diff --git a/runtime/syntax/ist.vim b/runtime/syntax/ist.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd0005e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/syntax/ist.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+" Vim syntax file
+" Language:	Makeindex style file, *.ist
+" Maintainer:	Peter Meszaros <pmeszaros@effice.hu>
+" Last Change:	May 4, 2001
+
+" For version 5.x: Clear all syntax items
+" For version 6.x: Quit when a syntax file was already loaded
+if version < 600
+  syntax clear
+elseif exists("b:current_syntax")
+  finish
+endif
+
+if version >= 600
+  setlocal iskeyword=$,@,48-57,_
+else
+  set iskeyword=$,@,48-57,_
+endif
+
+syn case ignore
+syn keyword IstInpSpec  actual  arg_close arg_open encap       escape
+syn keyword IstInpSpec  keyword level     quote    range_close range_open
+syn keyword IstInpSpec  page_compositor
+
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	preamble	 postamble	  setpage_prefix   setpage_suffix   group_skip
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	headings_flag	 heading_prefix   heading_suffix
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	lethead_flag	 lethead_prefix   lethead_suffix
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	symhead_positive symhead_negative numhead_positive numhead_negative
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	item_0		 item_1		  item_2	   item_01
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	item_x1		 item_12	  item_x2
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	delim_0		 delim_1	  delim_2
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	delim_n		 delim_r	  delim_t
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	encap_prefix	 encap_infix	  encap_suffix
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	line_max	 indent_space	  indent_length
+syn keyword IstOutSpec	suffix_2p	 suffix_3p	  suffix_mp
+
+syn region  IstString	   matchgroup=IstDoubleQuote start=+"+ skip=+\\"+ end=+"+ contains=IstSpecial
+syn match   IstCharacter   "'.'"
+syn match   IstNumber	   "\d\+"
+syn match   IstComment	   "^[\t ]*%.*$"	 contains=IstTodo
+syn match   IstSpecial	   "\\\\\|{\|}\|#\|\\n"  contained
+syn match   IstTodo	   "DEBUG\|TODO"	 contained
+
+" Define the default highlighting.
+" For version 5.7 and earlier: only when not done already
+" For version 5.8 and later: only when an item doesn't have highlighting yet
+if version >= 508 || !exists("did_dummy_syn_inits")
+  if version < 508
+    let did_dummy_syn_inits = 1
+    command -nargs=+ HiLink hi link <args>
+  else
+    command -nargs=+ HiLink hi def link <args>
+  endif
+
+  HiLink IstInpSpec	Type
+  HiLink IstOutSpec	Identifier
+  HiLink IstString	String
+  HiLink IstNumber	Number
+  HiLink IstComment	Comment
+  HiLink IstTodo	Todo
+  HiLink IstSpecial	Special
+  HiLink IstDoubleQuote	Label
+  HiLink IstCharacter	Label
+
+  delcommand HiLink
+endif
+
+let b:current_syntax = "ist"
+
+" vim: ts=8 sw=2