diff --git a/doc/docs.md b/doc/docs.md
index f0bb2ae461..cea192fdef 100644
--- a/doc/docs.md
+++ b/doc/docs.md
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ by using any of the following commands in a terminal:
    		* [Trace](#trace)
     * [Memory-unsafe code](#memory-unsafe-code)
     * [Structs with reference fields](#structs-with-reference-fields)
-    * [sizeof and __offsetof](#sizeof-and-__offsetof)
+    * [sizeof, alignof and __offsetof](#sizeof-alignof-and-__offsetof)
     * [Limited operator overloading](#limited-operator-overloading)
     * [Performance tuning](#performance-tuning)
     * [Atomics](#atomics)
@@ -6980,9 +6980,10 @@ println(baz)
 println(qux)
 ```
 
-## sizeof and __offsetof
+## sizeof, alignof and __offsetof
 
 * `sizeof(Type)` gives the size of a type in bytes.
+* `alignof(Type)` gives the alignment of a type in bytes.
 * `__offsetof(Struct, field_name)` gives the offset in bytes of a struct field.
 
 ```v
@@ -6992,6 +6993,7 @@ struct Foo {
 }
 
 assert sizeof(Foo) == 8
+assert alignof[Foo]() == 4
 assert __offsetof(Foo, a) == 0
 assert __offsetof(Foo, b) == 4
 ```
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/ast.v b/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
index b215349290..912bd35e1a 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ pub const int_type_name = $if new_int ? {
 }
 
 pub type Expr = NodeError
+	| AlignOf
 	| AnonFn
 	| ArrayDecompose
 	| ArrayInit
@@ -1956,6 +1957,16 @@ pub mut:
 	scope &Scope = unsafe { nil }
 }
 
+pub struct AlignOf {
+pub:
+	guessed_type bool // a legacy `alignof( GuessedType )` => a deprecation notice, suggesting `v fmt -w .` => `alignof[ Type ]()`
+	is_type      bool
+	pos          token.Pos
+pub mut:
+	expr Expr // checker uses this to set typ, when !is_type
+	typ  Type
+}
+
 pub struct SizeOf {
 pub:
 	guessed_type bool // a legacy `sizeof( GuessedType )` => a deprecation notice, suggesting `v fmt -w .` => `sizeof[ Type ]()`
@@ -2275,11 +2286,11 @@ pub fn (expr Expr) pos() token.Pos {
 			// println('compiler bug, unhandled EmptyExpr pos()')
 			token.Pos{}
 		}
-		NodeError, ArrayDecompose, ArrayInit, AsCast, Assoc, AtExpr, BoolLiteral, CallExpr,
-		CastExpr, ChanInit, CharLiteral, ConcatExpr, Comment, ComptimeCall, ComptimeSelector,
-		EnumVal, DumpExpr, FloatLiteral, GoExpr, SpawnExpr, Ident, IfExpr, IntegerLiteral,
-		IsRefType, Likely, LockExpr, MapInit, MatchExpr, None, OffsetOf, OrExpr, ParExpr,
-		PostfixExpr, PrefixExpr, RangeExpr, SelectExpr, SelectorExpr, SizeOf, SqlExpr,
+		NodeError, AlignOf, ArrayDecompose, ArrayInit, AsCast, Assoc, AtExpr, BoolLiteral,
+		CallExpr, CastExpr, ChanInit, CharLiteral, ConcatExpr, Comment, ComptimeCall,
+		ComptimeSelector, EnumVal, DumpExpr, FloatLiteral, GoExpr, SpawnExpr, Ident, IfExpr,
+		IntegerLiteral, IsRefType, Likely, LockExpr, MapInit, MatchExpr, None, OffsetOf, OrExpr,
+		ParExpr, PostfixExpr, PrefixExpr, RangeExpr, SelectExpr, SelectorExpr, SizeOf, SqlExpr,
 		StringInterLiteral, StringLiteral, StructInit, TypeNode, TypeOf, UnsafeExpr, ComptimeType,
 		LambdaExpr, Nil {
 			expr.pos
@@ -2817,7 +2828,7 @@ pub fn (expr Expr) is_literal() bool {
 			!expr.has_arg && expr.expr.is_literal() && (expr.typ.is_any_kind_of_pointer()
 				|| expr.typ in [i8_type, i16_type, int_type, i64_type, u8_type, u16_type, u32_type, u64_type, f32_type, f64_type, char_type, bool_type, rune_type])
 		}
-		SizeOf, IsRefType {
+		AlignOf, SizeOf, IsRefType {
 			expr.is_type || expr.expr.is_literal()
 		}
 		else {
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/str.v b/vlib/v/ast/str.v
index 43c98b0954..9f0c7d4d3e 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/str.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/str.v
@@ -413,6 +413,12 @@ pub fn (x Expr) str() string {
 		stdatomic.sub_i64(&nested_expr_str_calls, 1)
 	}
 	match x {
+		AlignOf {
+			if x.is_type {
+				return 'alignof(${global_table.type_to_str(x.typ)})'
+			}
+			return 'alignof(${x.expr.str()})'
+		}
 		AnonFn {
 			return 'anon_fn'
 		}
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/types.v b/vlib/v/ast/types.v
index 31dd3896aa..04caa2b728 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/types.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/types.v
@@ -1310,6 +1310,13 @@ pub fn (t &Table) type_size(typ Type) (int, int) {
 	return size, align
 }
 
+// type_align returns the alignment (in bytes) of `typ`, just like C's alignof().
