French for Beginners: Requesting a Taxi by Phone or at a Taxi Stand
Learn to say 'I need a taxi to...' in French, ask for a taxi by phone or at a stand, and understand estimated arrival time.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to request a taxi in French, both by phone and at a taxi stand. You will practice saying 'I need a taxi to...' and asking when the taxi will arrive. This is different from giving directions to a driver once you are inside the taxi. Focus on polite phrases to use when calling a taxi company or approaching a taxi at a stand.
By the end, you can…
- request a taxi by phone or at a taxi stand in French.
- say where I need to go using 'I need a taxi to...'.
- ask for and understand the estimated arrival time of a taxi.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
J'ai besoin d'un taxi pour aller à...
I need a taxi to go to...
zhay buh-zwan dun tahk-see poor ah-lay ah
Use this phrase when calling a taxi company or speaking to a dispatcher. Replace '...' with your destination.
Pouvez-vous m'envoyer un taxi ?
Can you send me a taxi?
poo-vay voo mahn-vwah-yay un tahk-see
Polite way to ask for a taxi to be sent to your location, typically used on the phone.
Dans combien de temps arrive le taxi ?
How soon does the taxi arrive?
dahn kom-byen duh tahn ah-reev luh tahk-see
Use this to ask for the estimated arrival time. You can also say 'Quand est-ce que le taxi arrive ?'
Le taxi sera là dans dix minutes.
The taxi will be there in ten minutes.
luh tahk-see suh-rah lah dahn dee mee-noot
A typical response you might hear. 'Dans' means 'in' for future time.
Où est la station de taxis ?
Where is the taxi stand?
oo eh lah stah-syon duh tahk-see
Ask this to find a taxi stand. In some regions, 'station de taxis' may be called 'arrêt de taxis'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say you need a taxi to a specific place, use 'J'ai besoin d'un taxi pour aller à...' followed by the destination. For example, 'J'ai besoin d'un taxi pour aller à la gare' (I need a taxi to go to the train station). You can also use 'Je voudrais un taxi pour...' (I would like a taxi to...) to be more polite. Note that 'pour aller à' is followed by a place. If the place is masculine, use 'au' instead of 'à le': 'pour aller au Louvre'. If feminine, use 'à la': 'pour aller à la Tour Eiffel'.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are not yet in the taxi. For example, when you call a taxi company, you might say: 'Bonjour, j'ai besoin d'un taxi pour aller à l'aéroport, s'il vous plaît.' (Hello, I need a taxi to go to the airport, please.) At a taxi stand, you can approach a driver and say: 'Bonjour, êtes-vous libre ? J'ai besoin d'aller à...' (Hello, are you free? I need to go to...). To ask about arrival time, use 'Dans combien de temps arrive le taxi ?' or 'C'est pour dans combien de temps ?' (How long will it be?). The response might be 'Dans cinq minutes' (In five minutes) or 'Tout de suite' (Right away).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, j'ai besoin d'un taxi pour aller à la gare, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, I need a taxi to go to the train station, please.bon-zhoor, zhay buh-zwan dun tahk-see poor ah-lay ah lah gahr, seel voo playD'accord. Où êtes-vous ?
Okay. Where are you?dah-kor. oo et vooJe suis à l'hôtel Ibis, rue de la République.
I am at the Ibis hotel, rue de la République.zhuh swee ah lo-tel ee-bees, roo duh lah ray-poo-bleekTrès bien. Le taxi sera là dans dix minutes.
Very well. The taxi will be there in ten minutes.tray byen. luh tahk-see suh-rah lah dahn dee mee-nootA little context goes a long way
In France, it is common to call a taxi company or use an app like G7 or Uber. At taxi stands, you can hail a taxi directly, but it's polite to greet the driver first with 'Bonjour'. In Quebec, 'taxi' is used the same way; the informal word 'char' refers to a car in general, not to official taxis. Always confirm the estimated arrival time, as it can vary. Tipping is not mandatory, but rounding up is appreciated.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Je veux un taxi' (I want a taxi) which can sound abrupt.
Try this instead: Use 'Je voudrais un taxi' (I would like a taxi) or 'J'ai besoin d'un taxi' (I need a taxi) to be polite. For example, 'Bonjour, je voudrais un taxi pour aller à l'aéroport, s'il vous plaît.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I need a taxi to go to the airport' in French?
Show a sample answer
J'ai besoin d'un taxi pour aller à l'aéroport.
This uses the pattern 'J'ai besoin d'un taxi pour aller à...' followed by the destination. You could also say 'Je voudrais un taxi pour l'aéroport' which is equally correct.
2What phrase would you use to ask 'How soon does the taxi arrive?'
Show a sample answer
Dans combien de temps arrive le taxi ?
This is a standard way to ask for the estimated arrival time. Alternatively, you can ask 'Quand est-ce que le taxi arrive ?' which means 'When does the taxi arrive?'
3If the dispatcher says 'Le taxi sera là dans cinq minutes', what does that mean?
Show a sample answer
The taxi will be there in five minutes.
'Sera' is the future tense of 'être' (to be), and 'dans' indicates a future time period. So the taxi is expected in five minutes.
Remember to use 'J'ai besoin d'un taxi pour aller à...' to request a taxi to a destination, and 'Dans combien de temps arrive le taxi ?' to ask for arrival time. Always be polite with 'Bonjour' and 's'il vous plaît'.
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