Glossary & Terminology Guide
This section is the single authoritative reference for how to spell, capitalise, pronounce, and use terms drawn from Malay, Portuguese, Chinese, Tamil, Arabic, and other traditions that appear across the franchise. Every creator, translator, voice director, and localisation team should treat this as binding.
How to Read Each Entry
Term — Capitalisation form as it should appear in English prose. Pronunciation — Approximate English phonetic guide. Malay is largely phonetic: a as in “father,” e as in “the” (schwa) or “bed” (when stressed), i as “ee,” u as “oo,” c is always “ch,” ng as in “sing,” ny as in “canyon,” kh as a guttural “k.” Definition — Franchise-specific meaning, not a dictionary entry. Usage — Whether the term is italicised, capitalised, or treated as naturalised English in franchise prose.
General Rules
- Malay terms used as titles or proper nouns (Bendahara, Laksamana, Sultan) are capitalised and set in roman (not italic) when referring to a specific officeholder. Lowercase and italic when used generically: “the role of laksamana predates Malacca.”
- Cultural and spiritual terms (semangat, daulat, adat) are italicised on first use in any document, then set in roman for the remainder of that document.
- Weapons and objects (kerambit, keris, sumpitan) are italicised on first use, then roman thereafter. Never capitalised unless beginning a sentence.
- Place names and ethnonyms (Peranakan, Orang Laut, Nusantara) are capitalised and roman. They are proper nouns.
- Supernatural entities (pontianak, penanggal, toyol) are lowercase and italic when referring to the creature type. Capitalised only when used as a proper name for a specific individual entity.
- Portuguese and other European terms follow standard English conventions. No special formatting unless the term is obscure enough to warrant italics on first use.
- Consistency across media: These rules apply to game UI, subtitles, scripts, novels, and marketing copy alike. Localisation teams may adapt formatting to target-language conventions but must preserve the spelling of Malay terms.
Court & Political Titles
Sultan · /SOOL-tahn/ The sovereign ruler of the Malacca Sultanate. His authority is theologically grounded and nominally absolute, though in practice constrained by the Bendahara, merchant guilds, and factional politics. Capitalised when referring to a specific ruler (“the Sultan ordered his execution”) or as a title before a name (“Sultan Mansur Shah”). Lowercase when used generically (“the duties of a sultan”). Roman, not italic.
Bendahara · /ben-da-HA-ra/ Chief minister and principal strategist of the Sultanate. Manages the state’s legal system, alliances, and intelligence apparatus. In the franchise’s primary era, this role is held by Tun Perak. Same capitalisation rules as Sultan. Roman.
Laksamana · /lak-sa-MA-na/ Admiral of the fleet and commander of maritime defence. The franchise’s most iconic figure, Hang Tuah, holds this title. The word derives from Sanskrit. Same capitalisation rules as Sultan. Roman.
Temenggung · /te-meng-GOONG/ Head of law enforcement and internal security. Controls the hulubalang and oversees deniable intelligence operations. Same capitalisation rules as Sultan. Roman.
Shahbandar · /shah-BAN-dar/ Harbourmaster and trade regulator. From Persian shah (king) + bandar (port). Each major merchant community (Chinese, Indian, Arab, Javanese) has a designated Shahbandar who manages disputes, tariffs, and commercial law. Plural: Shahbandars. Same capitalisation rules as Sultan. Roman.
Hulubalang · /hoo-loo-BA-lahng/ Warrior-administrator class. Functions as both military officer and civil enforcer. In the franchise, the hulubalang corps serves as the Temenggung’s enforcement arm and the source of clandestine operatives. Lowercase unless beginning a sentence. Italic on first use, then roman.
Orang Kaya · /OH-rahng KAH-ya/ Literally “rich person.” A title denoting Malay nobility and senior court officials. Plural: Orang Kaya (unchanged). Capitalised as a title. Roman.
