diff --git a/.config/espanso/match/base.yml b/.config/espanso/match/base.yml
index 1cd55272..38fa3f59 100644
--- a/.config/espanso/match/base.yml
+++ b/.config/espanso/match/base.yml
@@ -300,6 +300,16 @@ matches:
         params:
           cmd: "~/scripts/html5 ; echo ''"
 
+  # returns default html5 layout
+  - trigger: ";php"
+    force_clipboard: true
+    replace: "{{output}}"
+    vars:
+      - name: output
+        type: shell
+        params:
+          cmd: "~/scripts/php8 ; echo ''"
+
   # returns default html5 layout in pug
   - trigger: ";pug5"
     force_clipboard: true
diff --git a/scripts/php8 b/scripts/php8
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..bc7c930d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/php8
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+cat <<EOM
+<?php
+
+?>
+EOM
\ No newline at end of file