The street names of George Town reflect the multicultural heritage of the city, the capital of the former British settlement of Penang, now part of Malaysia.
Most streets in the city were built and named during the colonial era, and the historic English names generally remain and are still used by most Penangites. Since the passage of the National Language Act 1967, government policy has been to use the Malay language for all official purposes, and the Malay translations of the street names are the primary official versions that are used on street signs, now supplemented with names in English (and, in some places, Chinese, Tamil and Arabic).
Since independence, there have been some changes to the official names of some streets. On the whole, however, like Singapore and unlike many other cities in Malaysia, George Town has retained most of its colonial street names, although they used to be indicated on street signs only in their Malay translations.
Until 2007, street signs in George Town were only written in Malay, as a result of the national language policy. Unfortunately, this had the effect of confusing tourists, who found it difficult to match the English names commonly used by Penangites with the Malay names on street signs which were often very different. In the case of proper nouns, the English name is easily recognisable, e.g. Kimberley Street is Lebuh Kimberley. In other cases, however, the Malay translation may be unfamiliar to those who do not speak the language, e.g. Church St is literally translated as Lebuh Gereja (from the Portuguese igreja). A few streets have been given completely new names in Malay.
Even where official street names have changed, the local population have largely continued informally to use the old names when referring to streets. This is partly because the new names are often unwieldy (e.g. Green Lane vs Jalan Masjid Negeri, Pitt Street vs Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, or Northam Road vs Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah), but also reflects a strong conservatism in the local population, who see Penang's colonial history as part of their local identity. When Scott Road was renamed Jalan D S Ramanathan, after the first Mayor of the City of George Town, the new street signs were repeatedly defaced and had to be replaced several times, eventually forcing the city authorities to fix a replacement street sign fifteen feet up a lamppost (instead of at waist-height, as was then usual).
The oldest street signs in the centre of George Town are rectangular and made of painted metal plate (blue with white lettering), usually affixed to corner shop-houses at the top of the ground floor, and many can still be seen. In the suburbs, rectangular cast-iron signs with indented corners (white with black lettering and edging) in English and sometimes Jawi script, fixed at head-height to a black iron pole surmounted with a finial, could also be seen. Almost all of these have been replaced by the modern road signs.
By 2007, rectangular reflective road signs (green with white lettering) in the Malay Rumi script had largely replaced the older signs. These were initially at waist-height, fixed to two black metal supports, and subsequently at head-height, fixed to a single black metal support. These signs also indicated the postal town and postcode.
Since 2007, new bilingual reflective street signs based on the old suburban signs have started to replace the Malay-only street signs. These are partly based on the old white signs, and are rectangular with indented corners (green with white lettering) and mounted at head-height to a black iron pole surmounted with an onion dome. The street name is given in Malay and English, together with the town and postcode.
In June 2007, while Penang was under the rule of Gerakan, street signs in Chinese were illegally set up by Penang's Democratic Action Party (DAP) Socialist Youth division along several roads in George Town under the justification it helps attract tourists from China, only to be removed by the Penang Municipal Council.[1]
On July 22, 2008, following DAP's electoral victory in Penang and George Town's entry into UNESCO's World Heritage Site list, Gerakan was reported to have placed Chinese-language on existing street signs at six roads, claiming the signs were now vital with George Town's recognition by UNESCO and serve as a reminder to DAP of its earlier promises to erect such signs if voted into office.[1] DAP Socialist Youth National Organizing secretary Koay Teng Hai had also proposed to include Tamil and Jawi translations, depending on the cultural background of the area, along with Chinese street names.[1]
Despite opposition from Malay political parties and individuals at state and federal levels, the bilingual street signs with Chinese, Arabic and Tamil names were put up in November 2008.[2] These multilingual road signs remain in use to this day.
In translating the English words for street, road, lane, etc., the city authorities follow a fairly regular system to avoid confusion between many streets of similar names. There are exceptions to this rule where the historic Malay usage is different and there is no chance of confusion, e.g. Hutton Lane has always been known as Jalan Hutton (see e.g. the Mesjid Jalan Hatin (mosque) there) rather than *Lorong Hutton.
The word "Ghaut" at the end of some street names reflects the fact that they are extensions of the original streets beyond the original waterfront at Beach St with the reclamation of the Ghauts and the construction of Weld Quay, ghat being a Hindi and Bengali word meaning a flight of steps leading down to a body of water.
This list is by no means exhaustive. Road name changes (as opposed to translations) are marked in green.
| English name | Official Malay name | Etymology | Traditional Malay name | Hokkien name | Hokkien etymology | Traditional Tamil name | Tamil etymology | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboo Sittee Lane | Lorong Abu Siti | After Aboo Sittee @ Mamak Pushi, who founded the Malay opera form known as bangsawan in Penang in the 1870s | Lorong Pushi, after Mamak Pushi | 三牲巷 Sam-seng-hāng | Gangsters' lane | |||
