Boston meaning
bubbler
A public drinking fountain.
Uses your device’s built-in voice. Pronunciation is approximate because available voices and boston pronunciation vary.
Meaning
In parts of New England, including Boston-area speech, bubbler means a drinking fountain that sends a small stream of water upward for someone to drink. The term is also used in other distinct regions of the United States.
Pronunciation and grammar
/ˈbʌblər/ · noun
Everyday regional vocabulary.
How it is used
It appears naturally in schools, parks, offices, transit buildings, and other public places. Some Boston speakers use drinking fountain instead, so bubbler is regional rather than universal.
Examples
Local: There's a bubbler by the restrooms.
Plain English: There's a drinking fountain by the restrooms.
Local: The bubbler on the second floor is broken.
Plain English: The drinking fountain on the second floor is broken.
Important context
Bubbler can mean other devices in other contexts. In a Boston public-building conversation, it usually means a drinking fountain.