+pub fn (t &Table) type_align(typ Type) int {
+	// we only care about the second (alignment) return value
+	_, align := t.type_size(typ)
+	return align
+}
+
 // round_up rounds the number `n` up to the next multiple `multiple`.
 // Note: `multiple` must be a power of 2.
 @[inline]
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index 79b6a2cdd9..daa2149ed6 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -3288,7 +3288,7 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) expr(mut node ast.Expr) ast.Type {
 			}
 			return ret_type
 		}
-		ast.SizeOf {
+		ast.AlignOf, ast.SizeOf {
 			if !node.is_type {
 				node.typ = c.expr(mut node.expr)
 			}
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/comptime.v b/vlib/v/checker/comptime.v
index e8d99be0df..57029145c7 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/comptime.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/comptime.v
@@ -435,6 +435,10 @@ fn (mut c Checker) eval_comptime_const_expr(expr ast.Expr, nlevel int) ?ast.Comp
 				return val
 			}
 		}
+		ast.AlignOf {
+			a := c.table.type_align(expr.typ)
+			return i64(a)
+		}
 		ast.SizeOf {
 			s, _ := c.table.type_size(c.unwrap_generic(expr.typ))
 			return i64(s)
diff --git a/vlib/v/eval/expr.c.v b/vlib/v/eval/expr.c.v
index 0d124b08e8..f6f0243a69 100644
--- a/vlib/v/eval/expr.c.v
+++ b/vlib/v/eval/expr.c.v
@@ -491,6 +491,9 @@ pub fn (mut e Eval) expr(expr ast.Expr, expecting ast.Type) Object {
 			// eprintln('unhandled struct init at line $expr.pos.line_nr')
 			return ''
 		}
+		ast.AlignOf {
+			return Uint{e.type_to_align(expr.typ), 64}
+		}
 		ast.SizeOf {
 			return Uint{e.type_to_size(expr.typ), 64}
 		}
@@ -635,6 +638,12 @@ fn (e &Eval) type_to_size(typ ast.Type) u64 {
 	}
 }
 
+// type_to_align returns the natural alignment (in bits) of `typ`.
