why cannot i initialise a dictionary with values from enum. for example enum cust { OneTime } dictionary custs = new dictionary () { {cust.OneTime, "some string values"} } getting argument is not assignable to type int error any thoughts?

answer is in your queation only lol, change dictionary to dictionary or (int)cast

There are three ways to perform : Dictionary keyValuePairs1 = new Dictionary { { (int)Flat.O101, "O-105" } }; Dictionary keyValuePairs2 = new Dictionary { { Flat.O101, "O-105" } }; Dictionary keyValuePairs3 = new Dictionary { { Convert.ToInt32(Flat.O101), "O-105" } };

You have to specify the type explictly as like below Dictionary Cust , string> custs = new Dictionary Cust , string>() Alterantively , you can type case of your enum in case you want to change the type. dictionary custs = new dictionary () { {( int )cust.OneTime, "some string values"} }