Pulau Pinang

The island was referred to as Bīnláng Yù (檳榔嶼, 槟榔屿) in the navigational drawings used by Admiral Zheng He of Ming-dynasty China in his expeditions to the South Seas in the 15th century. Early Malays called it Pulau Ka-Satu or "First Island".

The name "Penang" comes from the modern Malay name Pulau Pinang, which means island of the areca nut palm (Areca catechu, family Palmae). The name Penang can refer either to the island of Penang or the state of Penang. The capital of Penang state is George Town. More specifically, George Town is also called Tanjung in Malay. Penang Island is simply Pulau Pinang and Penang state is Negeri Pulau Pinang in Malay. Although the state is called Penang in English, it's official name is actually the state's Malay name, Pulau Pinang. This is because the Malay name is always used in governmental letters and also the Malaysian identity card, MyKad.

Penang is severally known as "The Pearl of the Orient", "东方花园" and "Pulau Pinang Pulau Mutiara" (Penang Island of Pearls). Nowadays, due to short messaging, Penang is also referred as "PG" or "PP" in Malay.^[2]