| Acheen Street | Lebuh Acheh | After the Arab traders from Acheh who lived here. | 拍石街 Phah-tsio̍h-ke 懸樓仔 Kuâinn-lâu-á | Stone-breaking street Small high tower (after the four-storied Gedung Atjeh at the Beach St corner) | ||||
| Acheen Street Ghaut | Gat Lebuh Acheh | 拍石街路頭 Phah-tsio̍h-ke lōo-thâu 懸樓仔路頭 Kuâinn-lâu-á lōo-thâu | Acheen St landing place | |||||
| Adams Road | Jalan Adams | After Sir Arthur Adams (1861–1937), lawyer and Legislative Councillor. | ||||||
| Ah Quee Street | Lebuh Ah Quee | After Capitan China Chung Keng Quee, who presented it to the Municipality | Lorong Takia, after the kampong that used to be there.[3] | 阿貴街 A-kuì-ke | Ah Quee street | |||
| Amoy Lane | Lorong Amoy | After the Hokkien city of Amoy | ||||||
| Anson Road | Jalan Anson | After Major-General Sir Archibald Anson, Lieutenant-Governor of Penang (1867–1882) | ||||||
| Argus Lane | Lorong Argus | After Penang's first independent newspaper, the Pinang Argus, published at Argus House here from 1867 to 1873. | 色藍乳禮拜堂後巷仔 Sek-lân-ní lé-paì-tn̄g-āu hāng-á | Lane behind the Eurasian (Serani) church (the Roman Catholic Church, now Cathedral, of the Assumption) | ||||
| Argyll Road | Jalan Argyll | Possibly after George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll, Secretary of State for India (1868–74). | 萬葛里巷 Bang-ka-lí hāng | Bengali (or Sikh) lane | ||||
| Ariffin Road | Jalan Ariffin | After Haji Syed Ariffin, a Muslim alim in the 1880s and 1890s | ||||||
| Armenian Street | Lebuh Armenian | After the Armenian Orthodox Church that used to be there. | W. of Cannon St | ஆர்மேனியன் வீதி Ārmēṉiyaṉ Vīti | After the Armenian Orthodox Church that used to be there. | |||
| 拍銅街 Phah-tâng-ke | Copper-beaters' street | |||||||
| E. of Cannon St | ||||||||
| 本頭公巷 Pún-thâu-kong-hāng 建元街 Kiàn-guân-ke | Gods' lane, after the Kong-si house of the Tuā Peh Kong or Kiàn Tek secret society (formerly at the junction of Armenian & Pitt Streets) there Kiàn Tek society origin street | |||||||
| Armenian Street Ghaut | Gat Lebuh Armenian | 本頭公巷路頭 Pún-thâu-kong-hāng lōo-thâu | Armenian St landing place | ஆர்மேனியன் வண்ணார் தெருவில் Ārmēṉiyaṉ Vaṇṇār Teruvil | Street of the dhobies in Armenian street | |||
| Arratoon Road | Jalan Arratoon | After the Armenian merchant Arathoon Anthony, the father of A. A. Anthony who founded the Penang stock-broking firm that bears his name, who came from Shiraz in Persia to Penang in 1819. | ||||||
| Ayer Itam Road | Jalan Air Itam | After the Ayer Itam stream which flows there | 亞也依淡路 A-iá i-tâm lōo | (phonetic) | ||||
| Ayer Rajah Road | Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman | After the Telok Ayer Rajah, the bay between George Town and Tanjong Tokong. New Malay name after Tunku Abdul Rahman, first prime minister of Malaya (1957–1970), who lived there. | ||||||
| Bagan Jermal Road | Jalan Bagan Jermal | After Bagan Jermal, where it leads | 灣斗路 Uân-tó-lōo | Bay road | ||||
| Batu Lanchang Road | Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim | After the area of Batu Lancang. | ||||||
| Barrack Road | Jalan Barrack | After the sepoy barracks that used to be there | 兵房路 Peng-pâng-lōo | Barrack road | ||||
| Beach Street | Lebuh Pantai | Self-describing. The street ran along the shoreline until the construction of Weld Quay. | N. of China St | பீச் வீதி Pīc Vīti | ||||
| Jalan Gedung "Warehouse street" 土庫街 Thóo-khòo-ke | Warehouse street | |||||||
| China St – Chulia St | ||||||||
| 港仔口 Káng-á-kháu | Harbour entrance, where the main shipping business was carried out | |||||||
| Chulia St – Armenian St | ||||||||
| 中街 Tiong-ke | Middle street | |||||||
| Armenian St – Acheen St | ||||||||
| 緞羅申 Tuan-lōo-sîn | Tuan Losin (Tengku Syed Hussein)'s street | |||||||
| Acheen St – Malay St | ||||||||
| 拍鐵街 Phah-thi̍h-ke | Blacksmiths' street | |||||||
| S. of Malay St | ||||||||
| Ujong Pasir "Beach end" 社尾 Siā-bué | Village end | |||||||
| Biggs Road | Jalan Biggs | After the Rev. Louis Coutier Biggs, colonial chaplain in Penang (1885–1897), who founded the St George's Chinese Mission (now St Paul's Church) | பிக்ஸ் வீதி Piks Vīti | After the Rev. Louis Coutier Biggs, colonial chaplain in Penang (1885–97), who founded the St George's Chinese Mission (now St Paul's Church) | ||||
| Birch Road | Jalan Birch | After James Kortright Birch, Resident Councillor of Penang (1905–06) and Acting Resident Councillor from (3 March 1897 - August 1898, April 1901 - November 1902 and 1903–1905). | ||||||
| Bishop Street | Lebuh Bishop | After the Roman Catholic Bishop Garnault, who was brought by Francis Light to Penang in 1786 from Kuala Kedah after fleeing persecution in Ligor and Phuket. His presbytery stood here. | W. of King St | பிஷப் வீதி Piṣap Vīti | After the Roman Catholic Bishop Garnault, who was brought by Francis Light to Penang in 1786 from Kuala Kedah after fleeing persecution in Ligor and Phuket. His presbytery stood here. | |||
| 順德公司街 Sūn-tek kong-si-ke | Soon Teik Association street | |||||||
| King St - Penang St | ||||||||
| 呂宋禮拜堂前 Lū-sòng lé-pài-tn̂g-tsêng | In front of the Armenian (Luzon) church that used to be there | |||||||
| E. of Penang St | ||||||||
| 漆木街 Tshat-bok-ke 柴工街 Tshâ-kang-ke | Lacquerers' street Carpenters' street | |||||||
| Boundary Road | Jalan Sempadan | Part of the road that formed part of the boundary of the City of George Town | ||||||
| Brick Kiln Road | Jalan Gurdwara | After the brick kiln that used to be there. The area was known as Bakar Bata or 罇仔窰 Tsuínn-á-iô. New Malay name after the Sikh gurdwara there. | Bakar Bata "Brick Kiln" | 風車路 Hong-tshia-lōo | Winnowing-machine road, after the winnowing machines used to separate rice from chaff. | செங்கல் சூளை சாலை Ceṅkal Cūḷai Cālai | After the brick kiln that used to be there | |