+fn (e &Eval) type_to_align(typ ast.Type) u64 {
+	// on most ABIs the alignment of a type == its size
+	return e.type_to_size(typ)
+}
+
 fn (e &Eval) get_escape(r rune) rune {
 	res := match r {
 		`\\` {
diff --git a/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v b/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v
index 03b530141e..0204da80a2 100644
--- a/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v
+++ b/vlib/v/fmt/fmt.v
@@ -572,6 +572,9 @@ pub fn (mut f Fmt) expr(node_ ast.Expr) {
 	match mut node {
 		ast.NodeError {}
 		ast.EmptyExpr {}
+		ast.AlignOf {
+			f.align_of(node)
+		}
 		ast.AnonFn {
 			f.anon_fn(node)
 		}
@@ -2996,6 +2999,20 @@ pub fn (mut f Fmt) selector_expr(node ast.SelectorExpr) {
 	f.or_expr(node.or_block)
 }
 
+pub fn (mut f Fmt) align_of(node ast.AlignOf) {
+	f.write('alignof')
+	if node.is_type {
+		f.write('[')
+		f.write(f.table.type_to_str_using_aliases(node.typ, f.mod2alias))
+		f.write(']()')
+		return
+	} else {
+		f.write('(')
+		f.expr(node.expr)
+		f.write(')')
+	}
+}
+
 pub fn (mut f Fmt) size_of(node ast.SizeOf) {
 	f.write('sizeof')
 	if node.is_type && !node.guessed_type {
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v
index e3931558a3..db9cd97d94 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v
@@ -3624,6 +3624,9 @@ fn (mut g Gen) expr(node_ ast.Expr) {
 		ast.EmptyExpr {
 			g.error('g.expr(): unhandled EmptyExpr', token.Pos{})
 		}
+		ast.AlignOf {
+			g.align_of(node)
+		}
 		ast.AnonFn {
 			g.gen_anon_fn(mut node)
 		}
@@ -7738,6 +7741,17 @@ fn (mut g Gen) get_type(typ ast.Type) ast.Type {
 	return if typ == g.field_data_type { g.comptime.comptime_for_field_value.typ } else { typ }
 }
 
+fn (mut g Gen) align_of(node ast.AlignOf) {
+	typ := g.type_resolver.typeof_type(node.expr, g.get_type(node.typ))
+	node_typ := g.unwrap_generic(typ)
+	sym := g.table.sym(node_typ)
+	if sym.language == .v && sym.kind in [.placeholder, .any] {
+		g.error('unknown type `${sym.name}`', node.pos)
+	}
+	styp := g.styp(node_typ)
+	g.write('alignof(${util.no_dots(styp)})')
+}
+
 fn (mut g Gen) size_of(node ast.SizeOf) {
 	typ := g.type_resolver.typeof_type(node.expr, g.get_type(node.typ))
 	node_typ := g.unwrap_generic(typ)
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/cheaders.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/cheaders.v
index 2ca85e0781..64420c21fd 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/cheaders.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/cheaders.v
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@ typedef int (*qsort_callback_func)(const void*, const void*);
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include <stdarg.h> // for va_list
+#include <stdalign.h> // for alignof
 
 #ifdef __TERMUX__
 #if defined __BIONIC_AVAILABILITY_GUARD && __BIONIC_AVAILABILITY_GUARD(28)
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/golang/golang.v b/vlib/v/gen/golang/golang.v
index 2573b04ece..1723da3527 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/golang/golang.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/golang/golang.v
@@ -633,6 +633,9 @@ pub fn (mut f Gen) expr(node_ ast.Expr) {
 		ast.SelectorExpr {
 			f.selector_expr(node)
 		}
+		ast.AlignOf {
+			f.align_of(node)
+		}
 		ast.SizeOf {
 			f.size_of(node)
 		}
@@ -2147,6 +2150,16 @@ pub fn (mut f Gen) selector_expr(node ast.SelectorExpr) {
 	f.write(node.field_name)
 }
 
+pub fn (mut f Gen) align_of(node ast.AlignOf) {
+	f.write('alignof(')
+	if node.is_type {
+		f.write(f.table.type_to_str_using_aliases(node.typ, f.mod2alias))
+	} else {
+		f.expr(node.expr)
+	}
+	f.write(')')
+}
+
 pub fn (mut f Gen) size_of(node ast.SizeOf) {
 	f.write('sizeof(')
 	if node.is_type {
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/js/js.v b/vlib/v/gen/js/js.v
index e9d358ffd3..315973d865 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/js/js.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/js/js.v
@@ -1032,7 +1032,7 @@ fn (mut g JsGen) expr(node_ ast.Expr) {
 		ast.SelectorExpr {
 			g.gen_selector_expr(node)
 		}
-		ast.SizeOf, ast.IsRefType {
+		ast.AlignOf, ast.SizeOf, ast.IsRefType {
