mahkamah

Mahkamah is a Malay term meaning "court" and denotes a judicial institution or the building where legal proceedings take place. It is used in Malay-speaking countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore to refer to courts at various levels and in both civil and criminal contexts. The term may also appear in compound names for specific courts, such as family and religious courts.

Originating from Arabic mahkamah (محكمة), from a root meaning to judge, mahkamah literally translates to the "place where judgement is given" or "court." In Malay, the word has been adopted to cover both secular and religious tribunals.

In Malaysia, the official Malay names for the major courts are Mahkamah Persekutuan (Federal Court), Mahkamah Rayuan (Court of Appeal), and Mahkamah Tinggi (High Court). Lower courts include Mahkamah Sesyen (Sessions Court) and Mahkamah Majistret (Magistrates' Court). There are also Mahkamah Syariah (Shariah courts) that handle Islamic family and personal law for Muslim residents, operating alongside the civil judiciary in each state.

In Brunei and Singapore, as well as in broader Malay usage, the term mahkamah similarly denotes courts, though naming conventions and jurisdictional structures may differ from Malaysia's. The term is common in legal texts, journalism, and everyday speech to refer to judicial proceedings or the institution of the judiciary as a whole.