| Bridge Street | Jalan C. Y. Choy | After the Anson Bridge over the Prangin Ditch and the bridge over the Pinang River, which it links. New Malay name after Cllr C. Y. Choy, the last Mayor of George Town (1964–1966). | North (Beach St) end | |||||
| 過港仔 Kuè-káng-á | Past the Prangin Ditch | |||||||
| Middle | ||||||||
| 枋廊 Pang-lông | Sawmill | |||||||
| South (Jelutong Rd) end | ||||||||
| 城隍廟路 Sêng-hông-biō-lōo | City god temple road | |||||||
| Brown Road | Jalan Brown | After David Brown (1778–1825), an early settler and planter and at one time the largest landowner in Penang, to whom a memorial stands at Padang Brown (Dato' Kramat Gardens) | ||||||
| Buckingham Street | Lebuh Buckingham | After Richard Temple-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, British Colonial Secretary (1867-8) | 新街頭 Sin-ke-thâu | At the head of Campbell St | பக்கிங்காம் தெரு சந்தி Pakkiṅkām Teru Canti | Junction of Buckingham Street | ||
| Burmah Road | Jalan Burma | After the Burmese village (Kampong Ava) at Burmah Lane. | Jalan Kreta Ayer "Water-cart road" | 車水路 Tshia-tsuí-lōo | Drawing-water road, after the aqueduct that ran along the road (see e.g. the Mesjid Tarek Ayer there) | |||
| Campbell Street | Lebuh Campbell | After Sir George William Robert Campbell, Acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang (1872–1873) | Jalan Nona Bahru "New maidens street" | 新街 Sin-ke 新大門樓 Sin-tuā-muî-lâu | New street, alternatively 新雞 Sin-ke (new prostitutes), in contradistinction to Chulia St, where the brothels used to be New Chulia St | |||
| Cannon Square | Medan Cannon | After the cannon that was brought in by the Government during the Penang Riots in 1867 and fired here, where the members of the Kiàn Tek society were encamped. | 龍山堂內 Liông-san-tông-laī | Within Leong San Tong (the Khoo Kongsi clanhouse) | ||||
| Cannon Street | Lebuh Cannon | 大銃空 Tuā-tshèng-khang | Cannonball-hole | |||||
| Cantonment Road | N. of Kelawei Rd | After the military cantonment at Sepoy Lines, to which it leads. The new Malay name of Cantonment Road Ghaut is after the Penang Malay Association (Persatuan Melayu Pulau Pinang, "Pemenang") there. | ||||||
| Jalan Pemenang | ||||||||
| S. of Kelawei Rd | ||||||||
| Jalan Cantonment | ||||||||
| Carnarvon Lane | Lorong Carnarvon | After Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, British Colonial Secretary (1866-7, 1874–1878) at the time of the Treaty of Pangkor. | 鑑光內 Kàm-kong-laī | Within the village (kampung) | ||||
| Carnarvon Street | Lebuh Carnarvon | N. of Campbell St | Carnarvon Street | |||||
| 大門樓橫街 Tuā-muî-lâu huâinn-ke | Chulia St cross street | |||||||
| Campbell St - Acheen St | ||||||||
| 番仔塚 Huan-á-thióng | Malay cemetery | |||||||
| S. of Acheen St | ||||||||
| 畓田仔 Lam-tshân-á 姓張公司街 Sènn-tionn kong-si-ke 十間厝 Tsa̍p-keng-tshù 四角井 Sì-kak-tsénn | Swamp fields Teoh clanhouse street Ten houses Square well | |||||||
| Caunter Hall Road | Jalan P. Ramlee | After Caunter Hall, the house of George Caunter, Acting Superintendent of Prince of Wales Island (1797) who was deputed to Kedah to negotiate the purchase of Province Wellesley, there. New Malay name after Malayan filmmaker P. Ramlee | ||||||
| Cecil Street | Lebuh Cecil | After Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, Governor of the Straits Settlements (1887–93). | (過港仔第)七條路 (Kuè-káng-á tē) Tshit-tiâu-lōo | 7th road (past the Prangin Ditch) | ||||
| Ceylon Lane | Lorong Ceylon | After the Ceylonese inhabitants | 四十間 Sì-tsa̍p-keng | Forty houses | இலங்கை வீதி Ilaṅkai Vīti | After the Tamil Sri Lankans inhabitants | ||
| Cheapside | Cheapside | After Cheapside, a street in London where one of the city's main produce markets was located. | ||||||
| Che Em Lane | Lorong Che Em | After Chee Eam @ Chu Yan, a Chinese merchant named as the largest Chinese property owner by Francis Light in 1793. Known in Tamil as Koli Kadai Sandhu | 北間內 Pak-kan-laī | Within the town (pekan) | கோழி கடை சந்தை Kōḻi Kaṭai Cantai | After a Poultry market that exist there. During that time, Che Em Lane was the centre for poultry hawkers. | ||
| China Street | Lebuh China | After the Chinese inhabitants | 大街 Tuā-ke | Main street | ||||
| China Street Ghaut | Gat Lebuh China | 大街路頭 Tuā-ke lōo-thâu 明山路頭 Bêng-san lōo-thâu | China St landing place (Khoo) Beng San (shop) landing place | |||||
| Chowrasta Road | Jalan Chowrasta | After the chowrasta or "four crossroads" market there | 吉寧仔萬山 Kiat-lêng-á bān-san (also Tamil St) | Indian market | ||||
| Chow Thye Road | Jalan Chow Thye | After Loke Chow Thye (died 1931), a prominent Selangor miner who was educated at the Penang Free School. | ||||||
| Chulia Lane | Lorong Chulia | After the Tamil inhabitants, then known as Chulias after the ancient Tamil kingdom of Chola | 十七間 Tsap-tshi̍t-keng | Seventeen houses, after the row of seventeen houses of the same size there. | ||||
| Chulia Street | Lebuh Chulia | W. of Love Lane | கலிங்க வீதி Kaliṅka Vīti | After the ancient Tamil kingdom of Chola or Kalinga | ||||
| 牛干冬 Gû-kan-tàng | Cattle pen (kendang) | |||||||
| Love Lane - Pitt St | ||||||||
| 大門樓 Tuā-muî-lâu | Great archway, after the two archways into a large compound house that used to be here: see Sek Chuan Lane | |||||||
| E. of Pitt St | ||||||||
| 羅粦街 Lôo-lîn-ke 吉寧仔街 Kiat-lêng-á-ke (now usually Market St) | (H. M.) Noordin (shop) street Indian street | |||||||
| Chulia Street Ghaut | Gat Lebuh Chulia | 吉寧仔街路頭 Kiat-lêng-á-ke lōo-thâu 姓楊公司街 Sènn-iônn-kong-si-ke 柴路頭 Tshâ lōo-thâu 大水井 Tuā-tsuí-tsénn (also Pitt St (middle)) | Chulia St landing place Yeoh clanhouse street Firewood landing place, where firewood used to be sold before Maxwell Rd was constructed Great well, after the big water tank that used to be there | |||||
| Church Street | Lebuh Gereja | After the Portuguese Eurasian church located here in the late 18th century. | 義興街 Gī-hin-ke | Ghee Hin secret society street, after the association house that used to stand there. | சர்ச் வீதி Tēvālayam Vīti | After the Portuguese Eurasian church located here in the late 18th century. | ||
