diff --git a/README.MD b/README.MD
index 017b50d..c5ebbe2 100644
--- a/README.MD
+++ b/README.MD
@@ -401,6 +401,13 @@ fn main() {
   field access `a.b` and assignment `a.b = v` (chained: `a[i].b`, `a.b[i]`);
   structs are mutable references (identity `==`/`!=`), and setting a missing
   field adds it, so records can be built incrementally
+- declared struct field types:
+  `struct Point { x int, y int, tag ?string, next Point }` — fields may declare
+  a type (`int`, `float`, `string`, `bool`, `array`, another struct, or an
+  enum); a leading `?` also accepts `none`. The checker validates struct
+  literals and field reads/writes against the declaration: unknown fields and
+  mistyped values are compile-time errors. Untyped fields stay fully dynamic,
+  and ints widen to `float` fields
 - enums: `enum Color { red green blue }` with `Color.red`, `e.to_string()`,
   `e.count()`, and iteration in `for`
 - constants: `const NAME = 42` (compile-time integer/bool values)
diff --git a/compiler/ast.v b/compiler/ast.v
index a6880a3..1610034 100644
--- a/compiler/ast.v
+++ b/compiler/ast.v
@@ -100,12 +100,16 @@ pub mut:
 	line      int
 }
 
-// StructDecl is a `struct Name { a, b }` declaration.
+// StructDecl is a `struct Name { a int, b }` declaration.
+// field_types is parallel to fields; an empty string means the field is
+// dynamically typed (any value), while a declared type is enforced by the
+// checker. A leading `?` marks the field as also accepting `none`.
 pub struct StructDecl {
 pub mut:
-	name   string
-	fields []string
-	line   int
+	name        string
+	fields      []string
+	field_types []string
+	line        int
 }
 
 pub struct FnDecl {
diff --git a/compiler/check.v b/compiler/check.v
index de9f3be..ffbec3c 100644
--- a/compiler/check.v
+++ b/compiler/check.v
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ mut:
 	mutable   map[string]bool     // local names bound with `mut`, params, loop vars; only these may be reassigned
 	fns       map[string]FnSig
 	structs   map[string][]string
+	struct_types map[string]map[string]string // struct name -> field -> declared type ('' = any)
 	enums     map[string][]string
 	consts    map[string]TypeInfo
 	loop_depth int
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ fn check(prog Program) ! {
 			return error('duplicate struct declaration "${sd.name}" (line ${sd.line})')
 		}
 		c.structs[sd.name] = sd.fields
+		c.struct_types[sd.name] = field_type_map(sd)
 	}
 	for ed in prog.enums {
 		if ed.name in c.enums {
@@ -76,13 +78,19 @@ fn check(prog Program) ! {
 		}
 		c.fns[fd.name] = FnSig{ min_args: fd.params.len - def_count(fd), has_defs: fd.has_defs, variadic: fd.variadic, n_type_params: fd.type_params.len }
 	}
-	// imported files are checked (and their symbols merged) recursively
+	// imported files are checked (and their symbols merged) recursively;
+	// recursion runs first so a struct's field types may reference types
+	// declared in transitive imports
 	for imp in prog.imports {
 		if imp.name.len > 0 {
 			c.modules[imp.name] = true
 		}
 		c.check_import(imp.path, imp.name)!
 	}
+	// all declarations are visible now — validate declared field types
+	for sd in prog.structs {
+		c.validate_struct(sd)!
+	}
 	for fd in prog.fns {
 		c.check_fn(fd)!
 	}
@@ -98,6 +106,94 @@ fn def_count(fd FnDecl) int {
 	return n
 }
 
+// field_type_map turns a StructDecl's parallel fields/field_types arrays into
+// a lookup map (missing entries default to '' = dynamically typed).
