diff --git a/book/src/commands.md b/book/src/commands.md
index 6cdcfce2a..8a6ba8bdb 100644
--- a/book/src/commands.md
+++ b/book/src/commands.md
@@ -7,18 +7,20 @@ Command mode can be activated by pressing `:`. The built-in commands are:
 ## Using variables in typed commands and mapped shortcuts
 Helix provides several variables that can be used when typing commands or creating custom shortcuts. These variables are listed below:
 
-| Variable         | Description |
-| ---              | ---                      |
-| `%{basename}`    | The name and extension of the currently focused file. |
-| `%{filename}`    | The absolute path of the currently focused file. |
-| `%{ext}`         | The extension of the current file |
-| `%{lang}`        | The language of the current file   |
-| `%{dirname}`     | The absolute path of the parent directory of the currently focused file. |
-| `%{cwd}`         | The absolute path of the current working directory of Helix. |
-| `%{linenumber}`  | The line number where the primary cursor is positioned. |
-| `%{cursorcolumn}`| The position of the primary cursor inside the current line. |
-| `%{selection}`   | The text selected by the primary cursor. |
-| `%sh{cmd}`       | Executes `cmd` with the default shell and returns the command output, if any. |
+| Variable              | Description |
+| ---                   | ---                      |
+| `%{basename}`         | The name and extension of the currently focused file. |
+| `%{filename}`         | The absolute path of the currently focused file. |
+| `%{filename:rel}`     | The relative path of the file according to the current working directory (will give absolute path if the file is not a child of the current working directory) |
+| `%{filename:git_rel}` | The relative path of the file according to the git repo, or current working directory if not inside a git repo. (will give absolute path if the file is not a child of the git directory or the cwd) |
+| `%{ext}`              | The extension of the current file |
+| `%{lang}`             | The language of the current file   |
+| `%{dirname}`          | The absolute path of the parent directory of the currently focused file. |
+| `%{cwd}`              | The absolute path of the current working directory of Helix. |
+| `%{linenumber}`       | The line number where the primary cursor is positioned. |
+| `%{cursorcolumn}`     | The position of the primary cursor inside the current line. |
+| `%{selection}`        | The text selected by the primary cursor. |
+| `%sh{cmd}`            | Executes `cmd` with the default shell and returns the command output, if any. |
 
 ### Example
 ```toml
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor/variable_expansion.rs b/helix-view/src/editor/variable_expansion.rs
index ec16dc672..8accfb064 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor/variable_expansion.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor/variable_expansion.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,27 @@ impl Editor {
                                             .and_then(|it| it.to_str())
                                             .unwrap_or(crate::document::SCRATCH_BUFFER_NAME)
                                             .to_owned(),
+                                        "filename:git_rel" => {
+                                            // This will get git repo root or cwd if not inside a git repo.
+                                            let workspace_path = helix_loader::find_workspace().0;
+                                            doc.path()
+                                                .and_then(|p| {
+                                                    p.strip_prefix(workspace_path)
+                                                        .unwrap_or(p)
+                                                        .to_str()
+                                                })
+                                                .unwrap_or(crate::document::SCRATCH_BUFFER_NAME)
+                                                .to_owned()
+                                        }
+                                        "filename:rel" => {
+                                            let cwd = helix_stdx::env::current_working_dir();
+                                            doc.path()
+                                                .and_then(|p| {
+                                                    p.strip_prefix(cwd).unwrap_or(p).to_str()
+                                                })
+                                                .unwrap_or(crate::document::SCRATCH_BUFFER_NAME)
+                                                .to_owned()
+                                        }
                                         "dirname" => doc
                                             .path()
                                             .and_then(|p| p.parent())