--- a/runtime/doc/vim9.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/vim9.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-*vim9.txt*	For Vim version 8.2.  Last change: 2020 Nov 25
+*vim9.txt*	For Vim version 8.2.  Last change: 2020 Dec 04
 
 
 		  VIM REFERENCE MANUAL	  by Bram Moolenaar
@@ -436,19 +436,25 @@ Dictionary literals ~
 Traditionally Vim has supported dictionary literals with a {} syntax: >
 	let dict = {'key': value}
 
-Later it became clear that using a simple key name is very common, thus
-literally dictionaries were introduced in a backwards compatible way: >
+Later it became clear that using a simple text key is very common, thus
+literal dictionaries were introduced in a backwards compatible way: >
 	let dict = #{key: value}
 
-However, this #{} syntax is unlike any existing language.  As it appears that
-using a literal key is much more common than using an expression, and
+However, this #{} syntax is unlike any existing language.  As it turns out
+that using a literal key is much more common than using an expression, and
 considering that JavaScript uses this syntax, using the {} form for dictionary
-literals was considered a much more useful syntax.  In Vim9 script the {} form
+literals is considered a much more useful syntax.  In Vim9 script the {} form
 uses literal keys: >
 	let dict = {key: value}
 
-In case an expression needs to be used for the key, square brackets can be
-used, just like in JavaScript: >
+This works for alphanumeric characters, underscore and dash.  If you want to
+use another character, use a single or double quoted string: >
+	let dict = {'key with space': value}
+	let dict = {"key\twith\ttabs": value}
+	let dict = {'': value}  		# empty key
+
+In case the key needs to be an expression, square brackets can be used, just
+like in JavaScript: >
 	let dict = {["key" .. nr]: value}
 
 

--- a/src/dict.c
+++ b/src/dict.c
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ skip_literal_key(char_u *key)
  * Return FAIL when there is no valid key.
  */
     static int
-get_literal_key(char_u **arg, typval_T *tv)
+get_literal_key_tv(char_u **arg, typval_T *tv)
 {
     char_u *p = skip_literal_key(*arg);
 
@@ -815,6 +815,47 @@ get_literal_key(char_u **arg, typval_T *
 }
 
 /*
+ * Get a literal key for a Vim9 dict:
+ * {"name": value},
+ * {'name': value},
+ * {name: value} use "name" as a literal key
+ * Return the key in allocated memory or NULL in the case of an error.
+ * "arg" is advanced to just after the key.
+ */
+    char_u *
+get_literal_key(char_u **arg)
+{
+    char_u	*key;
+    char_u	*end;
+    typval_T	rettv;
+
+    if (**arg == '\'')
+    {
+	if (eval_lit_string(arg, &rettv, TRUE) == FAIL)
+	    return NULL;
+	key = rettv.vval.v_string;
+    }
+    else if (**arg == '"')
+    {
+	if (eval_string(arg, &rettv, TRUE) == FAIL)
+	    return NULL;
+	key = rettv.vval.v_string;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+	end = skip_literal_key(*arg);
+	if (end == *arg)
+	{
+	    semsg(_(e_invalid_key_str), *arg);
+	    return NULL;
+	}
+	key = vim_strnsave(*arg, end - *arg);
+	*arg = end;
+    }
+    return key;
+}
+
+/*
  * Allocate a variable for a Dictionary and fill it from "*arg".
  * "*arg" points to the "{".
  * "literal" is TRUE for #{key: val}
@@ -864,11 +905,18 @@ eval_dict(char_u **arg, typval_T *rettv,
     {
 	int	has_bracket = vim9script && **arg == '[';
 
-	if (literal || (vim9script && !has_bracket))
+	if (literal)
 	{
-	    if (get_literal_key(arg, &tvkey) == FAIL)
+	    if (get_literal_key_tv(arg, &tvkey) == FAIL)
 		goto failret;
 	}
+	else if (vim9script && !has_bracket)
+	{
+	    tvkey.vval.v_string = get_literal_key(arg);
+	    if (tvkey.vval.v_string == NULL)
+		goto failret;
+	    tvkey.v_type = VAR_STRING;
+	}
 	else
 	{
 	    if (has_bracket)

--- a/src/proto/dict.pro
+++ b/src/proto/dict.pro
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ varnumber_T dict_get_number_check(dict_T
 varnumber_T dict_get_bool(dict_T *d, char_u *key, int def);
 char_u *dict2string(typval_T *tv, int copyID, int restore_copyID);
 char_u *skip_literal_key(char_u *key);
+char_u *get_literal_key(char_u **arg);
 int eval_dict(char_u **arg, typval_T *rettv, evalarg_T *evalarg, int literal);
 void dict_extend(dict_T *d1, dict_T *d2, char_u *action);
 dictitem_T *dict_lookup(hashitem_T *hi);

--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
@@ -1930,12 +1930,13 @@ def Test_expr7_dict()
 
       assert_equal(g:test_space_dict, {['']: 'empty', [' ']: 'space'})
       assert_equal(g:test_hash_dict, {one: 1, two: 2})
+
+      assert_equal({['a a']: 1, ['b/c']: 2}, {'a a': 1, "b/c": 2})
   END
   CheckDefAndScriptSuccess(lines)
  
   # legacy syntax doesn't work
   CheckDefFailure(["var x = #{key: 8}"], 'E1097:', 2)
-  CheckDefFailure(["var x = {'key': 8}"], 'E1014:', 1)
   CheckDefFailure(["var x = 'a' .. #{a: 1}"], 'E1097:', 2)
 
   CheckDefFailure(["var x = {a:8}"], 'E1069:', 1)

--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -751,6 +751,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    2090,
+/**/
     2089,
 /**/
     2088,

--- a/src/vim9compile.c
+++ b/src/vim9compile.c
@@ -3024,26 +3024,11 @@ compile_dict(char_u **arg, cctx_T *cctx,
 	if (**arg == '}')
 	    break;
 
-	// {name: value} uses "name" as a literal key and
-	// {[expr]: value} uses an evaluated key.
-	if (**arg != '[')
-	{
-	    char_u  *end = skip_literal_key(*arg);
-
-	    if (end == *arg)
-	    {
-		semsg(_(e_invalid_key_str), *arg);
-		return FAIL;
-	    }
-	    key = vim_strnsave(*arg, end - *arg);
-	    if (generate_PUSHS(cctx, key) == FAIL)
-		return FAIL;
-	    *arg = end;
-	}
-	else
+	if (**arg == '[')
 	{
 	    isn_T	*isn;
 
+	    // {[expr]: value} uses an evaluated key.
 	    *arg = skipwhite(*arg + 1);
 	    if (compile_expr0(arg, cctx) == FAIL)
 		return FAIL;
@@ -3066,6 +3051,17 @@ compile_dict(char_u **arg, cctx_T *cctx,
 	    }
 	    ++*arg;
 	}
+	else
+	{
+	    // {"name": value},
+	    // {'name': value},
+	    // {name: value} use "name" as a literal key
+	    key = get_literal_key(arg);
+	    if (key == NULL)
+		return FAIL;
+	    if (generate_PUSHS(cctx, key) == FAIL)
+		return FAIL;
+	}
 
 	// Check for duplicate keys, if using string keys.
 	if (key != NULL)