Mak nyah

Mak nyah (pronounced [ˈmaʔ ˈɲa]), alternatively spelled maknyah, is a Malay vernacular term for male-to-female (MTF) trans women in Malaysia. It arose in the late 1980s in order to distinguish MTF trans women from other minorities.

The name is preferred by Malaysian trans women as opposed to various derogatory terms (namely, pondan and bapok), which were previously used by Sarawakians when referring to transsexuals and cross-dressers. These are also considered slurs, which are variously directed to gay men as well as transgender individuals. Though less used, the term pak nyah is sometimes used for female-to-male transgender males, and the hybrid term mak-pak nyah for all transgender individuals.