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

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

The artist has been based in Malaysia for more than a decade and is known for his road-side murals in Penang.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

For the world’s best Malaysian food, do yourself a favor and book a flight to Georgetown, Penang.

From Salon • Nov. 15, 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

Having thoroughly settled all the differences of Penang to my own great satisfaction, I removed myself to a Chinese theatre set in the open road, and made of sticks and old gunny-bags.

From From Sea to Sea Letters of Travel by Kipling, Rudyard