my @list2 = qw(one two three); my %lookup_hash; @lookup_hash{@list2} = 'foo'; use Data::Dumper; print Dumper \%lookup_hash; #### $VAR1 = { 'three' => undef, 'one' => 'foo', 'two' => undef }; #### @lookup_hash{@list2} = (); #### @lookup_hash{@list2} = ('foo') x @list2;