| Church Street Ghaut | Gat Lebuh Gereja | 義興街路頭 Gī-hin-ke lōo-thâu 酒廊路頭 Tsiu-lōng lōo-thâu | Church St landing place Distillery landing-place, after the distillery operated at the junction of Church and Beach Sts by the Opium and Spirit Farm Offices. | |||||
| Cintra Street | Lebuh Cintra | After the Portuguese town of Sintra. | 新街橫街 Sin-ke huâinn-ke 拍袍街 Phah-phâu-ke | China St cross street Brothel street, where the brothels of the lowest type were. | ||||
| N. of Campbell St | ||||||||
| 日本街 Ji̍t-pún-ke | Japanese (brothel) street | |||||||
| Claimant Place | Pesara Claimant | Supposedly after the claimant in the Tichborne Case | 萬安臺街 Bān-an-tâi-ke | |||||
| Clarke Street | Lebuh Clarke | After Major-General Sir Andrew Clarke, Governor of the Straits Settlements (1873–1875) | ||||||
| Clove Hall Road | Jalan Clove Hall | After the nearby residence of the Armenian Anthony family (see Arratoon Rd) | ||||||
| Codrington Avenue | Lebuhraya Codrington | After Stewart Codrington, President of the Municipal Commissioners of George Town and Acting Resident Councillor of Penang (1924) | ||||||
| Cross Street | Lebuh Lintang | Self-describing. It used to cross from Gladstone Rd to Magazine Rd. | ||||||
| Dato Keramat Road | Jalan Dato' Keramat | After the Dato' Kramat village, to which it led, named after an early-18th-century Muslim ascetic | W. of Patani Rd | |||||
| 四崁店 Sì-khám-tiàm | Four shops | |||||||
| E. of Patani Rd | ||||||||
| 柑仔園 Kam-á-huînn | Mandarin orange plantation, after a former orange plantation there. The area was known in Malay as Kebun Limau | |||||||
| Dickens Street | Lebuh Dickens | After John Dickens, judge and magistrate of Prince of Wales Island (appointed 1801) | ||||||
| Downing Street | Lebuh Downing | After Downing Street in London, the seat of government. | 外關 Guā-kuan 大人關 Tāi-jîn-kuan | Overseas Chinese protector's office | ||||
| Drury Lane | Lorong Drury | After Drury Lane in London (where the Theatre Royal is) because of the Chinese theatre there. | 新戲臺 Sin-hì-tâi | New Chinese theatre | ||||
| Duke Street | Lebuh Duke | After Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, who visited and stayed here in 1869. | ||||||
| Dundas Court | After Philip Dundas, Lieutenant-Governor of Penang (1805–1807). The road was a cul-de-sac opposite Leith St Ghaut, but was demolished when Northam Rd was extended to create the Farquhar St-Northam Rd one-way system. | |||||||
| W. of Fort Point | Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah | Self-describing. Fort Rd was the eastern section of the road leading from the tip of the cape, Fort Point, to the Jubilee Clock Tower roundabout. Both The Esplanade and Fort Rd were joined with the new road built west of Duke St to form a road named after Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, Governor of Penang (1969–1975). | 舊關仔角 Kū-kuan-á-kak (also King Edward Place) | Old government corner - see also King Edward Place. When Gurney Drive was built, it was called the new Esplanade, or new government corner, even though there are no government buildings there. | ||||
| The Esplanade | ||||||||
| S. of Fort Point | ||||||||
| Fort Road | ||||||||
| New section W. of Duke St | ||||||||
| Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah | ||||||||
| Esplanade Road | Jalan Padang Kota Lama | Road leading from Light St to the Esplanade | 草埔海墘路 Tsháu-poo haí-kinn-lōo | Grass field (cricket ground) shorefront road | ||||
| Farquhar Street | Lebuh Farquhar | After R. T. Farquhar, Lieutenant-Governor of Penang (1804–1805) | W. of Leith St | |||||
| 紅毛路 Âng-môo-lōo (also Northam Rd, to which it joins) | European road | |||||||
| Leith St - Love Lane | ||||||||
| 蓮花河 Liân-hua-hô 色蘭乳學前 Sek-lân-ní-o̍h-tsêng | Lotus-flower pond, after a lotus-pond at the side of the old St George's Girls' School, which was filled up on account of many accidents involving people trying to get at the lotus. In front of the Eurasian (Serani) school (St Xavier's Institution) | |||||||
| E. of Love Lane | ||||||||
| 紅毛學前 Âng-môo-o̍h-tsêng | In front of the European (old Penang Free) School | |||||||
| Fish Lane | Lorong Ikan | 鹹魚仔巷 Kiâm-hû-á-hāng | Salted fish lane, lane off Prangin Lane | மீன் வீதி Mīṉ Vīti | Fish Lane, because this street is famous for laying out salted fish to dry | |||
| Free School Road | Jalan Free School | After the new Penang Free School there. | ||||||
| Gaol Road | Jalan Penjara | After the Penang Gaol there. | 新跤樞 Sin-kha-khu | New prison | புதிய சிறைச்சாலை Putiya Ciṟaiccālai | After the Jail located there | ||
| Gladstone Road | Jalan Gladstone | After William Ewart Gladstone (1809–98), British prime minister. The western end of Gladstone Rd, where it joined Magazine Circus, was demolished with the construction of KOMTAR in 1985, and the remainder was demolished around 2000 with the building of Prangin Mall. | 火車路 Hué-tshia-lōo | Tram road | ||||
| Glugor Road | Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah | After the area of Glugor, and the 19th century Glugor Estate of David Brown, where it leads, named after the assam glugor (tamarind) tree. | குளுகோர் வீதி Kuḷukōr Vīti | Gelugor Road : After the area of Glugor, and the 19th century Glugor Estate. | ||||
| Gottlieb Road | Jalan Gottlieb | After Felix Henry Gottlieb, a lawyer who served in the Straits Settlements government from 1846 to 1882 | ||||||
| Green Hall | Jalan Green Hall | 緞巴尼 Tuān pá-lí 麒麟虎 Ki-lin hōo | Mr (Tuan) Paddy's (land) (phonetic) | உப்புகாரன் தெரு Uppukāraṉ teru | Meaning "salt traders' street. Salt trading widely occur here and controlled by Indians. | |||
| Green Lane | Jalan Masjid Negeri | Formerly self-describing. New Malay name after the state mosque there. | 青草巷 Tshenn-tsháu-hāng | Green grass lane | ||||
| Gurney Drive | Pesiaran Gurney | After Sir Henry Gurney, High Commissioner of the Federation of Malaya (1950–1951) assassinated during the Malayan Emergency. | 新關仔角 Sin-kuan-á-kak | New Government Office Corner, i.e. New Esplanade. | ||||
| Halfway Road | Jalan Sekerat | |||||||
