title: How to merge variables into an array while retaining the variable name as key
body: <p>I have an array:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$countries = array( 
   "af" =&gt; "Afghanistan",
   "ax" =&gt; "Åland Islands",
   "al" =&gt; "Albania",
   "dz" =&gt; "Algeria"
  );
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and some variables:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$as = "American Samoa";
  $ad = "Andorra";
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>How do I combine the variables into the array while keeping the variable name as the key in the array?</p>