Ulama · /oo-la-MA/ Islamic religious scholars. Arriving in Malacca primarily with Gujarati trade, they represent growing religious authority within the Sultanate. Plural: ulama (no English plural -s). Lowercase unless beginning a sentence. Italic on first use, then roman.
Spiritual & Cosmological Terms
Daulat · /dow-LAHT/ The mystical sovereignty or divine radiance believed to inhere in Malay rulers. To defy a ruler’s daulat is to invite supernatural retribution. Whether daulat functions as literal metaphysical protection or as political mythology is a central ambiguity the franchise preserves. Italic on first use, then roman.
Semangat · /se-MA-ngat/ Spirit-essence believed to inhabit living things and significant objects, particularly forged blades. The Keris Taming Sari’s legendary invulnerability is an expression of powerful semangat. In the franchise, semangat is believed — never confirmed or denied as a gameplay mechanic. Italic on first use, then roman.
Adat · /AH-daht/ Customary law and social norms. Predates Islam in the Malay world and coexists — sometimes uneasily — with Islamic jurisprudence. Adat governs everything from inheritance to conflict resolution to the proper way to address a superior. Italic on first use, then roman.
Pantang · /PAN-tahng/ Taboo or prohibition rooted in adat and spiritual belief. Breaking a pantang can invite supernatural consequence, social ostracism, or both. In the franchise, pantang creates gameplay and narrative constraints: actions a character cannot take, places they cannot enter, words they cannot speak. Italic on first use, then roman.
Combat & Material Culture
Silat · /SEE-laht/ The overarching Malay martial art encompassing striking, grappling, joint manipulation, and weapons. Multiple regional styles exist, each with philosophical and spiritual dimensions rooted in Sufi mysticism and animal forms. The franchise’s primary combat system. Italic on first use, then roman.
Kerambit · /ke-RAM-bit/ Curved, claw-shaped blade. The franchise’s signature close-quarters weapon. Held in reverse grip, designed for control and lethality. Symbolically tied to the tiger. Spelling note: kerambit, not “karambit” — the franchise uses the classical Malay spelling. Italic on first use, then roman. Never capitalised.
Keris · /ke-REES/ The asymmetric dagger central to Malay identity. Each keris is unique — often attributed spiritual power (semangat). A keris is not merely a weapon but a marker of status, identity, and metaphysical authority. Spelling note: keris is the franchise standard. The variant kris is acceptable in dialogue or informal contexts but keris is preferred in all production documents. Italic on first use, then roman. Never capitalised unless part of a proper name (Keris Taming Sari).
Keris Taming Sari · /ke-REES ta-MING SA-ree/ The legendary keris won by Hang Tuah in single combat against the Javanese champion Taming Sari at the Majapahit court. Said to grant its wielder invulnerability. The franchise’s most iconic weapon. Its supernatural properties are believed, never confirmed. Always capitalised as a proper noun. Roman.
Sumpitan · /soom-PEE-tan/ Blowpipe. Silent ranged weapon associated with jungle warfare and indigenous communities. In the franchise, it serves as the primary stealth weapon. Italic on first use, then roman. Never capitalised.
Songket · /SONG-ket/ A luxurious hand-woven textile with gold or silver thread. A marker of high status in Malay court culture. Used as a visual indicator of rank and allegiance in the franchise. Italic on first use, then roman.
Batik · /ba-TEEK/ Wax-resist dyed textile. A visual identifier of ethnicity, profession, and regional origin. Naturalised in English — roman, no italics required. Never capitalised.
Social & Geographical Terms
Peranakan · /pe-ra-NA-kan/ People of mixed Chinese-Malay heritage. In the franchise, the protagonist of Shadow of the Straits comes from a Peranakan merchant family. The Peranakan community bridges both worlds — linguistically, culturally, and politically. Always capitalised as an ethnonym. Roman.
Orang Laut · /OH-rahng LOWT/ “Sea people.” Maritime nomadic communities who inhabit the coastal waters of the Straits. In the franchise, they serve as pilots, sentinels, and the Sultanate’s informal navy. Always capitalised. Roman.
