array1 = {this1 this2 this11 this21 this23}; array2 = {h2this1 h3this2 h5this21 h6this23 h8this13} #### for $i(0.. $#array1){ for $j(0.. $#array2){ if($array2[$j]=~ /$array1[$i]/){ print"$array1[$j] belongs to $array2[$i]"; last; }}} #### this1 belongs to h2this1 this2 belongs to h3this2 this2 belongs to h5this21 this2 belongs to h6this23 this1 belongs to h8this13 #### this1 belongs to h2this1 this2 belongs to h3this2 this21 belongs to h5this21 this23 belongs to h6this23 this1 belongs to h8this13