What is the slang for taxi in the UK?

Calling a cab in the UK? Forget “taxi,” darling. It’s far more thrilling than that. Think of it as a linguistic safari.

• Sherbet/Sherb: Yes, like the fizzy sweet. Apparently, this is the ultimate slang. It’s as unexpected as finding a unicorn in a car park. A sherbet dab? Sounds suspiciously like a sticky situation.

• Showing Out: Hands waving frantically? You’re “showing out,” my dear. Picture a desperate flailing starfish, longing for a ride. Quite the visual, isn’t it?

• Single Pin: Solo traveller? You’re a “single pin.” Simple, elegant, and slightly robotic. Sounds like a code name for a secret agent. Or maybe a bowling game.

Beyond that, I’ve personally observed (during my extensive, and I might add, utterly glamorous, research in 2024) that some Londoners call them “black cabs.” Others, perhaps the more rebellious sort, might utter a simple “Oi!” while others use the word “cab” without much ado.

Honestly, the slang is as varied as the city itself. Expect the unexpected, my friend. The sheer unpredictability is half the fun. It’s like trying to catch a greased pig; chaotic, thrilling, and occasionally sticky.

Do Londoners say cab or taxi?

Okay, cab or taxi in London? Hmm. Definitely cab. Like, all the time.

Wait, is it just black cabs we call cabs? I mean, Uber’s a taxi, right?

• Black cab = cab (obvs)
• Uber = taxi
• Regular taxi place = both?

Cabbie! Yeah, definitely use that. Makes me think of my grandpa, he always said “cabbie.” Classic London.

Do young people even say cabbie? Prob not. Or are they like, “taxi driver”? So boring.

• Grandpa says cabbie
• Young people say taxi driver? maybe.

Oh! Cabriolet! That’s where “cab” comes from! Whoa. The more you know, right? lol.

What was the question again? Oh yeah, cab or taxi. CAB. End of story.

Expanding on the “Cab vs. Taxi” Thing

Alright, deeper dive time! So, the whole cab/taxi thing isn’t just about semantics, is it? It’s like, layered. Think about it:

• Legality & Licensing: Proper black cabs are highly regulated. They have to pass this insane “Knowledge” test, knowing every street in London inside and out. That’s a huge difference compared to your average taxi firm. The Knowledge test is insane, btw, I looked it up. People study for years!
• Hailing: You can just stick your hand out and hail a black cab. Uber, not so much. You need the app. Makes a big difference when its raining, like it always is in London.
• Image: Black cabs are iconic. They’re part of the London brand, like red phone boxes and the Queen… well, now the King. Taxis are just…transport.
• Cost: Black cabs can be pricier. But they’re also supposed to be faster, knowing the best routes. Uber can surge, though, so it’s a gamble.
• Personal experience: My cousin is a London cabbie. He knows everything. Ask him anything about London history, he’ll tell you. Your average taxi driver probably wont. He always has mints in his cab and drives a green eco one now.
• Safety and Trust: Black cabs have a level of assurance in place due to their stringent vetting process that other taxi services may not adhere to as strictly.

So, yeah, while “taxi” works, “cab” is more…London. It’s got history, prestige, and a certain cockney charm. Even if you’re just calling an Uber, if you want to sound like you’re in the know, say “cab”.

What is an iconic London taxi called?

Ah, the Hackney Carriage, or as I fondly call it, the black cab. Because, you know, London really loves its black. They’re like mobile phone booths—only larger, and, oddly, less private.

• Hackney: Sounds like a cough, doesn’t it? Maybe that’s why they charge so much, needing a cough drop after navigating London’s insane traffic.
• Black Cab: Obvious, much? What else would you call it? Sunshine yellow bus? Yeah, no.

A “remise,” you say? Fancy pants hackney. Like upgrading from instant noodles to, well, slightly fancier instant noodles. Let’s be real, still noodles.

• They are iconic, sure. Like pigeons, just less… feathery.
• The hackney cab is a symbol of London. You can bet your bottom dollar that no tourist leaves without snapping a photo! Especially after getting scammed on the fare.

Speaking of fares, my bank account weeps softly every time I hail one. Though I will admit, they are better than trying to decipher the Tube map sober.

• Navigating London sober… challenge accepted! Oh wait, no, it still sounds awful.

Also, the driver, in a London cab, is the only person in London willing to have a conversation. Bless their black-cab-driving souls.

More Hackney Carriage Fun Facts (Because You’re Dying to Know, Right?)

• “The Knowledge:” This isn’t some ancient text. It’s the intense memorization drivers undergo of every street in London. More impressive than my remembering all the lyrics to 80s power ballads, trust me.
• Wheelchair Accessibility: Good news! Most (if not all) black cabs are wheelchair accessible. Finally, a transport system that’s somewhat inclusive!
• Built to Last: These things are tanks. Seriously, they can probably withstand a small meteor.
• Strict Regulations: London takes its cabs seriously. Just try driving one without the proper license. I dare you.

What is the new name of London taxi?

Okay, so London taxis. It’s a bit of a mess, honestly. Black cabs, right? Everyone calls them that. Still do. But then there’s this whole electric thing.

My mate, Mark, he works near Leicester Square. He swears up and down the new ones, the electric ones, are called TX things. TX4, TX5… something like that. He’s a cabbie himself sometimes, drives around tourists. He wouldn’t lie about this.

The company making them? Used to be London Taxi Company. Changed to LEVC in 2017. Sounds corporate, huh? Probably about going green.

Seriously, though, no one I know actually uses these new fancy names. It’s all still “black cab” or just “taxi”. Even my grandma, bless her heart, calls them black cabs. She’s been taking cabs since the 70s. Knows her stuff.

• The official name remains ambiguous. Everyone still uses “black cab” or “taxi”.
• LEVC makes the electric models. Those are the TX models (TX4, TX5 etc.).
• Name change happened in 2017. From London Taxi Company to LEVC. Big deal for them, not for me.
• I’m sticking with “black cab”. Its simpler.

Honestly, the whole thing is just a marketing thing, right? They want a fancy new name to sell more electric cars, but nobody really cares. It’s still a black cab in my book.

What is the nickname of the London taxi?

London taxi… nickname… hmm. Right, it’s a hackney carriage, innit? Or just hackney?

Wait, black cab too. Obvious one, duh! I use it ALL the time. My friend Sarah took one last week, she said it was expensive.

Hack, cab, taxi… are those nicknames though? Are nicknames OFFICIAL? Now I’m questioning everything.

A remise… never heard that before. Sounds fancy. My grandma used to call everything fancy “posh.”

• Main nicknames:
  • Hackney
  • Black Cab
• Also called:
  • Cab
  • Taxi
• Less Common/Historical:
  • Hackney Carriage
  • Remise

I wonder what “hackney” even means. Must google later. This reminds me, I need to book a cab to go the airport in November!

What car do London taxis use?

London cabs? TX4. Geely owns the company. 2023 model.

• TX4: The workhorse.
• Geely: Chinese ownership.
• Hackney Carriage: Official designation.
• Purpose-built: Not your average car.

Electric options are emerging, impacting the TX4’s future. My uncle, a cabbie for 30 years, swears by them, but complains about charging infrastructure. Range anxiety remains a concern. Expect change.