Is a taxi a cab? Yes. In Vancouver the two words describe the same service, a driven vehicle for hire. Taxi is the official word you see on signage and in formal use. Cab is the casual word you hear in conversation.
Both mean the same thing in practice. They are booked by phone or app, or hailed on the street. Vancouver’s taxi industry works under licensing regulations, so official taxis are easy to recognize whichever word people use. Both offer metered fares and regulated licensing, and neither is better than the other in quality or price.
Where the words come from
Taxi comes from the French taximetre, the device that measures a fare by distance. Cab is short for cabriolet, a type of horse-drawn carriage, and the word later passed to motorized vehicles. Which one you use comes down to habit and context.
Official and casual use in BC
Transport companies in Vancouver generally prefer taxi in official communications, while locals tend to say cab casually. In BC, government agencies and licensing bodies call official transportation options taxis. These vehicles have to meet standards, including uniform signage, meters and driver licensing.
The word taxi usually refers to vehicles licensed under municipal rules, with permits, safety inspections and fare structures. Cab is a common colloquial term and does not point to a different legal status. If you want to be sure a vehicle is licensed, check with local authorities.
Ride-hailing apps often use words like rides or rideshare, which are distinct from licensed taxis, although many also say cab for simplicity. If you need a licensed service for an airport transfer or a business trip, ask for a taxi, or check that the cab service is licensed.
Usage in other countries
Usage differs from place to place. Vancouver residents commonly say cab for a vehicle for hire. In Australia cab is common in informal speech, while formal communication and signage often favour taxi. In France and Germany the local word is taxi, and it is used in English with little change. These habits also affect branding, service descriptions and app wording.