Marshrutka (Russian and Ukrainian: маршру́тка [mɐrˈʂrutkə]), from marshrutnoye taksi (Russian: маршру́тное такси́ [mɐrˈʂrutnəje takˈsʲi]) or marshrutne taksi (Ukrainian: маршрутне таксі) is a share taxi in the CIS countries, the Baltic states, Bulgaria, Georgia and Ukraine. It literally means routed taxicab. The role of the modern marshrutka is basically similar to the minibus in other countries except some implementations of marshrutka do allow standing capacity.
The Russian and Ukrainian word "маршрутка" is the colloquial form for "маршрутное такси", which literally means "routed taxi(cab)" ("маршрут" referring to a planned route that something follows, and "такси" meaning "taxi(cab)"). The word "маршрут" is from the German word "Marschroute", which is composed of the word "Marsch" (a walk, march) and "Route" (route).
"Route taxicabs" were introduced in Moscow for the first time in the USSR in 1930s, operated by ZiS-101 limousines. Unlike ordinary taxicab using the taximeter, routed taxicab rides were paid per zones, like trams, buses and trolley buses; the fare was lesser than in ordinary taxis, but higher than in large-scale public transports. Unlike ordinary taxis where a passenger could enjoy a private ride, the routed taxicab would also pick up and drop passengers along its route.