alias [command [what-to-do]] alias lists your current aliases alias command removes "command" from your alias list alias command what to do adds "command" to your alias list. "command foo" afterwards will be the same as typing "what to do foo" If you want to place the arguments in the middle instead of after the text the alias expands to, use $*. For example if you do 'alias fish say $* bang' then do 'fish foo', then it will make you say 'foo bang'. Alias deals with command aliasing. It is not the same as $[possess$].