prahu

Prahu, also spelled prahu or prâhu, refers to a class of traditional sailing vessels described in Southeast Asian maritime history. In Malay and Indonesian contexts, perahu is the general term for a boat, while prahu appears in historical sources to denote a specific type of fast coastal and riverine craft used by various Malay polities, especially around the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and the broader archipelago. The exact meaning and classification of prahu varied by region and period.

Historical records from the medieval to early modern eras describe prahu ships in the fleets of polities such as Srivijaya, Malacca, Johor, and Aceh. Prahu vessels were employed for transporting goods and people and, at times, for military purposes, enabling rapid movement along both sea routes and inland waterways.

Design characteristics of prahu ships varied by locale. Descriptions often depict long, slender hulls designed for speed, propelled by sails and oars. Some variants featured outriggers or additional stabilizers to handle turbulent coastal waters, while others were more monohull in form. Construction typically used hardwood planks fastened with traditional joinery, optimized for lightness and maneuverability in tropical environments.

Today, the term prahu appears mainly in historical scholarship and in ship-typing studies. The more common modern term for boats in the region is perahu, with prahu appearing primarily in chronicles, travel accounts, and reconstructions. Ongoing archaeological finds and iconographic evidence continue to illuminate the range and regional diversity of prahu types.