diff --git a/keysymdef.h b/keysymdef.h
index 85da68c..8f4614d 100644
--- a/keysymdef.h
+++ b/keysymdef.h
@@ -415,6 +415,20 @@ SOFTWARE.
 #define XK_dead_belowdiaeresis           0xfe6c
 #define XK_dead_invertedbreve            0xfe6d
 
+/* dead vowels for universal syllable entry */
+#define XK_dead_a                        0xfe80
+#define XK_dead_A                        0xfe81
+#define XK_dead_e                        0xfe82
+#define XK_dead_E                        0xfe83
+#define XK_dead_i                        0xfe84
+#define XK_dead_I                        0xfe85
+#define XK_dead_o                        0xfe86
+#define XK_dead_O                        0xfe87
+#define XK_dead_u                        0xfe88
+#define XK_dead_U                        0xfe89
+#define XK_dead_small_schwa              0xfe8a
+#define XK_dead_capital_schwa            0xfe8b
+
 #define XK_First_Virtual_Screen          0xfed0
 #define XK_Prev_Virtual_Screen           0xfed1
 #define XK_Next_Virtual_Screen           0xfed2