| Hargreaves Road | Jalan Hargreaves | After W Hargreaves (died 1939), a former principal of the Penang Free School. | ||||||
| Herriot Street | Lebuh Herriot | After Stuart Herriot, British merchant who wrote the petition of the Capitan China, Chung Keng Kwee, and others in 1872, asking for British intervention in Perak after the Larut Riots. | (過港仔第)八條路 (Kuè-káng-á tē) Peh-tiâu-lōo | 8th road (past the Prangin Ditch) | ||||
| Hogan Road | Jalan Hogan | After R. A. P.[4] Hogan, a prominent Penang lawyer in the 1870s | ||||||
| Hongkong Street | Jalan Cheong Fatt Tze | After the island of Hong Kong. New Malay name after Cheong Fatt Tze, 19th century merchant[5] and Chinese consul in Penang, despite the fact that the famous Cheong Fatt Tze mansion is not here, but on Leith St. | 香港街 Hiang-káng-ke | Hong Kong street | ||||
| Hospital Road | Jalan Hospital | After the Penang General Hospital there | 病厝路 Pēnn-tshù-lōo | Hospital road | ||||
| Hutton Lane | Jalan Hutton | After Dr Hutton, one of the first doctors in Penang, who arrived in 1805. | 惹蘭亞丁 Gia-lân-a-teng | (phonetic) | ||||
| Jahudi Road | Jalan Zainal Abidin | After the former Jewish inhabitants and the Jewish cemetery that is still there. | ||||||
| Jelutong Road | Jalan Jelutong | After the Jelutong village at the junction with Perak Rd, named after the Jelutong tree. | 日落洞路 Ji̍t-lo̍h-tong-lōo | (phonetic) | ||||
| Town end | ||||||||
| 下洞 Ēe-tong | Lower Jelutong road | |||||||
| Jelutong end | ||||||||
| 頂洞 Téng-tong 上洞 Siāng-tong | Upper Jelutong road | |||||||
| Kampong Deli | Kampung Deli | After the inhabitants from Deli, Medan. | ||||||
| Kampong Kaka | Jalan Kampung Kaka | After the Malabarese Muslim (Kaka) inhabitants. | ||||||
| Kampong Kolam | Jalan Kampung Kolam | After the large granite pool that stood there in the compound of the Kapitan Kling mosque. | ||||||
| Kampong Malabar | Lorong Kampung Malabar | After the Malabarese inhabitants | 日本新路 Ji̍t-pún-sin-lōo | New Japanese road | ||||
| Katz Street | Lebuh Katz | After the importing agents, Katz Brothers Ltd, established in 1864. | (過港仔第)六條路 (Kuè-káng-á tē) La̍k-tiâu-lōo | 6th road (past the Prangin Ditch) | ||||
| Kedah Road | Jalan Kedah | After the neighbouring Malay state of Kedah | Kampong Melaka, after the kampong there. | 鑑光麻六甲 Kām-kong mâ-la̍k-kah | Malaccan village. | |||
| Kelawei Road | Jalan Kelawei | From Kuala Awal, the first estuary west of George Town | ||||||
| Keng Kwee Street | Lebuh Keng Kwee | After Capitan China Chung Keng Quee, who built the street and connected it with Penang Rd.[6] | 景貴街 Kéng-kuì-ke | Keng Kwee street | ||||
| Khoo Sian Ewe Road | Jalan Khoo Sian Ewe | After Khoo Sian Ewe (1886-1964), President of the Penang Chinese Town Hall, philanthropist and Straits Settlements Legislative Councillor | ||||||
| Kimberley Street | Lebuh Kimberley | After John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, British Colonial Secretary (1870–1874, 1880–1882). | 汕頭街 Suann-thâu-ke 潮州街 Tiô-tsiu-ke 麵線街 Mī-suànn-ke 姓鄧公司街 Sènn-tenn-kong-si-ke 拍索仔巷 Phah-soh-á-hāng (also Rope Walk) | Swatow street Teochew street, after the Teochew prostitutes from Swatow that used to work there Rice-vermicelli makers' street Teh clanhouse street Ropemakers' street | ||||
| King Edward Place | Pesara King Edward | After King Edward VII (reigned 1901–1910) | (舊)關仔角 (Kū-)kuan-á-kak (also the Esplanade) | (Old) government corner. The old Resident Councillor's Office and Penang Secretariat was a U-shaped building facing King Edward Place, with wings along Beach St and Weld Quay and backing onto Downing St, until it was destroyed by Allied bombing during the Second World War. The only remaining wing of the building is now occupied by Penang Religious Affairs Department on Beach St. | ||||
| King Street | Lebuh King | After King George III (reigned 1760–1820). | N. of Bishop St | படகோட்டியே தெரு Paṭakōṭṭiyē teru | Meaning "boatmen's street", The street was occupied by sailors and ship workers from South India who work at nearby port | |||
| 九間厝後 Káu-keng-tshù-āu | Behind the nine houses | |||||||
| Bishop St – China St | ||||||||
| 廣東大伯公街 Kńg-tang-tuā-peeh-kong-ke 亞片公司街 À-phiàn-kong-si-ke | Cantonese Heavenly Emperor's street, after the Cantonese temple there Opium farm street, after the Opium & Spirit Farm Offices at the junction with China St | |||||||
| China St – Market St | ||||||||
| 舊和勝公司街 Kū-hô-seng-kong-si-ke | Old Ho Seng secret society street | |||||||
| S. of Market St | ||||||||
| 吉寧仔街 Kiat-lêng-á-ke (also Market St, formerly also Chulia St (E. of Pitt St)) | Indian street | |||||||
| Kuala Kangsar Road | Jalan Kuala Kangsar | After the town of Kuala Kangsar | 番仔戲園街 Huan-á-hì-huînn-ke | Malay theatre street | கோலாகங்சார் சாலை Kōlākaṅcār Calai | After the town of Kuala Kangsar | ||
| Kulim Lane | Lorong Kulim | After the town of Kulim | 萬安臺 Bān-an-tâi 明戲台 Bêng-hì-tâi | Ban An theatre (Ong) Beng (Tek)'s theatre | ||||
| Leith Street | Lebuh Leith | After Major-General Sir George Leith, Lieutenant-Governor of Penang (1800–1803). Leith St Ghaut was known as Martina's Lane, after Martina Rozells, mistress of Francis Light, but no longer appears on maps. | Nyior Cabang, after the palm trees that used to line it. | 相好厝前 Siang-hó-tshù-tsêng | In front of Siang Ho's house | |||
| Leith Street Ghaut | Gat Lebuh Leith | |||||||
| Light Street | Lebuh Light | After Captain Francis Light, Founder of Penang and first Superintendent of the colony (1786–1794) | 玻理口 Po-lê-kháu | Entrance to the Police Court, now the Legislative Assembly buildings | லைட் வீதி Laiṭ Vīti | After Captain Francis Light, Founder of Penang and first Superintendent of the colony (1786–1794) | ||
| Lines Road | Jalan S. P. Chelliah | After army lines (barracks) that used to be there. | செல்லையா வீதி Cellaiyā Vīti | |||||
| Logan Road | Jalan Logan | After James Richardson Logan, lawyer and editor of the Pinang Gazette, to whom the Logan Memorial in the grounds of the Supreme Court Building on Light St is dedicated. | ||||||
| Lorong Salamat | Lorong Selamat | 平安街 Phêng-an-ke | Peace street | |||||
