the store where you are going to shop. What do you say?
I smile calmly, and say: I get off here, thank you.
Six out of six correct answers, Diego! You did wonderfully.
Thank you, Camila. These six phrases are very easy to remember.
Now we are going to review the phrases, to remember them well.
We are going to review our six phrases once again, in their correct order.
Our first phrase today was: Taxi, please.
The second phrase to consult the driver was: Are you free?
Our third phrase to give the direction was: To downtown, please.
The fourth phrase to find out the cost was: How much does the ride cost?
Our fifth phrase to pay for the service was: I am going to pay in cash.
And our sixth phrase to exit the car was: I get off here, thank you.
Six complete phrases to move around the city with confidence.
And now comes our challenge, the speaking challenge for everyone at home.
If you go out in a hurry today, what phrase are you going to say out loud?
You can practice this phrase with friends or at home.
Say it out loud: Taxi, please.
Repeating out loud, helps you speak with fluency.
Thank you for listening to our episode, about taxis in the city.
We are going to practice Spanish every day, and see you very soon.
Until next time, friends! Have a great trip, everyone!
Goodbye! See you soon, everyone!

Key phrases

6 to keep
Taxi, por favorTaxi, please
Taxi, por favor.Taxi, please.
¿Está libre?Are you free?
El carro paró y pregunté: ¿Está libre?The car stopped and I asked: Are you free?
Voy al centro, por favorTo downtown, please
Subí al carro y dije: Voy al centro, por favor.I got into the car and said: To downtown, please.
¿Cuánto cuesta el viaje?How much does the ride cost?
Miro la ruta y pregunto: ¿Cuánto cuesta el viaje?I look at the route and ask: How much does the ride cost?
Voy a pagar en efectivoI am going to pay in cash
Tengo billetes pequeños. Voy a pagar en efectivo.I have small bills. I am going to pay in cash.
Aquí me bajo, graciasI get off here, thank you
Llegamos a la esquina. Aquí me bajo, gracias.We arrived at the corner. I get off here, thank you.

Te toca

Your turn
decirlo en voz alta
Today's small task

Si sales con prisa a la calle hoy, ¿qué frase vas a decir en voz alta?If you go out in a hurry today, what phrase are you going to say out loud?

cocoaTaxi, por favor
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