Penerangan

Penerangan is a Malay and Indonesian noun with two principal senses. It can mean the act of explaining or informing about something, i.e., providing clarification or information. In this sense, penerangan is used for briefings, explanations, or public information campaigns and is often synonymous with penjelasan, keterangan, or informasi. It can also denote lighting or illumination, referring to the provision of light for a space, road, or building; in Malay and Indonesian phrases such as penerangan jalan or sistem penerangan, the focus is on electrical or other sources of light and their deployment.

In everyday language, the information sense covers everything from product manuals to public advisories and media briefings, while the lighting sense appears in architectural, urban planning, and infrastructure contexts. In some countries in the region, the term has also been used as the title of government bodies responsible for information and public communications, such as departments or ministries that handle public messaging, media relations, and dissemination of official information.

Etymology: the word is formed from terang (bright) with the prefix pe- and n- forming a noun in Malay/Indonesian, corresponding to both illumination and clarification. Related terms include penjelasan (explanation), keterangan (information), and informasi (information).