+fn field_type_map(sd StructDecl) map[string]string {
+	mut m := map[string]string{}
+	for i, fname in sd.fields {
+		m[fname] = if i < sd.field_types.len { sd.field_types[i] } else { '' }
+	}
+	return m
+}
+
+const builtin_type_names = ['int', 'float', 'string', 'bool', 'array']
+
+// validate_struct checks a struct declaration's own well-formedness: no
+// duplicate fields and every declared type names a builtin or a known
+// struct/enum.
+fn (mut c Checker) validate_struct(sd StructDecl) ! {
+	mut seen := map[string]bool{}
+	for i, fname in sd.fields {
+		if fname in seen {
+			return error('duplicate field "${fname}" in struct ${sd.name} (line ${sd.line})')
+		}
+		seen[fname] = true
+		decl := if i < sd.field_types.len { sd.field_types[i] } else { '' }
+		if decl.len == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		base := decl.trim_left('?')
+		if base in builtin_type_names {
+			continue
+		}
+		if base in c.structs || base in c.enums {
+			continue
+		}
+		return error('unknown type "${base}" for field "${fname}" of struct ${sd.name} (line ${sd.line})')
+	}
+}
+
+// field_accepts reports whether a value of checker type t may be stored in a
+// field declared as decl ('' = any). Ints widen to floats; unknown stays
+// dynamic. A '?'-prefixed declaration additionally accepts none.
+fn (mut c Checker) field_accepts(decl string, t TypeInfo) bool {
+	if t.kind == .unknown || decl.len == 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+	if t.kind == .none_t {
+		return decl.starts_with('?')
+	}
+	base := decl.trim_left('?')
+	return match base {
+		'int' { t.kind == .int_t }
+		'float' { t.kind == .float_t || t.kind == .int_t }
+		'string' { t.kind == .string_t }
+		'bool' { t.kind == .bool_t }
+		'array' { t.kind == .array_t }
+		else {
+			if base in c.structs {
+				t.kind == .struct_t && t.name == base
+			} else if base in c.enums {
+				t.kind == .enum_t && t.name == base
+			} else {
+				true // unresolved name (separate compilation) — stay conservative
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// declared_type maps a declared field type to the checker TypeInfo that reads
+// of that field produce.
+fn (mut c Checker) declared_type(decl string) TypeInfo {
+	base := decl.trim_left('?')
+	return match base {
+		'int' { TypeInfo{ kind: .int_t } }
+		'float' { TypeInfo{ kind: .float_t } }
+		'string' { TypeInfo{ kind: .string_t } }
+		'bool' { TypeInfo{ kind: .bool_t } }
+		'array' { TypeInfo{ kind: .array_t } }
+		else {
+			if base in c.enums {
+				TypeInfo{ kind: .enum_t, name: base }
+			} else if base in c.structs {
+				TypeInfo{ kind: .struct_t, name: base }
+			} else {
+				TypeInfo{ kind: .unknown }
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 fn (mut c Checker) check_import(path string, mod_name string) ! {
 	if path in c.checked {
 		return
@@ -106,12 +202,18 @@ fn (mut c Checker) check_import(path string, mod_name string) ! {
 	resolved := resolve_import(path) or { return error('cannot read import "${path}"') }
 	src := os.read_file(resolved) or { return error('cannot read import "${path}"') }
 	prog := parse(tokenize(src)!)!
+	// recurse into the file's own imports before merging, so every type it
+	// references is registered by the time field declarations are validated
+	for imp in prog.imports {
+		c.check_import(imp.path, imp.name)!
+	}
 	// merge declarations from the import (bare modules register their
 	// functions under both the bare name and the "mod.fn" name, so internal
 	// calls check against the former and program calls against the latter)
 	for sd in prog.structs {
 		if sd.name !in c.structs {
 			c.structs[sd.name] = sd.fields
+			c.struct_types[sd.name] = field_type_map(sd)
 		}
 	}
 	for ed in prog.enums {
@@ -135,8 +237,9 @@ fn (mut c Checker) check_import(path string, mod_name string) ! {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	for imp in prog.imports {
-		c.check_import(imp.path, imp.name)!
+	// every declaration of this file (and its imports) is merged now
+	for sd in prog.structs {
+		c.validate_struct(sd)!
