diff --git a/doc_src/cmds/bind.rst b/doc_src/cmds/bind.rst
index a40438d25..4506cc70b 100644
--- a/doc_src/cmds/bind.rst
+++ b/doc_src/cmds/bind.rst
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ If both ``KEYS`` and ``COMMAND`` are given, ``bind`` adds (or replaces) a bindin
 If only ``KEYS`` is given, any existing binding in the given ``MODE`` will be printed.
 
 ``KEYS`` is a comma-separated list of key names.
-Modifier keys can be specified by prefixing a key name with a combination of ``ctrl-``, ``alt-`` and ``shift-``.
+Modifier keys can be specified by prefixing a key name with a combination of ``ctrl-``/``c-``, ``alt-``/``a-`` and ``shift-``.
 For example, :kbd:`Alt`\ +\ :kbd:`w` is written as ``alt-w``.
 Key names are case-sensitive; for example ``alt-W`` is the same as ``alt-shift-w``.
 
diff --git a/src/key.rs b/src/key.rs
index 0cc38a259..6028c67e1 100644
--- a/src/key.rs
+++ b/src/key.rs
@@ -259,8 +259,8 @@ pub(crate) fn parse_keys(value: &wstr) -> Result<Vec<Key>, WString> {
             for _i in 0..num_keys.checked_sub(1).unwrap() {
                 let modifier = components.next().unwrap();
                 match modifier {
-                    _ if modifier == "ctrl" => modifiers.ctrl = true,
-                    _ if modifier == "alt" => modifiers.alt = true,
+                    _ if modifier == "ctrl" || modifier == "c" => modifiers.ctrl = true,
+                    _ if modifier == "alt" || modifier == "a" => modifiers.alt = true,
                     _ if modifier == "shift" => modifiers.shift = true,
                     _ => {
                         return Err(wgettext_fmt!(
diff --git a/src/tests/key.rs b/src/tests/key.rs
index 69583b7d1..c25b8225b 100644
--- a/src/tests/key.rs
+++ b/src/tests/key.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ fn test_parse_key() {
     );
     assert_eq!(parse_keys(L!("\x1b")), Ok(vec![Key::from_raw(key::Escape)]));
     assert_eq!(parse_keys(L!("ctrl-a")), Ok(vec![ctrl('a')]));
+    assert_eq!(parse_keys(L!("c-a")), Ok(vec![ctrl('a')]));
     assert_eq!(parse_keys(L!("\x01")), Ok(vec![ctrl('a')]));
     assert!(parse_keys(L!("F0")).is_err());
     assert_eq!(