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

For a factory owner in Penang or Ho Chi Minh City, this could mean ripping up decades-old supplier relationships—or losing access to the American market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Tourists can often be seen taking pictures with the mural, now an icon in Penang.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

“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

The Consumers’ Association of Penang said that food waste increases by up to 20% during Ramadan.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 12, 2024

He felt sure that it was in Penang and not in the fields of his father's farm.

From Seeing Things at Night by Broun, Heywood