"Water cooler" in England ?

saoir · 08-29-2014, 10:58 AM

Hi all,

I have a scene with people getting water from one of those water dispenser things that Americans call 'water coolers' ... with a big bottle on top and paper/plastic cups underneath .... do we call them 'water coolers' in the UK and Ireland ?

crich70 · 08-29-2014, 01:35 PM

There are several different types and it seems there are several different names for them according to Wikipedia: Water Cooler

saoir · 08-29-2014, 01:44 PM

Yes but what do people in the UK call them ?

crich70 · 08-29-2014, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saoir

Yes but what do people in the UK call them ?

I've always assumed they called them water coolers but truthfully I don't know.

saoir · 08-29-2014, 02:03 PM

I'm not sure you're wrong

It just sounds so american when i say it to myself

Bookworm_Girl · 08-29-2014, 02:23 PM

My English colleagues call them water coolers. However my experience working in offices in the UK is that people congregate more around the kitchenette or the coffee/tea vending machine. I rarely see people around the water cooler. Maybe because they'd rather use the hot water dispenser (water boiler) in the kitchenette. On the other hand, Americans like to stand around the water cooler and talk. Perhaps that is what is bothering you about it seeming too American.

Bilbo1967 · 08-29-2014, 02:57 PM

As somebody who has worked in UK offices for 25 years, more or less, I think that Bookworm Girl has nailed it really. If it's a scene where people are talking around a communal point, the kitchen would be far more authentically English (whilst waiting for the kettle to boil for a cup of tea).

If it has to be a water cooler, then yes, that would be typically what we'd call it, although water dispenser is something I've also heard. They are not as ubiquitous in UK offices as they seem to be in the US though.

saoir · 08-29-2014, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

My English colleagues call them water coolers. However my experience working in offices in the UK is that people congregate more around the kitchenette or the coffee/tea vending machine. I rarely see people around the water cooler. Maybe because they'd rather use the hot water dispenser (water boiler) in the kitchenette. On the other hand, Americans like to stand around the water cooler and talk. Perhaps that is what is bothering you about it seeming too American.

Yes. That might be it. Its the actual object that I am trying to refer to, in a hallway in a UK office environment...

Tks

saoir · 08-29-2014, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

As somebody who has worked in UK offices for 25 years, more or less, I think that Bookworm Girl has nailed it really. If it's a scene where people are talking around a communal point, the kitchen would be far more authentically English (whilst waiting for the kettle to boil for a cup of tea).

If it has to be a water cooler, then yes, that would be typically what we'd call it, although water dispenser is something I've also heard. They are not as ubiquitous in UK offices as they seem to be in the US though.

I used to see a hell of lot of them myself when I was working in the office environ. But I think BG may be right in how I came to feel it so 'american'. It's funny how things like this nag at you and even now as I accept this ... it still nags

Many thanks guys

mr ploppy · 08-31-2014, 09:26 AM

Water dispenser. But when I worked in offices it was always just called "the water."

08-29-2014, 10:58 AM	#1
saoir Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 2088290 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Paperwhite	"Water cooler" in England ? Hi all, I have a scene with people getting water from one of those water dispenser things that Americans call 'water coolers' ... with a big bottle on top and paper/plastic cups underneath .... do we call them 'water coolers' in the UK and Ireland ?

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08-29-2014, 01:35 PM	#2
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	There are several different types and it seems there are several different names for them according to Wikipedia: Water Cooler

08-29-2014, 01:44 PM	#3
saoir Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 2088290 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Yes but what do people in the UK call them ?

08-29-2014, 02:03 PM	#5
saoir Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 2088290 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I'm not sure you're wrong It just sounds so american when i say it to myself

08-29-2014, 02:23 PM	#6
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	My English colleagues call them water coolers. However my experience working in offices in the UK is that people congregate more around the kitchenette or the coffee/tea vending machine. I rarely see people around the water cooler. Maybe because they'd rather use the hot water dispenser (water boiler) in the kitchenette. On the other hand, Americans like to stand around the water cooler and talk. Perhaps that is what is bothering you about it seeming too American.

08-29-2014, 02:57 PM	#7
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	As somebody who has worked in UK offices for 25 years, more or less, I think that Bookworm Girl has nailed it really. If it's a scene where people are talking around a communal point, the kitchen would be far more authentically English (whilst waiting for the kettle to boil for a cup of tea). If it has to be a water cooler, then yes, that would be typically what we'd call it, although water dispenser is something I've also heard. They are not as ubiquitous in UK offices as they seem to be in the US though.

08-31-2014, 09:26 AM	#10
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Water dispenser. But when I worked in offices it was always just called "the water."