my %menu = { info => \@menu_info, sell => \@menu_sell }; #then.. .... print $menu{info}[0]; # First thing in the @menu_info array. print $menu{sell}[0]; # First thing in the @menu_sell array. #### my $foo = 'info'; print $menu{$foo}[0]; # will print the first item in @menu_info as well