| Love Lane | Lorong Cinta | 色蘭乳巷 Sek-lân-ní-hāng (also Muntri St) 愛情巷 Ài-tshêng-hāng | Eurasian (Serani) lane, after the Portuguese Eurasian inhabitants Love lane | |||||
| Macalister Road | Jalan Macalister | After Colonel Norman Macalister, Governor of Penang (1807–1810) | Jalan Bharu | 中路 Tiong-lōo | Middle road, being the middle road of the six roads that met at Magazine Circus. | |||
| Macalister Lane | Lorong Macalister | 姓王公司後 Sènn-ông-kong-si-āu | Behind the Ong clanhouse | |||||
| Macallum Street | Lebuh Macallum | After Colonel Sir Henry McCallum, Colonial Engineer of the Straits Settlements (1884–1889) | (過港仔第)五條路 (Kuè-káng-á tē) Gōo-tiâu-lōo | 5th road (past the Prangin Ditch) | ||||
| Madras Lane | Lorong Madras | After the Indian city of Madras | 油絞路 Iû-ka-lōo 柴落頭 Tshâ-lōo-thâu | Oil mill road Timber landing-place | மதராஸ் வழி Matarās Vali | After the Indian city of Madras | ||
| Magazine Circus | After the government gunpowder depot that used to be there. | Simpang Enam, "Six-road Junction" | 五葩燈 Gōo-pha-teng 銃藥間 Tshèng-io̍h-keng 六叉路 La̍k-tshē-lōo | Five-armed lamp Gunpowder store Six-road junction, self-descriptive until the demolition of Gladstone Rd and the construction of KOMTAR. | ||||
| Magazine Road | Jalan Magazine | (過港仔)頭條路 (Kuè-káng-á) Thâu-tiâu-lōo | 1st road (past the Prangin Ditch) | |||||
| Malay Street | Lebuh Melayu | After the Malay inhabitants | After the Malay inhabitants | 刣牛後 Thâi-gû-āu 刣牛巷 Thâi-gû-hāng | Behind the cattle slaughterhouse Cattle slaughterhouse lane | மலாய் வீதி Malāy Vīti | ||
| Malay Street Ghaut | Gat Lebuh Melayu | 刣牛巷路頭 Thâi-gû-hāng lōo-thâu | Malay St landing place | |||||
| Market Lane | Lorong Pasar | After the Indian market that used to be at Market St Ghaut. | 廣福居巷 Kóng-hok-kū-hāng | Penang Mutual Improvement Association lane | மார்க்கெட் தெரு Mārkkeṭ Teru | After the Market St Ghaut which dominated by Indian Traders | ||
| Market Street | Lebuh Pasar | 吉寧仔街 Kiat-lêng-á-ke (also King St (S. of Market St), formerly also Chulia St (E. of Pitt St)) 巴虱街 Pá-sat-ke | Indian street Market (pasar) street | கடை தெரு Kaṭai Teru | street of shops | |||
| Market Street Ghaut | Gat Lebuh Pasar | 新萬山 Sin-bān-san | New market (bangsal) | |||||
| Maxwell Road | Jalan Maxwell | After Sir William Edward Maxwell, Acting Resident Councillor of Penang (1886–1889) | W. of Gladstone Rd | |||||
| 開恒美米絞 Khai-hêng-bí bí-ka | Khie Heng Bee ricemill | |||||||
| E. of Gladstone Rd | ||||||||
| 柴埕 Tshâ-tiânn 港仔墘 Káng-á-kînn (also Prangin Rd (W. of Sungei Ujong Rd)) | Firewood yard, where firewood was principally sold By the Prangin Ditch | |||||||
| McNair Street | Lebuh McNair | After Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair, Acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang (1880–1884) | ||||||
| Moulmein Close | Solok Moulmein | After the Burmese city of Moulmein (now Mawlamyaing) | ||||||
| Muda Lane | Lorong Muda | After the Sungai Muda (river) | 癞哥巷 Thái-ko-hāng | Lepers' lane, after the lepers who used to live here on the charity of a certain wealthy Chinaman | ||||
| Muntri Street | Lebuh Muntri | Possibly after the Mantri (minister) of Larut, Ngah Ibrahim bin Long Ja'afar | 南華醫院街 Lâm-hua-i īnn-ke 新海南公司街 Sin-hái-lâm-kong-si-ke 色蘭乳巷 Sek-lân-ní-hāng (also Love Lane) | Lam Wah Ee Hospital street, after the hospital that used to be here New Hainanese association street Eurasian (Serani) lane, after the inhabitants. | ||||
| Nagore Road | Jalan Nagore | After the Indian city of Nagore | நாகூர் வீதி Nākūr Vīti | After the Indian city of Nagore | ||||
| Nanking Street | Lebuh Nanking | After the Chinese city of Nanking. | (過港仔第)七條路 (Kuè-káng-á tē) Tshit-tiâu-lōo | 7th road (past the Prangin Ditch) | ||||
| New Lane | Lorong Baru | |||||||
| Noordin Street | Lebuh Noordin | After H. M. Noordin, Indian Muslim Merchant & one of the founders of the Kapitan Kling Mosque. | (過港仔第)二條路 (Kuè-káng-á tē) Jī-tiâu-lōo | 2nd road (past the Prangin Ditch) | ||||
| Noordin Street Ghaut | Gat Lebuh Noordin | 土橋尾 Thōo-kiô-bué 紅燈角 Âng-teng-kak | End of the earthen-bridge Red lamp corner, after the red lamp used to guide boats at sea | |||||
| Northam Road | Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah | New Malay name after the 7th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang, who visited Penang in 1982. | 紅毛路 Âng-môo-lōo | European road | ||||
| E. of Transfer Rd | ||||||||
| 紅毛舊塚 Âng-môo-kū-thióng | Old European cemetery, after the old Protestant and Roman Catholic Cemetery there. | |||||||
| Pangkor Road | Jalan Pangkor | After the Pangkor Treaty of 1874 | ||||||
| Peel Avenue | Lebuhraya Peel | After Sir William Peel, Resident Councillor of Penang (1925-6), later Governor of Hong Kong | ||||||
| Penang Road | Jalan Penang | After Penang | About Chulia St | ஏழு முச்சந்தி Ēḻu Muccanti ராஜாதி மேடு Rājāti Mēṭu | Known as Junction of 7 roads because of intersection of 7 roads at the Magazine Road Junction. Meanwhile, Rājāti Mēṭu (ராஜாதி மேடு) means 'Queen's Mount', which refer to the celebration arch at Odean Junction. | |||
| 吊人街 Tiàu-lâng-ke | Gallows street, where criminals used to be hanged | |||||||
| About Chowrasta Market | ||||||||
| 舊跤樞 Kū-kha-khu 寧爵厝前 Lêng-tsiak-tshù-tsêng | Old prison In front of Lêng Tsiak's house | |||||||
| About Prangin Ditch | ||||||||
| 吊橋頭 Tiàu-kiô-thâu | Drawbridge head, after the bridge that used to span the Prangin Ditch (see e.g. the Mesjid Titi Papan) there | |||||||
| About the Magazine | ||||||||
| 人車丁牌館 Lâng-tshia-tèng-pâi-kuan | Rickshaw signboard office, after the rickshaw registration office | |||||||
| Penang Street | Lebuh Penang | N. of Bishop St | கட்டங்கி தெரு Kaṭṭaṅki Teru | Meaning "street of the Chettiar office". As this is the street where the Tamil moneylenders have their office which known as Kattangi (கட்டங்கி; Kaṭṭaṅki). | ||||
| 廣東街 Kńg-tang-ke 九間厝 Káu-keng-tshù | Cantonese street Nine houses | |||||||
| Bishop St - Market St | ||||||||
| 馬交街 Má-káu-ke | Macau / Cantonese street | |||||||
| S. of Market St | ||||||||
