tube vs rubber ring?

[keannu]

We Koreans always hear "tube(or zube-distorted pronunciation)" when we use a rubber ring in a swimming pool.
Do native speakers ever use "tube" for "rubber ring"? I don't know why Koreans use "tube" for it.

 

[HanibalII]

We Koreans always hear "tube(or zube-distorted pronunciation)" when we use a rubber ring in a swimming pool.
Do native speakers ever use "tube" for "rubber ring"? I don't know why Koreans use "tube" for it.

I usually refer to them as a 'donut' or 'ring' however 'tube' is a quite popular name for the item.

 

[Gillnetter]

We Koreans always hear "tube(or zube-distorted pronunciation)" when we use a rubber ring in a swimming pool.
Do native speakers ever use "tube" for "rubber ring"? I don't know why Koreans use "tube" for it.

It comes from inner tube. An inner tube was used inside of a tire. It held the air and was separate from the tire. An older inner tube could be patched and used as a flotation device in the water.

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

Of the options given by Wikipedia, "swim ring", "float ring" and "floaty" are the ones I'm familiar with.

Swim ring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I assume Koreans say "tube" because it closely resembles the inner tube of a car tyre.
As a child I often used an inner tube to play in the water and I've seen children doing the same recently.

 

[SoothingDave]

We had inner tubes in our pool when I was a child. Even a big one from a tractor tire. You just had to watch out for the long metal valve so you didn't get scratched!

 

[emsr2d2]

When I was learning to swim, I had a "rubber ring" (the inflatable tyre kind) and "armbands". I think the latter are frequently referred to as "water wings".