diff --git a/hy/compiler.py b/hy/compiler.py
index 9b1c337..a8bee1a 100644
--- a/hy/compiler.py
+++ b/hy/compiler.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from hy.models.string import HyString
 from hy.models.symbol import HySymbol
 from hy.models.list import HyList
 from hy.models.dict import HyDict
+from hy.models.keyword import HyKeyword
 
 from hy.util import flatten_literal_list
 
@@ -768,6 +769,11 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
 
             if expression[0].startswith("."):
                 return self.compile_dotted_expression(expression)
+        if isinstance(fn, HyKeyword):
+            new_expr = HyExpression(["get", expression[1], fn])
+            new_expr.start_line = expression.start_line
+            new_expr.start_column = expression.start_column
+            return self.compile_index_expression(new_expr)
 
         return ast.Call(func=self.compile(fn),
                         args=[self.compile(x) for x in expression[1:]],
@@ -927,6 +933,14 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
         return ast.Str(s=ast_str(string), lineno=string.start_line,
                        col_offset=string.start_column)
 
+    @builds(HyKeyword)
+    def compile_keyword(self, keyword):
+        _str_type = str
+        if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
+            _str_type = unicode
+        return ast.Str(s=_str_type(keyword), lineno=keyword.start_line,
+                       col_offset=keyword.start_column)
+
     @builds(HyDict)
     def compile_dict(self, m):
         keys = []
diff --git a/hy/lex/states.py b/hy/lex/states.py
index f6ec6eb..de83f56 100644
--- a/hy/lex/states.py
+++ b/hy/lex/states.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from hy.models.expression import HyExpression
 from hy.models.integer import HyInteger
 from hy.models.symbol import HySymbol
 from hy.models.string import HyString
+from hy.models.keyword import HyKeyword
 from hy.models.dict import HyDict
 from hy.models.list import HyList
 
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@ def _resolve_atom(obj):
     if obj in table:
         return HySymbol(table[obj])
 
+    if obj.startswith(":"):
+        return HyKeyword(obj)
+
     if obj.startswith("*") and obj.endswith("*") and obj != "*":
         obj = obj[1:-1].upper()
 
diff --git a/hy/models/keyword.py b/hy/models/keyword.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e57d2f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hy/models/keyword.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2013 Gergely Nagy <algernon@madhouse-project.org>
+#
+# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+# copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
+# to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
+# the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
+# and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
+# Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+#
+# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+# all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+#
+# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL
+# THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+# FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER
+# DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from hy.models import HyObject
+import sys
+
+
+if sys.version_info[0] >= 3:
+    _str_type = str
+else:
+    _str_type = unicode
+
+
+class HyKeyword(HyObject, _str_type):
+    """Generic Hy Keyword object. It's either a ``str`` or a ``unicode``,
+    depending on the Python version.
+    """
+
+    def __new__(cls, value):
+        obj = _str_type.__new__(cls, "\uFDD0" + value)
+        return obj
diff --git a/tests/native_tests/language.hy b/tests/native_tests/language.hy
index 0bd08ff..45045c6 100644
--- a/tests/native_tests/language.hy
+++ b/tests/native_tests/language.hy
@@ -510,6 +510,18 @@
                  (pass)
                  ((fn [] 1))))))
 
+(defn test-keyword []
+  "NATIVE: test if keywords are recognised"
+
+  (assert (= :foo :foo))
+  (assert (= (get {:foo "bar"} :foo) "bar"))
+  (assert (= (get {:bar "quux"} (get {:foo :bar} :foo)) "quux")))
+
+(defn test-keyword-clash []
+  "NATIVE: test that keywords do not clash with normal strings"
+
+  (assert (= (get {:foo "bar" ":foo" "quux"} :foo) "bar"))
+  (assert (= (get {:foo "bar" ":foo" "quux"} ":foo") "quux")))
 
 (defn test-nested-if []
   "NATIVE: test nested if"