Where does “Penang” come from?

Penang comes from Malay pinang, a word for the areca palm and its nut, also preserved in the place name Pulau Pinang meaning areca palm island.

Ancestry of “Penang”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Malay	pinang	betelnut
2	Malay	Pulau Pinang	Penang Island
3	Malay	pulau	island; to ostracize

Penang — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer