The naming of Georgetown | Penang history
The naming of Georgetown | Penang history | ||||
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15th century Charted as "PingLang Yu" in the navigational drawings used by Admiral Cheng Ho in his expedition to the South Seas.Early Malays call it "Pulau Ka Satu" or "Single Island". "Pulau Pinang" is the Malay name for Penang. Literally translated, Pulau Pinang means "Island of the Betel Nut Tree". The British renamed it "Prince of Wales' Island" and its township "Georgetown" (after King George III). After Malaysia's independence, the name reverted to "Penang" and "Pulau Pinang". George Town still stands as the city's name, but Malays refer to it as "Tanjung (Headland)". To further complicate matters, locals commonly refer to the city and island simply as "Penang". The strip of land on the mainland is still called "Province Wellesley" and "Seberang Prai". Many places and street names are still undergoing change as colonial names are being exchanged for Malay ones. Penang is also attached with such romantic titles by its admirers: "Pearl of the Orient", Gateway to the East", and "Isle of Temples". | ||||
