Afshin81
Senior Member
Persian - Iran
- Apr 25, 2015
- #1
Hi 
In most offices there is a person who serves coffee, tea, or snacks for the employees. He/she may do some cleanings too. What do you call this person? What is his/her job?
Copyright
Member Emeritus
Penang
American English
- Apr 25, 2015
- #2
I imagine this will vary depending on country and culture. In Hong Kong, they're tea ladies, and they're usually elderly ladies or at least past middle age.
Do you have a country in mind?
Afshin81
Senior Member
Persian - Iran
- Apr 25, 2015
- #3
Yes, in most countries in the Middle East, like Iran, this is a job. Mostly men are assigned to this job. All banks, schools, government departments, etc. have such an employee. He is responsible for making tea, and bringing it for the office workers to drink.
DonnyB
Moderator Emeritus
Coventry, UK
English UK Southern Standard English
- Apr 25, 2015
- #4
We used to have "tea ladies" doing this in the UK at one time but it sounds rather old-fashioned to me now. I suspect the majority of offices over here have abandoned the custom in favour of vending machines.
Copyright
Member Emeritus
Penang
American English
- Apr 25, 2015
- #5
Afshin81 said:
Yes, in most countries in the Middle East, like Iran, this is a job. Mostly men are assigned to this job. All banks, schools, government departments, etc. have such an employee. He is responsible for making tea, and bringing it for the office workers to drink.
Do you know a native English speaker who has lived in Iran long enough to be able to tell you?
Afshin81
Senior Member
Persian - Iran
- Apr 25, 2015
- #6
Unfortunately not. However, I just wanted to know if there is any word in English with that meaning, but now it seems to me that this kind of job doesn't exist at all in English-speaking countries. Thank you for your time.
perpend
Banned
American English
- Apr 25, 2015
- #7
Gosh, where there's a will, there's a way, Afshin. Are females not allowed to do this in Iran, in general?
Afshin81
Senior Member
Persian - Iran
- Apr 25, 2015
- #8
Yes, in most countries in the Middle East, like Iran, this is a job. Mostly men are assigned to this job. All banks, schools, government departments, etc. have such an employee. He is responsible for making tea, and bringing it for the office workers to drink.
If you look at my post again, you'll see I had said "mostly men are ...". It is just common practice. There's no rule banning women from applying for the job. Many women are making a living that way.
Mahantongo
Senior Member
English (U.S.)
- Apr 25, 2015
- #9
Afshin81 said:
Hi
In most offices there is a person who serves coffee, tea, or snacks for the employees.
This is certainly not true in the US, where no such position exists, nor -- to my knowledge -- has it ever existed.
He/she may do some cleaning too. What do you call this person?
The person who does the cleaning is the janitor, or the cleaner, or the custodian -- but such people would never serve snacks!
What is his/her job?
Since this seems to be a local Iranian custom rather than something that is common in the English-speaking world, you may want to introduce the Farsi word, followed by an explanation of it. After that, just use the Farsi word again, as in the following:
"Our meeting was interrupted by the arrival of the xxxx (an employee whose job is to serve beverages and snacks to the employees), who offered us tea. After thexxxx left, the chairman said (etc.)"
Afshin81
Senior Member
Persian - Iran
- Apr 26, 2015
- #10
Thanks
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