jalan

Jalan is a Malay and Indonesian noun meaning road or street. It is a common element in street names in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia, where the word prefixes local names in signs and addresses (for example Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur or Jalan Sudirman in Jakarta). The term also functions as a verb meaning to walk or travel, with common phrases such as jalan kaki (to walk) and jalan-jalan (to stroll or go on a trip).

Origins and usage: The word Jalan is native to the Malay language and is widely used across the Malay-speaking archipelago. As a noun it denotes a physical route; as a verb it expresses movement. In contemporary signage, Jalan is abbreviated as Jl. in Indonesian and as Jalan in Malaysia.

Geographic and cultural context: Jalan is integral to urban toponymy in Southeast Asia, reflecting the importance of roads in densely populated cities. In Singapore and Malaysia, Jalan-prefixed streets appear throughout historic and newer districts; in Indonesia, Jalan is common in street names such as Jalan M.H. Thamrin or Jalan Sudirman in major cities.

Other uses: Jalan is also a surname in the Indian subcontinent, notably among Bengali-speaking communities, where it appears in family names. As a surname it is unrelated to the meaning of road but demonstrates the word's broader linguistic reach.