diff --git a/runtime/queries/erlang/highlights.scm b/runtime/queries/erlang/highlights.scm
index 050fb613..3f4ef4cb 100644
--- a/runtime/queries/erlang/highlights.scm
+++ b/runtime/queries/erlang/highlights.scm
@@ -65,6 +65,37 @@
 (function_capture module: (atom) @namespace)
 (function_capture function: (atom) @function)
 
+; Ignored variables
+((variable) @comment.discard
+ (#match? @comment.discard "^_"))
+
+; Parameters
+; specs
+((attribute
+   name: (atom) @keyword
+   (stab_clause
+     pattern: (arguments (variable) @variable.parameter)
+     body: (variable)? @variable.parameter))
+ (#match? @keyword "(spec|callback)"))
+; functions
+(function_clause pattern: (arguments (variable) @variable.parameter))
+; anonymous functions
+(stab_clause pattern: (arguments (variable) @variable.parameter))
+; parametric types
+((attribute
+    name: (atom) @keyword
+    (arguments
+      (binary_operator
+        left: (call (arguments (variable) @variable.parameter))
+        operator: "::")))
+ (#match? @keyword "(type|opaque)"))
+; macros
+((attribute
+   name: (atom) @keyword
+   (arguments
+     (call (arguments (variable) @variable.parameter))))
+ (#eq? @keyword "define"))
+
 ; Records
 (record_content
   (binary_operator
@@ -105,9 +136,6 @@
   name: (_) @keyword.directive)
 
 ; Comments
-((variable) @comment.discard
- (#match? @comment.discard "^_"))
-
 (tripledot) @comment.discard
 
 [(comment) (line_comment) (shebang)] @comment
diff --git a/runtime/queries/erlang/locals.scm b/runtime/queries/erlang/locals.scm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7379926b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/queries/erlang/locals.scm
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+; Specs and Callbacks
+(attribute
+  (stab_clause
+    pattern: (arguments (variable) @local.definition)
+    ; If a spec uses a variable as the return type (and later a `when` clause to type it):
+    body: (variable)? @local.definition)) @local.scope
+
+; parametric `-type`s
+((attribute
+    name: (atom) @_type
+    (arguments
+      (binary_operator
+        left: (call (arguments (variable) @local.definition))
+        operator: "::") @local.scope))
+ (#match? @_type "(type|opaque)"))
+
+; macros
+((attribute
+   name: (atom) @_define
+   (arguments
+     (call (arguments (variable) @local.definition)))) @local.scope
+ (#eq? @_define "define"))
+
+; `fun`s
+(anonymous_function (stab_clause pattern: (arguments (variable) @local.definition))) @local.scope
+
+; Ordinary functions
+(function_clause pattern: (arguments (variable) @local.definition)) @local.scope
+
+(variable) @local.reference