use vars qw($v); $v = ( h1 => { k1 => vh1k1, k2 => vh1k2, } h2 => { k1 => vh2k1, k2 => vh2k2, } ) #### my $ofCurrentInterest = 'h1'; foreach $key (keys $v->{$ofCurrentInterest}) { $$key = $v->{ofCurrentInterst}->{$key} }