Malu

Malu is a term with multiple meanings across languages and cultures. In Malay and Indonesian, malu means “shy,” “ashamed,” or “modest.” It is used as an adjective and can appear in predicative form, as in Saya malu (I am ashamed). The word also appears in common idioms, such as malu-malu kucing, which describes someone who is coy or pretending to be shy. In these languages, malu reflects social norms around modesty and restraint in everyday interactions.

As a name, Malú (often written with an acute accent) is a feminine given name or stage name in Spanish-speaking countries. The best-known bearer is the Spanish singer and actress María Lucía Sánchez Blázquez, who performs under the name Malú. The name is sometimes rendered as Malu in non-Spanish contexts.

In broader usage, malu may appear in discussions of language, culture, or personal names without implying a single definition beyond the language-specific senses described above. The term’s meaning is thus primarily tied to emotions of embarrassment or modesty in Malay and Indonesian contexts, and to a cultural nickname or stage name in Spanish-speaking contexts.