| 齊知街 Tse-ti-ke | Chettiar street, after the Chettiar money-lenders who operated there | |||||||
| Peirce Road | Jalan Peirce | After the Municipal Engineer of Penang in the 1890s | ||||||
| Perak Road | Jalan Perak | After the sultanate of Perak | 大路後 Tuā-lōo-āu | Behind Macalister Road | பேராக் சாலை Pērāk Cālai | After the state of Perak | ||
| Phee Choon Lane | Lorong Phee Choon | 丕竣路 Phi-tsùn-lōo | Phee Choon road | |||||
| Pigott Road | Jalan Pigott | After F J Pigott, Colonial Engineer and Surveyor-General of the Straits Settlements (1905–21) | ||||||
| Pinhorn Road | Jalan Pinhorn | After R H Pinhorn, headmaster of the Penang Free School (1905–21) | ||||||
| Pitt Lane | Lorong Pitt | After William Pitt the Younger, who was British prime minister when Penang was founded (1783–1801, and again in 1804–1806). The new Malay name of Pitt St is after the Kapitan Kling mosque there, despite the fact that the street is also home to St George's Church, the Goddess of Mercy Temple (Taoist) and the Mahamariamman Temple (Hindu), all dating back to the earliest years of George Town and indicative of its religious diversity. | 潮州公司後 Tiô-tsiu-kong-si-āu | Teochew association street | ||||
| Pitt Street | Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling | The junction with Chulia St is known as Simpang Lelong ("Auction Junction") after the public auctions that were carried out here. | N. of China St | ஏலம் முச்சந்த்தி Ēlam Muccantti | Means "Auctioneer's Junction". | |||
| 觀音亭前 Kuan-im-têng-tsêng (also Kolam têng-tsêng) | In front of the Goddess of Mercy temple | |||||||
| China St - Chulia St | ||||||||
| 大峇唻 Tuā-ba-laí | Big police station (balai), after the Pitt St Police Station | |||||||
| S. of Chulia St | ||||||||
| 椰跤 Iâ-kha 大水井 Tuā-tsuí-tsénn (also Chulia St Ghaut) | Beneath the coconut trees Great well | |||||||
| Prangin Lane | Lorong Prangin | After the Prangin River (now Ditch) along Prangin Rd | 鹹魚埕 Kiâm-hû-tiânn | Salted fish yard | ||||
| Prangin Road | Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong | W. of Sungei Ujong Rd | ||||||
| 牛車街 Gû-tshia-ke 港仔墘 Káng-á-kînn (also Maxwell Rd) | Bullock-cart street By the Prangin Ditch | |||||||
| Sungei Ujong Rd - Carnarvon St | ||||||||
| 開恒美街 Khai-hêng-bí-ke | Khie Heng Bee (shop) street | |||||||
| E. of Carnarvon St | ||||||||
| 惠州公司街 Huī-tsiu-kong-si-ke 彎頭仔 Uân-thâu-á | Huichew association street Little turning | |||||||
| Presgrave Street | Lebuh Presgrave | After Edward Presgrave, who founded the law firm of Presgrave & Matthews on Beach St in 1898. | (過港仔第) 三條路 (Kuè-káng-á tē) Sann-tiâu-lōo | 3rd street (past the Prangin Ditch) | ||||
| Pykett Avenue | Lebuhraya Pykett | After the Rev. G. F. Pykett, headmaster of the Anglo-Chinese School, Penang (1892–1932) | ||||||
| Queen Street | Lebuh Queen | After Queen Charlotte (consort to King George III 1761-1818) | Gedung Rumput "Hay barn" | 十二間 Tsa̍p-jī-keng 舊和合社街 Kū-hô-ha̍p-siā-ke | Twelve houses, after twelve houses of the same height there Old Ho Hup society street | |||
| Race Course Road | Jalan Lumba Kuda | After the Penang Turf Club racecourse there | 大菜園路 Tuā-tshài-huînn-lōo | Big vegetable farm road | ||||
| Rangoon Road | Jalan Rangoon | After the Burmese capital, Rangoon. | ||||||
| Residency Road | Jalan Residensi | After the Residency, the official residence of the British Resident Councillor and now of the Governor of Penang, to which it leads. | 二王厝路 Jī-ông-tshù-lōo | Second king's house road. The Governor of the Straits Settlements in Singapore was the "first king"; the Resident Councillor of Penang the "second king". | ||||
| Rope Walk | Jalan Pintal Tali | After the ropewalk there, where rope was made from coconut fibres. | 拍索巷 Phah-soh-hāng (also Kimberley St) 義福街 Gī-hok-ke | Ropemakers' lane Ghee Hock society street | ||||
| S. of Kimberley St | ||||||||
| 煙筒路 Ian-tâng-lōo | Kerosene-lamp tube road | |||||||
| Ross Road | Jalan Ross | After Frederick John Caunter Ross, who founded the Penang law firm of Logan & Ross in 1874 | ||||||
| Sandilands Street | Lebuh Sandilands | After G. M. Sandilands, a British trader who co-founded Lorraine, Sandilands & Co. in Penang in 1859 | (過港仔第) 九條路 (Kuè-káng-á tē) Káu-tiâu-lōo | 9th road (past the Prangin Ditch) | ||||
| Scotland Road | Jalan Scotland | Whimsically so called because of the estates there of Captain James Scott, business partner of Captain Francis Light, the founder of Penang. | 峇抵眼東 Ba-tu-gan-tong | Batu Gantong, after the overhanging rock there. | ||||
| Scott Road | Jalan D. S. Ramanathan | After James Scott, a companion of Francis Light and founder of Jamestown (now Bayan Lepas). New Malay name after Cllr D. S. Ramanathan, the first Mayor of the City of George Town (1957). | ||||||
| Seh Tan Court | Halaman Seh Tan | After the Tan clan association there | 姓陳公司 Sènn-tân-kong-si | Tan clanhouse | ||||
| Seck Chuan Lane | Lorong Sek Chuan | 大門樓内 Tuā-muî-lâu laī | Within the great archway, the lane being one of two entrances to a big compound house there over which there was a large archway. | |||||
| Sepoy Lines Road | Jalan Sepoy Lines | After the Indian sepoy barracks that used to be there | ||||||
| Soo Hong Lane | Lorong Soo Hong | After Khoo Soo Hong, a founding senator on the Khoo Kongsi board in 1851 | ||||||
| Sri Bahari Road | Jalan Sri Bahari | After the Sri Kunj Bihari Temple established on Penang Rd by Bihari members of the Bengali Regiment of the East India Company, whose endowment included houses on this road. Also known as Bengali Street. | ஸ்ரீ பிகாரி வீதி Sri Bahari Vīti | After the Sri Kunj Bihari Temple established on Penang Rd by Bihari members of the Bengali Regiment of the East India Company, whose endowment included houses on this road | ||||
| Stewart Lane | Lorong Stewart | After the Eurasian Stewart family who lived there | 觀音亭後 Kuan-im-têng-āu 三板巷 Sam-pán-hāng | Behind the Goddess of Mercy temple Boat lane | ||||
| Sungei Ujong Road | Jalan Sungai Ujong | After the district of Sungai Ujong in Negeri Sembilan | 胡椒埕 Hôo-tsio-tiânn 萬得豐路 Bān-tek-hong-lōo | Pepper yard Ban Tek Hong (pepper yard) road | ||||
