What does prau mean?
A prau is a traditional boat associated especially with the Malay world and the broader maritime cultures of Southeast Asia. Its characteristic features include a narrow wooden hull, steeply raked ends, and, in many traditional designs, stabilizing outriggers. These vessels were used for fishing, transport, trade, travel, and sometimes as warships. Although prau may broadly evoke the region’s seafaring heritage, the term also refers to a recognizable boat design rather than a single national vessel type. In English, it appears mainly in historical, nautical, and ethnographic writing, so it is unfamiliar to many contemporary speakers but useful when discussing traditional Malay boats or regional maritime culture. The related spelling proa is also encountered, particularly in older English sources. Praus are notable for combining speed and slender hulls with practical features such as outriggers, which reduced the danger of capsizing in rough or open water.
nounA traditional boat of Southeast Asia, particularly in the Malay world, typically distinguished by sharply raked ends and often fitted with outriggers for stability.
- A traditional Southeast Asian boat, especially a Malay sailing boat with raked ends and often outriggers.
"The fishermen returned to the harbor in a slender prau painted with bright geometric patterns."
"A prau carrying a cargo of spices slipped quietly through the narrow channel."
"The historian described the prau as one of the characteristic vessels of Malay maritime trade."
The regular English plural is praus, although in historical writing the word also appears in forms such as praus and prauen.
"Several praus were moored together beside the trading quay."
Built for speed and seaworthiness, the prau combines raked ends with outriggers that help keep a narrow hull stable in open water.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prau come from?
The English word prau comes from Malay, where the corresponding form perahu denotes a boat. It belongs to a wider group of related forms in Austronesian languages, including Indonesian perahu and Tagalog parao, reflecting the long maritime connections among communities across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Older English sources also used variants such as proa and parow.
How prau is actually used
In modern English, prau is relatively uncommon and appears chiefly in historical, nautical, ethnographic, and maritime contexts. It is more specific than the general word boat and should not be used as a generic term for every small sailing craft.
Easily confused with prau
A prau is a type of traditional boat, whereas a prow is the forward part of any boat or ship.
Proa is an alternative English spelling of prau and can refer to the same traditional boat type.