Penang

American  

[pi-nang, -nahng, pee-nahng] / pɪˈnæŋ, -ˈnɑŋ, ˈpiˈnɑŋ /

noun

1. an island in SE Asia, off the W coast of the Malay Peninsula. 110 sq. mi. (285 sq. km).

2. a state including this island and parts of the adjacent mainland: now part of Malaysia; formerly one of the Straits Settlements and part of the former Federation of Malaya. 400 sq. mi. (1,036 sq. km). Georgetown.

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Penang British  

/ pɪˈnæŋ /

noun

1. Also called: Pulau Pinang.  a state of Peninsular Malaysia: consists of the island of Penang and the province Wellesley on the mainland, which first united administratively in 1798 as a British colony. Capital: George Town. Pop: 1 313 449 (2000). Area: 1030 sq km (398 sq miles)

2. Former name (until about 1867): Prince of Wales Island.  a forested island off the NW coast of Malaya, in the Strait of Malacca. Area: 293 sq km (113 sq miles)

3. another name for George Town

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Penang

The project, linking Malaysia’s Penang Island to Seberang Perai, is expected to be awarded by July, with construction starting in 2027 and completion by 2031, he notes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026

After spending three months traveling Malaysia, I agree, Penang is the world’s most underrated food capital.

From Salon ● Nov. 15, 2025

But fate conspired to change his outlook on life and a career that was blossoming, having started out at 17 with home state team Penang and flourished with a 2023 move to Selangor.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2025

“Homiah’s Sambal Chili Crunch product is personal and based on a family recipe from my Granny Nonie dating back to countless generations of Nyonya heritage in Penang, Malaysia,” Tew wrote in a statement on LinkedIn.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2024

Mr. C. W. Beebe has recently sent me a specimen taken by him in the Botanical Gardens at Penang.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson