The usual English equivalent of cab is taxi. Cab is simply the shortened form, and the two words mean the same thing: a car with a driver that you pay to take you somewhere.
In Vancouver, either word gets you a ride, on the street, at a taxi stand or when booking through an app.
Cab and taxi in everyday speech
Both words are understood across Canada, the United States and the UK. Cab is the more casual one, the kind of word people use when they say they will grab a cab home. Taxi is the standard word you will see on signs, in company names, on city websites and in the rules that govern the industry.
In Vancouver and the rest of BC, people use both without thinking about it. Nobody will misunderstand you, so pick whichever sounds natural. When you phone a company or search online for a booking, taxi is the better search term because that is how companies describe themselves.
Choosing the right word
Use taxi in writing, on forms and when you are explaining a trip to someone who may not know local slang. Use cab in relaxed conversation. If you are writing to a visitor or a newcomer who is still learning English, taxi is the safer choice because it appears in dictionaries, transport guides and airport signage.
Related terms
A few other words overlap with taxi but do not mean exactly the same thing.
- Ride, as in giving someone a ride, is informal and can mean a lift from a friend or a booked trip.
- Rideshare or ride-hailing describes app-based services such as Uber and Lyft, where the driver is matched through the app. These services are regulated differently from taxis.
- Limousine or car service usually means a pre-booked private vehicle, often with a set price agreed in advance.
- Shuttle means a shared van that follows a route, such as a hotel or airport courtesy van.
Other transport words
Use bus for a bus and car for a personal vehicle. For bikes and scooters, name them directly. A precise word cuts down on confusion, especially when you are giving directions to someone from another region or another country.
If you want to see how taxi service works in the city, the Vancouver taxi page covers booking and what to expect.