diff --git a/hy/compiler.py b/hy/compiler.py
index 4bfbd56..e990a41 100644
--- a/hy/compiler.py
+++ b/hy/compiler.py
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
         return [self.compile(x) for x in expr[1:]]
 
     @builds("throw")
+    @builds("raise")
     @checkargs(min=1)
     def compile_throw_expression(self, expr):
         expr.pop(0)
@@ -194,6 +195,7 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
             orelse=[])
 
     @builds("catch")
+    @builds("except")
     def compile_catch_expression(self, expr):
         expr.pop(0)  # catch
 
diff --git a/tests/compilers/test_ast.py b/tests/compilers/test_ast.py
index 0fc69da..533f836 100644
--- a/tests/compilers/test_ast.py
+++ b/tests/compilers/test_ast.py
@@ -104,6 +104,16 @@ def test_ast_bad_throw():
     cant_compile("(throw)")
 
 
+def test_ast_good_raise():
+    "Make sure AST can compile valid raise"
+    hy_compile(tokenize("(raise 1)"))
+
+
+def test_ast_bad_raise():
+    "Make sure AST can't compile invalid raise"
+    cant_compile("(raise)")
+
+
 def test_ast_good_try():
     "Make sure AST can compile valid try"
     hy_compile(tokenize("(try 1)"))
@@ -132,6 +142,24 @@ def test_ast_bad_catch():
     cant_compile("(catch [x [FooBar] BarBar]])")
 
 
+def test_ast_good_except():
+    "Make sure AST can compile valid except"
+    hy_compile(tokenize("(except)"))
+    hy_compile(tokenize("(except [])"))
+    hy_compile(tokenize("(except [Foobar])"))
+    hy_compile(tokenize("(except [[]])"))
+    hy_compile(tokenize("(except [x FooBar])"))
+    hy_compile(tokenize("(except [x [FooBar BarFoo]])"))
+    hy_compile(tokenize("(except [x [FooBar BarFoo]])"))
+
+
+def test_ast_bad_except():
+    "Make sure AST can't compile invalid except"
+    cant_compile("(except 1)")
+    cant_compile("(except [1 3])")
+    cant_compile("(except [x [FooBar] BarBar]])")
+
+
 def test_ast_good_assert():
     "Make sure AST can compile valid assert"
     hy_compile(tokenize("(assert 1)"))
diff --git a/tests/native_tests/language.hy b/tests/native_tests/language.hy
index c137cc7..d41d20b 100644
--- a/tests/native_tests/language.hy
+++ b/tests/native_tests/language.hy
@@ -163,23 +163,29 @@
 (defn test-exceptions []
   "NATIVE: test Exceptions"
   (try
-    (throw (KeyError))
+    (raise (KeyError))
     (catch [[IOError]] (assert false))
     (catch [e [KeyError]] (assert e)))
 
+  (try
+    (throw (KeyError))
+    (except [[IOError]] (assert false))
+    (catch [e [KeyError]] (assert e)))
+
+
   (try
     (get [1] 3)
     (catch [IndexError] (assert true))
-    (catch [IndexError] (pass)))
+    (except [IndexError] (pass)))
 
   (try
     (print foobar42ofthebaz)
     (catch [IndexError] (assert false))
-    (catch [NameError] (pass)))
+    (except [NameError] (pass)))
 
   (try
     (get [1] 3)
-    (catch [e IndexError] (assert (isinstance e IndexError))))
+    (except [e IndexError] (assert (isinstance e IndexError))))
 
   (try
     (get [1] 3)
@@ -187,7 +193,7 @@
 
   (try
     (print foobar42ofthebaz)
-    (catch [e [IndexError NameError]] (assert (isinstance e NameError))))
+    (except [e [IndexError NameError]] (assert (isinstance e NameError))))
 
   (try
     (print foobar42)
@@ -203,11 +209,11 @@
 
   (try
     (print foobar42ofthebaz)
-    (catch []))
+    (except []))
 
   (try
     (print foobar42ofthebaz)
-    (catch [] (pass)))
+    (except [] (pass)))
 
   (try
     (print foobar42ofthebaz)