my %languages;
$languages{'python'} = 'boring';
@languages{'perl', 'perl6'} 
   = ('cool', 'real soon now');
# this is short for
( $languages{'perl'} , $languages{'perl6'} )
    = ('cool', 'real soon now');
# or
$languages{'perl'}  = 'cool';
$languages{'perl6'} = 'real soon now';