| Tamil Street | Lebuh Tamil | After the Tamil inhabitants | After the Tamil inhabitants | 吉寧仔萬山 Kiat-lêng-á bān-san (also Chowrasta Rd) | தமிழ் வீதி Tamiḻ Vīti | Indian market | ||
| Tek Soon Street | Lebuh Tek Soon | After Cheah Tek Soon, a prominent 19th century Chinese businessman and opium farmer. | 柴埕後 Tshâ-tiânn-āu 德順路 Tek-sūn lōo | Behind Maxwell Rd (E. of Gladstone Rd) Tek Soon road | ||||
| Tengku Kudin Road | Jalan Tengku Kudin | After Tunku Dhiauddin ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainul Rashid (Tunku Kudin), crown prince of Kedah and Viceroy of Selangor at the time of the Treaty of Pangkor (1874), who settled in Penang after being exiled from Kedah (see also Udini Rd) | ||||||
| To Aka Lane | Lorong Toh Aka | 鑑光內橫路 Kàm-kong-laī-huâinn-lōo 拍鐵街巷仔 Phah-thih-ke hāng-á | Carnarvon Street cross street Little lane off Beach St (Acheen St - Malay St) | |||||
| Transfer Road | Jalan Transfer | After the transfer of the Straits Settlements from the Government of British India to the administration of the Colonial Office in 1867. | 德順厝邊街 Tek-sūn-tshù-pinn-ke | Street by Tek Soon's house | ||||
| Tye Sin Street | Lebuh Tye Sin | After Foo Tye Sin, a commissioner into the causes of the 1867 Penang Riots. | (過港仔第) 四條路 (Kuè-káng-á tē) Sì-tiâu-lōo | 4th road (past the Prangin Ditch) | ||||
| Udini Road | Jalan Udini | After Tunku Dhiauddin ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainul Rashid (Tunku Kudin), crown prince of Kedah and Viceroy of Selangor at the time of the Treaty of Pangkor (1874), who settled in Penang after being exiled from Kedah (see also Tengku Kudin Rd) | ||||||
| Union Street | Lebuh Union | Possibly after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922) | 玻理後 Po-lê-āu | Behind the Police Courts (now the Legislative Assembly buildings) | ||||
| Vermont Road | Jalan Vermont | After J F B Vermont, a leader of the European community in Penang in the 1880s and 1890s. | ||||||
| Victoria Green Road | Jalan Padang Victoria | After Victoria Green, the grounds of Chinese Recreation Club which boast a statue of Queen Victoria, there. | ||||||
| Victoria Street | Lebuh Victoria | After Queen Victoria (reigned 1836–1901), Queen and Empress of India. | 海墘新路 Hái-kinn-sin-lōo (also Weld Quay) | New road by the waterfront | ||||
| Waterfall Road | Jalan Air Terjun | After the waterfall in the neighbouring Penang Botanic Gardens | 亞逸倒潤 A-e̍k-tò-lūn | Ayer Terjun, waterfall. | ||||
| Weld Quay | Pengkalan Weld | After Sir Frederick Weld, Governor of the Straits Settlements (1880–1887) | 新海墘街 Sin-hái-kinn-ke 海墘新路 Hái-kinn-sin-lōo (also Victoria St) | New-waterfront street New road by the waterfront | கிடங்கு தெரு Kiṭaṅku Teru | Meaning warehouse street | ||
| Western Road | Jalan Utama | English name self-describing. The Residency of the Governor is here, and the new Malay name means "principal road", after the style of the Governor, Tuan Yang Terutama, literally "most principal lord/master", which is used in place of the English style "His Excellency". | 紅毛新塚 Âng-môo-sin-thióng 平安巷 Pêng-an-hāng 西華巷 Sai-hua-hāng | New European cemetery Peace lane Western grand lane | ||||
| York Road | Jalan York | After the English city of York. Whimsically so called because it leads to Scotland Rd. | ||||||
| Name | Etymology | Hokkien name | Hokkien etymology | Tamil name | Tamil etymology | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakar Bata | After the brick kiln that used to be there | 罇仔窰 Tsuínn-á-iô | Brick kiln | |||
| Dato Kramat | Possibly after a Datuk Keramat shrine there. | 四崁店 Sì-khám-tiàm | Four shops, the name of Dato Keramat Rd (W. of Patani Rd) | ட்டோ கேரமாத் Ṭṭō Kēramāt | Possibly after a Datuk Keramat shrine there. | |
| Dhoby Ghaut | After the laundrymen (Hindustani: dhobi) who used to work there. The original Dhobi Ghat is in Bombay. | 洗布橋 Sé-pòo-kiô | Washermen's bridge | வண்ணன் தோரா தேடல் Vaṇṇaṉ Tōrā Tēṭal | literally means a laundry district. | |
| Jalan Bharu | New road | 中路 Tiong-lōo | Middle road, the name of Macalister Rd | |||
| Kampong Bharu | New village | 大樹跤 Tuā-tshiū-kha | Under the big trees | |||
| Kebun Limau | Lime/lemon plantation | 柑仔園 Kam-á-huînn | Mandarin orange plantation, the name of Dato Keramat Rd (E. of Patani Rd). | |||
| Pulau Tikus | Rat island, the name of the small islet off the coast. | 浮羅池滑 Phû-lôo-ti-kut | (phonetic) | |||
| Rifle Range | After the rifle range that used to be there | 拍銃埔 Phah-tshèng-pōo | Rifle range | |||
| Sepoy Lines | After the sepoy barracks that used to be there | 時排埔 Si-pâi-pōo | Sepoy field | |||
| Tarek Ayer | Drawing water, after the aqueduct that ran along Burmah Rd | 牛車水 Gû-tshia-tsuí | Bullock-cart water | |||
| Titi Papan | Plank bridge, after the bridge over the Prangin Ditch. | 吊橋頭 Tiàu-kiô-thâu | Suspension-bridge head, the name of Penang Rd (about the Prangin Ditch). | |||
| Ujong Pasir | End of the sand | 社尾 Siā-bué | End of the village, the name of Beach St (S. of Malay St) |
| English name | Official Malay name | Etymology | Hokkien name | Hokkien etymology | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fettes Road | Jalan Fettes | After J. D. Fettes, the engineer of the Guillemard reservoir built there in 1929. | 水池路 Tsuí-tînn-lōo | Reservoir road. | |
| Mount Erskine Road | Jalan Mount Erskine | Mount Erskine (350 ft) was owned by John James Erskine, Judge and Member of the Council, so-called "Second King of Penang", who came to the island in 1805. | 白雲山 Pe̍eh-hûn-suann | White cloud mountain | |
| Vale of Tempe Road | Jalan Lembah Permai | After the Greek Vale of Tempe; the Malay name is a semi-calque which means "Peaceful Valley". | |||
| Summit Road | Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra | Self-descriptive: the road at the summit of Penang Hill. | |||
| Karpal Singh Drive | Persiaran Karpal Singh | Formerly known as IJM Promenade. It was renamed after Penang born lawyer and also Jelutong Member of Parliament, Karpal Singh. |