 			// TODO
 		}
 		ast.OffsetOf {
diff --git a/vlib/v/markused/walker.v b/vlib/v/markused/walker.v
index 4dfc9b69bb..e7fc1e1ea1 100644
--- a/vlib/v/markused/walker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/markused/walker.v
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ fn (mut w Walker) expr(node_ ast.Expr) {
 				w.expr(node.high)
 			}
 		}
-		ast.SizeOf, ast.IsRefType {
+		ast.AlignOf, ast.SizeOf, ast.IsRefType {
 			w.expr(node.expr)
 			w.mark_by_type(node.typ)
 		}
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/expr.v b/vlib/v/parser/expr.v
index d6bb02c015..d06698f790 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/expr.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/expr.v
@@ -332,8 +332,9 @@ fn (mut p Parser) check_expr(precedence int) !ast.Expr {
 				}
 			}
 		}
-		.key_sizeof, .key_isreftype {
+		.key_alignof, .key_sizeof, .key_isreftype {
 			is_reftype := p.tok.kind == .key_isreftype
+			is_alignof := p.tok.kind == .key_alignof
 			p.next() // sizeof
 
 			if p.tok.kind == .lsbr {
@@ -351,6 +352,12 @@ fn (mut p Parser) check_expr(precedence int) !ast.Expr {
 						typ:     typ
 						pos:     type_pos
 					}
+				} else if is_alignof {
+					node = ast.AlignOf{
+						is_type: true
+						typ:     typ
+						pos:     type_pos
+					}
 				} else {
 					node = ast.SizeOf{
 						is_type: true
@@ -381,6 +388,12 @@ fn (mut p Parser) check_expr(precedence int) !ast.Expr {
 							expr:    expr
 							pos:     pos
 						}
+					} else if is_alignof {
+						node = ast.AlignOf{
+							is_type: false
+							expr:    expr
+							pos:     pos
+						}
 					} else {
 						node = ast.SizeOf{
 							is_type: false
@@ -403,6 +416,13 @@ fn (mut p Parser) check_expr(precedence int) !ast.Expr {
 							typ:          arg_type
 							pos:          pos
 						}
+					} else if is_alignof {
+						node = ast.AlignOf{
+							guessed_type: true
+							is_type:      true
+							typ:          arg_type
+							pos:          pos
+						}
 					} else {
 						node = ast.SizeOf{
 							guessed_type: true
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/parser.v b/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
index 24c7fda1fc..19746ea6c6 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/parser.v
@@ -2670,7 +2670,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) global_decl() ast.GlobalDecl {
 				ast.FloatLiteral {
 					typ = ast.f64_type
 				}
-				ast.IntegerLiteral, ast.SizeOf {
+				ast.AlignOf, ast.IntegerLiteral, ast.SizeOf {
 					typ = ast.int_type
 				}
 				ast.StringLiteral, ast.StringInterLiteral {
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/alignof_test.v b/vlib/v/tests/alignof_test.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6666679def
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/alignof_test.v
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+struct S1 {
+	p voidptr
+}
+
+struct S2 {
+	i int
+}
+
+fn test_alignof() {
+	assert alignof[rune]() == 4
+	assert alignof[[44]u8]() == 1
+	assert alignof(`€`) == 4
+	// depends on -m32/64
+	assert alignof[S1]() in [u32(4), 8]
+	s := S2{}
+	assert alignof(s.i) == 4
+
+	assert alignof('hello') == $if x64 {
+		8
+	} $else {
+		4
+	}
+}
diff --git a/vlib/v/token/token.v b/vlib/v/token/token.v
index f8fcad1c47..36ca092f9d 100644
--- a/vlib/v/token/token.v
+++ b/vlib/v/token/token.v
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ pub enum Kind {
 	key_select
 	key_like
 	key_ilike
+	key_alignof
 	key_sizeof
 	key_isreftype
 	key_likely
@@ -305,6 +306,7 @@ fn build_token_str() []string {
 	s[Kind.key_asm] = 'asm'
 	s[Kind.key_return] = 'return'
 	s[Kind.key_module] = 'module'
+	s[Kind.key_alignof] = 'alignof'
 	s[Kind.key_sizeof] = 'sizeof'
 	s[Kind.key_isreftype] = 'isreftype'
 	s[Kind.key_likely] = '_likely_'
@@ -657,6 +659,7 @@ pub fn kind_to_string(k Kind) string {
 		.key_select { 'key_select' }
 		.key_like { 'key_like' }
 		.key_ilike { 'key_ilike' }
+		.key_alignof { 'key_alignof' }
 		.key_sizeof { 'key_sizeof' }
 		.key_isreftype { 'key_isreftype' }
 		.key_likely { 'key_likely' }