Simpang

Simpang is a Malay term meaning an intersection or junction in the road network. It is used across Malay-speaking communities, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore, to describe a point where two or more roads meet or where a turning point exists along a route. The word is commonly found in road signage, maps, and addresses, and as part of place names.

In toponymy, Simpang appears as a descriptive element for towns and villages situated at crossroads. Settlements often grew at crossroads, serving travelers and local markets, which led to the adoption of Simpang in their names. A well-known example is Simpang Renggam, a town in Johor, Malaysia, which developed around a major road junction. Across the archipelago, many other localities carry Simpang as either a standalone name or as part of a longer toponym, reflecting their historical or geographic location at a junction.

In contemporary use, the term continues to function in everyday navigation. It is used in road designations, public transport planning, and geographic databases to indicate the relative position of junctions. The prevalence of Simpang in place names highlights the historical importance of road networks in shaping settlement patterns in Southeast Asia.

See also: Malay and Indonesian toponymy; use of numerical descriptors with Simpang to indicate junction types (for example, three-way or four-way intersections) in local signage and naming conventions.