Orang Bunian · /OH-rahng BOO-nee-an/ “Hidden people.” A parallel civilisation of beautiful, invisible beings believed to live alongside humans in deep jungle. Sometimes benevolent, sometimes predatory. Capitalised as a proper noun denoting a specific supernatural race. Roman.
Kampung · /KAM-poong/ Village. Used throughout the franchise to denote both physical settlements and the ethnic quarters within Malacca city (Kampung Cina, Kampung Keling, Kampung Arab, Kampung Jawa). Capitalised when part of a proper place name. Lowercase and italic when used generically (“the kampung beyond the walls”). The English “compound” derives from this word, but the franchise always uses the Malay form.
Nusantara · /noo-san-TA-ra/ The Malay-Indonesian archipelago as a cultural and geographical concept. From Sanskrit: nusa (island) + antara (between). Used in the franchise to refer to the broader island Southeast Asian world beyond Malacca. Always capitalised. Roman.
Bumiputera · /boo-mee-POO-te-ra/ Literally “sons of the soil.” Indigenous Malay and other native peoples of the region. A political and identity term distinguishing indigenous populations from immigrant communities. Modern connotations are complex; in the franchise, use sparingly and only in contexts where the indigenous/immigrant distinction is narratively relevant. Capitalised. Roman.
Supernatural Entities
Pontianak · /pon-tee-AH-nak/ The vengeful spirit of a woman who died in childbirth. Appears as a beautiful woman; reveals its true form in attack. Associated with the scent of frangipani and the sound of a baby crying. Lowercase and italic when referring to the creature type. Capitalised only as a character name.
Penanggal · /pe-NAHNG-gal/ A detached female head that flies through the night with its entrails trailing below. Feeds on the blood of pregnant women and newborns. Same formatting rules as pontianak.
Toyol · /TOY-ol/ A child-spirit bound to serve a master, typically sent to steal from enemies. Created through dark ritual by a bomoh. Same formatting rules as pontianak.
Hantu Raya · /HAN-too RAH-ya/ Literally “great ghost.” A powerful master spirit that can be inherited or bound through ritual. Grants its keeper wealth and power at terrible personal cost. Same formatting rules as pontianak.
Bomoh · /BOH-moh/ Shaman-healer who mediates between the human and spirit worlds. Can be a protector, a curse-breaker, or a weapon. The franchise’s Van Helsing figure. Lowercase and italic on first use, then roman.
Puteri Gunung Ledang · /poo-TE-ree goo-NOONG le-DAHNG/ The supernatural princess of Mount Ledang. Her impossible demands — ending with the blood of the Sultan’s only son — symbolise the limits of mortal power. Always capitalised as a proper name. Roman.
Source Texts & Literary Terms
Sejarah Melayu · /se-JA-rah me-LAH-yoo/ “Malay Annals.” One of the two foundational source texts of the franchise. A court chronicle recognised in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme. Functions as political history. Always italicised as a title.
Hikayat Hang Tuah · /hee-KAH-yat HANG TOO-ah/ “The Tale of Hang Tuah.” The second foundational source text. An epic romance and mythic narrative. Also UNESCO-recognised. Always italicised as a title.
Undang-Undang Melaka · /oon-DAHNG oon-DAHNG me-LA-ka/ “Laws of Malacca.” The Sultanate’s legal code, a franchise asset for trade law and governance storylines. Italicised as a title.
Hikayat · /hee-KAH-yat/ A Malay literary form: epic narrative, often combining historical and legendary elements. Italic when used as a generic term. Roman and capitalised when part of a specific title.
Historical & Cultural Terms
Amok · /a-MOK/ A state of murderous frenzy. In the franchise, Hang Jebat “goes amok” — seizing the royal palace in violent rebellion. The English word “amok” (or “amuck”) derives from the Malay. Naturalised in English — roman, no italics. Lowercase.
Darwish · /DAR-wish/ A Sufi ascetic or wandering mystic. Hang Tuah becomes a darwish after Malacca’s fall. The franchise uses the Malay-influenced spelling darwish rather than “dervish.” Italic on first use, then roman.
