If you’ve been living in Malaysia, you’ve probably encountered certain terms used in either naming cities, towns or even streets. By understanding the term used to describe the particular area, we are more likely to understand the history and origins of the place and may even bring to light greater understanding in the formation of towns and cities. In this article we explore some of the common geographical terms used to name towns and cities in Malaysia.
TANJUNG
Tanjung is the Malay word used to describe a cape. A cape refers to a geographical term of high cliffs that extends slightly into the ocean. A cape is however not suitable for swimming as the strong ocean currents and waves make it a pretty dangerous area to be at. As Malaysia is a nation surrounded by the ocean, areas with the name Tanjung are quite common such as Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Bidara and even the famous Tanjung Rambutan, a hospital for the mentally ill has Tanjung in its name due to the location of the Hospital.
TELUK
Teluk is the Malay word used to describe a bay. A bay is a geographical term that refers to a small body of water that is surrounded by land or high cliffs. Bays are often a perfect place to enjoy the clear blue ocean water with your families. Similarly to Tanjung, it is quite common to encounter the term Teluk in Malaysia as we are surrounded by the ocean. Some notable ones are Teluk Intan, Teluk Cempadak and Teluk Panglima Garang all got their names for originally being known for its geographical locations.
KUALA
Kuala is the Malay word used to describe a confluence. Confluence is the geographical term used to describe when two bodies of water meet or intersect. As Malaysia does have plenty of rivers, the name Kuala does seem to come up pretty often across the country. The literal meaning of Kuala Lumpur is ‘muddy confluence’ as the entire city was built around the meeting of the Klang River and the Gombak River. Other notable ones are Kuala Pilah, Kuala Selangor and Kuala Kubu Baru.
WANGSA
Wangsa is a Malay word often used in describing dynasties. In the context of naming towns or cities, the term ‘Wangsa’ is used as a mode to glorify the area by using the word Wangsa in combination with another word to basically create a cool sounding name. Wangsa is mostly used to describe urban areas where there is a concentration of people living there which is why when you hear the word Wangsa referring to a certain area, you can probably expect to find plenty of condominiums, apartments and houses in that area. Examples are Wangsa Maju, Wangsa Melawati and Setiawangsa.
CHANGKAT
Changkat is a Malay word used to describe small hills. However now the word Changkat is often used to describe posh hilly areas within a city or a town as a way to market the exclusivity of that particular area. Although many people would refer to Changkat as the area near Bukit Bintang filled with bars and bistros, there are actually several Changkat’s for example Changkat Larut, Changkat Jering and even Changkat Hartamas.
If you know other geographical terms that are common in Malaysia, do share them in the comments section below.
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