Madrid taxi drivers are learning languages! Useful taxi phrases for drivers and passengers

Languages have become a working tool for taxi drivers in Madrid, a city that welcomes travellers from all over the world through Barajas every day. Basic English covers most situations on a journey: greeting the passenger, confirming the destination, talking about the terminal or the luggage and taking payment. And when there is no common language, booking in writing, showing the address on your phone and paying by card sort out almost any journey.

On airport journeys, a large share of passengers are foreign tourists and business travellers. For them, the taxi driver is often the first person they speak to in the city. Being able to understand each other avoids mistakes over the destination, builds trust and allows something more: recommending a restaurant, explaining how the metro works or warning that it is wise to watch your belongings in the busiest areas. We talk about that first contact in the importance of the taxi driver in your first hours in a new city.

You do not need an advanced level. With a handful of well-pronounced phrases, almost any journey can be handled:

If you are visiting Madrid and do not speak Spanish, these phrases will help you in a taxi. Showing them written on your phone works too.

Even if the driver and the passenger do not share a language, the journey can go perfectly with a few precautions:

• Book in writing. When you book your airport taxi online, the address, the time and any comments are written down, with no misunderstandings over pronunciation.
• Use messaging. Writing is easier than talking on the phone in another language; that is why it is so convenient to order your taxi on WhatsApp, even with the help of a translation app.
• Show the address or the map on your phone screen.
• Give your flight number if you are being picked up at the airport: it is used to check the terminal and the meeting point for the airport pickup.
• Pay by card to avoid any confusion over change.
• A fixed price removes the most delicate conversation: between Barajas and inside the M-30 it is €33 with our service.

A taxi driver's working day has downtime at ranks and while waiting that can be put to good use. What works best:

• Learning the work phrases first: the ones in the table above cover most journeys.
• Apps and audio lessons during breaks, never looking at the screen while driving.
• Courses for the trade: associations and training bodies sometimes offer language courses geared to taxi work.
• Practising with passengers who are happy to help: many appreciate the effort.

Languages are one of the ongoing training habits we suggest in how to become a top-notch taxi driver. And if you are a visitor, our guide to the most visited places in Madrid will help you plan your stay.