Frangipani · /fran-jee-PA-nee/ Tropical flower (Plumeria). In the franchise’s supernatural lore, its scent signals the presence of a pontianak. Naturalised English — roman, no italics.
Musical Instruments
Gamelan · /GA-me-lan/ An ensemble of percussive instruments (metallophones, gongs, drums) of Javanese and Malay origin. Naturalised in English. Roman.
Nafiri · /na-FEE-ree/ A long, straight trumpet of Persian origin, used exclusively in the royal nobat ensemble. The nafiri sounds only on sovereign occasions — installations, royal deaths, and major ceremonial events. Its voice is the audible manifestation of daulat. Italic on first use, then roman. Never capitalised unless beginning a sentence.
Rebab · /re-BAHB/ A bowed string instrument of Arab origin, used across the Malay world. Italic on first use, then roman.
Serunai · /se-ROO-nai/ A double-reed wind instrument. Associated with Malay court and ceremonial music. Italic on first use, then roman.
Tabla · /TAB-la/ A pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Present in Malacca’s Indian quarter. Naturalised in English. Roman.
Vessels
Junk · (standard English) A Chinese sailing ship. Malacca’s harbour is filled with them. Naturalised English. Roman. Not capitalised.
Dhow · /dow/ An Arab sailing vessel with lateen sails. Naturalised English. Roman. Not capitalised.
Sampan · /SAM-pan/ A small flat-bottomed boat. Used for harbour transport and river navigation. Naturalised English. Roman. Not capitalised.
Carrack · (standard English) A large European sailing ship. The Portuguese arrive in carracks. Naturalised English. Roman. Not capitalised.
Historical Polities & Peoples
Srivijaya · /sree-wee-JAH-ya/ The maritime empire based in Sumatra (7th–13th centuries) from which Malacca’s founding line claims descent. Parameswara is a Srivijayan prince. Capitalised as a proper noun. Roman.
Majapahit · /ma-ja-PA-hit/ The Javanese Hindu-Buddhist empire (13th–16th centuries). A declining but still significant power during the franchise’s era. Capitalised. Roman.
Demak · /DE-mak/ A rising Islamic sultanate on the north coast of Java, successor to the declining Majapahit. Represents the shift from Hindu-Buddhist to Islamic power in the archipelago. A geopolitical factor in Malacca’s late period. Capitalised. Roman.
Ayutthaya · /ah-YOO-ta-ya/ The Siamese kingdom (14th–18th centuries) centred in modern Thailand. A persistent northern threat to the Malay Peninsula. The franchise uses “Ayutthaya” rather than “Siam” as the primary term for the polity; “Siamese” is acceptable as an adjective. Capitalised. Roman.
Johor · /JOH-hor/ The sultanate founded by Malacca’s surviving royal line after the Portuguese conquest of 1511. Malay sovereignty endures in exile. The natural setting for franchise stories set in Era IV and beyond. Capitalised. Roman.
Iskandar Zulkarnain · /is-KAN-dar zool-kar-NINE/ Alexander the Great, as known in the Malay literary tradition. The Malaccan royal line claims descent from him through Sang Sapurba. Capitalised. Roman.
Key Phrases
“Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia” · /TAK-kan me-LAH-yoo hee-LAHNG dee DOO-nya/ “Never shall Malays vanish from the earth.” Attributed to Hang Tuah. The franchise’s most resonant line. Whether Tuah spoke it, or it was spoken about him, is deliberately unresolved. Always italicised and in quotation marks. Always given with English translation on first use.
“Raja zalim, raja disanggah” · /RAH-ja ZA-leem, RAH-ja dee-SAHNG-gah/ “A tyrannical king must be opposed.” Associated with Hang Jebat’s rebellion. The counter-argument to royal absolutism. Same formatting rules as above.
If you are uncertain about any term not listed here, contact the IP holder before publication. Consistency is not a suggestion — it is a franchise requirement.