 	}
 	for fd in prog.fns {
 		c.check_fn(fd)!
@@ -193,11 +296,22 @@ fn (mut c Checker) check_stmt(st Stmt) ! {
 			_ = c.check_expr(st.idx)!
 			c.expect_container(base, 'index assignment', st.line)!
 			_ = c.check_expr(st.expr)!
-		}
-		.field_assign {
+		}		.field_assign {
 			base := c.check_expr(st.base)!
 			c.expect_struct_like(base, 'field assignment', st.line)!
-			_ = c.check_expr(st.expr)!
+			vt := c.check_expr(st.expr)!
+			// a known declared struct validates both field existence and type;
+			// anonymous structs stay dynamic (assigning adds fields)
+			if base.kind == .struct_t && base.name.len > 0 && base.name in c.structs {
+				fields := c.structs[base.name]
+				if st.target !in fields {
+					return error('unknown field "${st.target}" for struct ${base.name} (line ${st.line})')
+				}
+				decl := c.struct_types[base.name][st.target]
+				if !c.field_accepts(decl, vt) {
+					return error('cannot assign a ${type_name(vt.kind)} to field "${st.target}" (${decl}) of struct ${base.name} (line ${st.line})')
+				}
+			}
 		}
 		.if_stmt {
 			_ = c.check_expr(st.cond)!
@@ -338,7 +452,11 @@ fn (mut c Checker) check_expr(e Expr) !TypeInfo {
 						return error('duplicate field "${f.name}" in struct literal (line ${e.line})')
 					}
 					seen[f.name] = true
-					_ = c.check_expr(f.val)!
+					vt := c.check_expr(f.val)!
+					decl := c.struct_types[e.name][f.name]
+					if !c.field_accepts(decl, vt) {
+						return error('cannot assign a ${type_name(vt.kind)} to field "${f.name}" (${decl}) of struct ${e.name} (line ${e.line})')
+					}
 				}
 				return TypeInfo{ kind: .struct_t, name: e.name }
 			}
@@ -365,6 +483,18 @@ fn (mut c Checker) check_expr(e Expr) !TypeInfo {
 			if base.kind == .enum_t {
 				return TypeInfo{ kind: .enum_t, name: base.name }
 			}
+			// a known declared struct validates the field name and yields its
+			// declared type, so chained reads keep their types
+			if base.kind == .struct_t && base.name.len > 0 && base.name in c.structs {
+				fields := c.structs[base.name]
+				if e.name !in fields {
+					return error('unknown field "${e.name}" for struct ${base.name} (line ${e.line})')
+				}
+				decl := c.struct_types[base.name][e.name]
+				if decl.len > 0 {
+					return c.declared_type(decl)
+				}
+			}
 			TypeInfo{ kind: .unknown }
 		}
 	.method_call {
diff --git a/compiler/lexer.v b/compiler/lexer.v
index d272a47..22ccaf1 100644
--- a/compiler/lexer.v
+++ b/compiler/lexer.v
@@ -121,6 +121,10 @@ fn (mut l Lexer) next() !Tok {
 			l.advance()
 			return Tok{ kind: .colon, lit: ':', line: line, col: col }
 		}
+		`?` {
+			l.advance()
+			return Tok{ kind: .question, lit: '?', line: line, col: col }
+		}
 		`+` {
 			l.advance()
 			if l.peek() == `=` {
diff --git a/compiler/parser.v b/compiler/parser.v
index 472c14b..6c09005 100644
--- a/compiler/parser.v
+++ b/compiler/parser.v
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // Grammar (informal):
 //   program  := import* (struct | enum | const | fn)*
 //   import   := 'import' STRING | 'import' IDENT
-//   struct   := 'struct' IDENT '{' [IDENT (',' IDENT)*] '}'
+//   struct   := 'struct' IDENT '{' [field (',' field)*] '}'   (field := IDENT [Type] | IDENT '?' Type)
 //   enum     := 'enum' IDENT '{' [IDENT (',' IDENT)*] '}'
 //   const    := 'const' IDENT '=' expr
 //   fn       := 'fn' [ '(' IDENT IDENT ')' ] IDENT '(' [IDENT (',' IDENT)*] ')' block
@@ -103,24 +103,40 @@ fn (mut p Parser) parse_program() !Program {
 	return prog
 }
 
-// parse_struct_decl parses `struct Name { a, b, c }`.
