The streets in Penang especially in George Town city are mostly built since the colonial era and most of the street names are predominantly in English, until when the National Language Act 1967 is implemented, a government policy which determines Malay language is to be used for all official purposes. Although new street names are given in Malay language, most of the colonial street names especially in George Town are retained for historical purposes.
As Penang is a place famous for its unique hokkien language, and spoken not only by the Chinese, but also Penangites from other ethnic backgrounds, many of the streets have Hokkien names to it. Suprisingly, the Hokkien street names have little relation to the colonial names, but is related to the historical background of the exact location instead.
Let’s explore some of the unique hokkien street names in Penang.
Burma Road
車水路 Chhia-chúi-lơ̄, named after the aqueduct that ran along the road
Jalan Gurdwara
風車路 Hong-chhia-lơ̄ named after the winnowing machines used to separate rice from chaff.
Jalan Dato’ Keramat
柑仔園 Kam-á-hûiⁿ, named after a former mandarin orange plantation there.
Campbell Street
新街 Sin-ke, which means New street, alternatively 新雞 (new prostitutes), where it used to be the red-light district of George Town.
Lebuh Buckingham
新街頭 Sin-ke-thaû, which means at the beginning of Campbell Street.
Cintra Street
拍袍街 Phah-phaù-ke, which used to be the street with the lower type of brothels.
Barrack Road
兵房路 Peng-pâng-lơ̄, translated literally from Barrack Road
Malay Street
刣牛後 Thâi-gû-aū, named after the cattle slaughterhouse at the back of the street.
Lorong Ikan
鹹魚仔巷 Kiâm-hû-á-hāng, famous for making and drying salted fish.
Church Street
義興街 Gī-hin-ke, named after the association house of Ghee Hin secret society which is located at the street.
Victoria Street
海墘新路 Haí-kiⁿ-sin-lơ̄, meaning new road by the waterfront, which used to be at the waterfront before the land is reclaimed.
Magazine Circus
六叉路 La̍k-chhē-lơ̄, which describes the road with six junctions until the demolition of Gladstone Road and the construction of Komtar.
King Street
亞片公司街 À-phièn-kong-si-ke, named after the Opium and Spirit Farm Offices at the junction with China Street.
Muntri Street
南華醫院街 Lâm-hoa-i īⁿ-ke, name after the Lam Wah Ee Hospital that used to be there.
Lorong Selamat
平安街 Phêng-an-ke, a literal translation from the Malay word.
There are still a lot of names in local languages or dialect, what story do you know about it? Share it with us.
