The common slang word for a cab driver is cabby, also spelled cabbie. In Canada, including BC and Toronto, you will also hear drivers use short, informal expressions for fares, trips and pickups.
Slang like this is not official and varies by driver and city, so read the list below as examples of what you may hear, not a standard vocabulary. If a term is unclear, politely ask the driver to explain it.
Words for the driver
Cabby is the best-known term for a cab driver. You may also hear hack, an older word that can refer to a taxi or to its driver, so context tells you which is meant.
Terms drivers use for the job
- The ride: the trip itself, and also what passengers call a taxi trip.
- The gig: another way to refer to a trip or a job.
- The damage: the fare.
- Hit the meter: start the fare calculation. In Vancouver you also hear “the meter” for a fare based on the meter reading.
- Sked: short for schedule, used for pre-arranged pickups.
Passengers in Vancouver might simply ask for a cab, say “hailing a cab”, or say they need a ride downtown.
Where you hear these terms
You are most likely to hear them from drivers in busy Canadian cities such as Toronto and in BC. Drivers use quick, familiar expressions to describe pickups, destinations and fares. Knowing the phrases can make interactions go smoothly and can even lead to faster pickups in busy cities.
Why knowing the terms helps
Drivers use short, colloquial phrases for efficiency, and the language grows out of the local transit culture and its informal, friendly tone. A few terms can make pickups, destinations and fare talk clearer, and they can reduce misunderstandings during busy hours or in unfamiliar neighbourhoods. They also show respect for local customs.
In Vancouver and across BC drivers use localized slang to communicate quickly. If you hear something you do not know, ask. Most drivers are happy to explain, and clearing it up early avoids confusion about a pickup or a fare.