+// parse_struct_decl parses `struct Name { x int, y int, tag ?string, w }`.
+// Each field is `name` (dynamically typed) or `name Type`; a leading `?` on
+// the type marks it optional (also accepting `none`). Fields may be separated
+// by commas or newlines.
 fn (mut p Parser) parse_struct_decl() !StructDecl {
 	t := p.expect(.kw_struct, "'struct'")!
 	name := p.expect(.ident, 'struct name')!
 	p.expect(.lbrace, "'{'")!
 	mut fields := []string{}
+	mut field_types := []string{}
 	if p.cur().kind != .rbrace {
 		for {
 			fields << p.expect(.ident, 'field name')!.lit
+			if p.cur().kind == .question {
+				p.advance()
+				field_types << '?' + p.expect(.ident, 'type name')!.lit
+			} else if p.cur().kind == .ident {
+				field_types << p.advance().lit
+			} else {
+				field_types << ''
+			}
 			if p.cur().kind == .comma {
 				p.advance()
 				continue
 			}
+			if p.cur().kind != .rbrace {
+				// newline-separated field
+				continue
+			}
 			break
 		}
 	}
 	p.expect(.rbrace, "'}'")!
-	return StructDecl{ name: name.lit, fields: fields, line: t.line }
+	return StructDecl{ name: name.lit, fields: fields, field_types: field_types, line: t.line }
 }
 
 // parse_import parses `import "path/to/file.vr"` (flat file merge) or a
diff --git a/compiler/tokens.v b/compiler/tokens.v
index 4e0ddf2..53a70c4 100644
--- a/compiler/tokens.v
+++ b/compiler/tokens.v
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ pub enum TokKind {
 	comma
 	dot
 	colon
+	question
 	plus
 	minus
 	star
diff --git a/examples/struct_types.vr b/examples/struct_types.vr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a44dbbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/struct_types.vr
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+// struct_types.vr — declared struct field types, validated by the checker.
+//
+// vr run examples/struct_types.vr
+// vr test examples/struct_types.vr
+
+struct Point {
+	x int
+	y int
+}
+
+struct Named {
+	name string
+	tag ?string
+	origin Point
+}
+
+enum Color { red green blue }
+
+struct Painted {
+	c Color
+}
+
+struct Wrapper {
+	pt Point
+	items array
+	ratio float
+	ok bool
+}
+
+fn test_typed_struct_basics() {
+	let p = Point{ x: 3, y: 4 }
+	assert p.x == 3
+	assert p.y == 4
+	mut q = Point{ x: 1, y: 2 }
+	q.x = 10
+	assert q.x + q.y == 12
+}
+
+fn test_optional_and_nested() {
+	let a = Named{ name: "amy", tag: "admin", origin: Point{ x: 1, y: 2 } }
+	assert a.name == "amy"
+	assert a.tag == "admin"
+	assert a.origin.x == 1
+	let b = Named{ name: "bo", tag: none, origin: Point{ x: 0, y: 0 } }
+	assert b.tag == none
+	// ints widen to float fields
+	let w = Wrapper{ pt: Point{ x: 5, y: 6 }, items: [1, 2], ratio: 2, ok: true }
+	assert w.ratio == 2.0 and w.pt.y == 6
+}
+
+fn test_enum_field() {
+	let p = Painted{ c: Color.green }
+	assert p.c == Color.green
+}
+
+fn main() {
+	let p = Point{ x: 3, y: 4 }
+	println(p.x + p.y)
+	let n = Named{ name: "vuurraaf", tag: none, origin: p }
+	println(n.name + " y=" + n.origin.y)
+}