diff --git a/book/src/themes.md b/book/src/themes.md
index 40e12330e425..1d0ba151773d 100644
--- a/book/src/themes.md
+++ b/book/src/themes.md
@@ -305,6 +305,7 @@ These scopes are used for theming the editor interface:
 | `ui.text.focus`                   | The currently selected line in the picker                                                      |
 | `ui.text.inactive`                | Same as `ui.text` but when the text is inactive (e.g. suggestions)                             |
 | `ui.text.info`                    | The key: command text in `ui.popup.info` boxes                                                 |
+| `ui.text.directory`               | Directory names in prompt completion                                                           |
 | `ui.virtual.ruler`                | Ruler columns (see the [`editor.rulers` config][editor-section])                               |
 | `ui.virtual.whitespace`           | Visible whitespace characters                                                                  |
 | `ui.virtual.indent-guide`         | Vertical indent width guides                                                                   |
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index d08148362e25..9c71f3e4e79b 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -2164,7 +2164,7 @@ fn searcher(cx: &mut Context, direction: Direction) {
             completions
                 .iter()
                 .filter(|comp| comp.starts_with(input))
-                .map(|comp| (0.., std::borrow::Cow::Owned(comp.clone())))
+                .map(|comp| (0.., comp.clone().into()))
                 .collect()
         },
         move |cx, regex, event| {
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
index 49864abb683e..3d8655727263 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
@@ -3197,8 +3197,8 @@ pub(super) fn command_mode(cx: &mut Context) {
                 {
                     completer(editor, word)
                         .into_iter()
-                        .map(|(range, file)| {
-                            let file = shellwords::escape(file);
+                        .map(|(range, mut file)| {
+                            file.content = shellwords::escape(file.content);
 
                             // offset ranges to input
                             let offset = input.len() - word_len;
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs
index ab9b5392bace..6ee49fa57ddd 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,17 @@ use helix_view::Editor;
 
 use std::{error::Error, path::PathBuf};
 
+struct Utf8PathBuf {
+    path: String,
+    is_dir: bool,
+}
+
+impl AsRef<str> for Utf8PathBuf {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.path
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn prompt(
     cx: &mut crate::commands::Context,
     prompt: std::borrow::Cow<'static, str>,
@@ -266,6 +277,7 @@ pub fn file_picker(root: PathBuf, config: &helix_view::editor::Config) -> FilePi
 }
 
 pub mod completers {
+    use super::Utf8PathBuf;
     use crate::ui::prompt::Completion;
     use helix_core::fuzzy::fuzzy_match;
     use helix_core::syntax::LanguageServerFeature;
@@ -274,6 +286,7 @@ pub mod completers {
     use helix_view::{editor::Config, Editor};
     use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
     use std::borrow::Cow;
+    use tui::text::Span;
 
     pub type Completer = fn(&Editor, &str) -> Vec<Completion>;
 
@@ -290,7 +303,7 @@ pub mod completers {
 
         fuzzy_match(input, names, true)
             .into_iter()
-            .map(|(name, _)| ((0..), name))
+            .map(|(name, _)| ((0..), name.into()))
             .collect()
     }
 
@@ -336,7 +349,7 @@ pub mod completers {
 
         fuzzy_match(input, &*KEYS, false)
             .into_iter()
-            .map(|(name, _)| ((0..), name.into()))
+            .map(|(name, _)| ((0..), Span::raw(name)))
             .collect()
     }
 
@@ -424,7 +437,7 @@ pub mod completers {
 
     // TODO: we could return an iter/lazy thing so it can fetch as many as it needs.
     fn filename_impl<F>(
-        _editor: &Editor,
+        editor: &Editor,
         input: &str,
         git_ignore: bool,
         filter_fn: F,
@@ -482,7 +495,7 @@ pub mod completers {
                         return None;
                     }
 
-                    //let is_dir = entry.file_type().map_or(false, |entry| entry.is_dir());
+                    let is_dir = entry.file_type().is_some_and(|entry| entry.is_dir());
 
                     let path = entry.path();
                     let mut path = if is_tilde {
@@ -501,23 +514,35 @@ pub mod completers {
                     }
 
                     let path = path.into_os_string().into_string().ok()?;
-                    Some(Cow::from(path))
+                    Some(Utf8PathBuf { path, is_dir })
                 })
             }) // TODO: unwrap or skip
-            .filter(|path| !path.is_empty());
+            .filter(|path| !path.path.is_empty());
+
+        let directory_color = editor.theme.get("ui.text.directory");
+
+        let style_from_file = |file: Utf8PathBuf| {
+            if file.is_dir {
+                Span::styled(file.path, directory_color)
+            } else {
+                Span::raw(file.path)
+            }
+        };
 
         // if empty, return a list of dirs and files in current dir
         if let Some(file_name) = file_name {
             let range = (input.len().saturating_sub(file_name.len()))..;
             fuzzy_match(&file_name, files, true)
                 .into_iter()
-                .map(|(name, _)| (range.clone(), name))
+                .map(|(name, _)| (range.clone(), style_from_file(name)))
                 .collect()
 
             // TODO: complete to longest common match
         } else {
-            let mut files: Vec<_> = files.map(|file| (end.clone(), file)).collect();
-            files.sort_unstable_by(|(_, path1), (_, path2)| path1.cmp(path2));
+            let mut files: Vec<_> = files
+                .map(|file| (end.clone(), style_from_file(file)))
+                .collect();
+            files.sort_unstable_by(|(_, path1), (_, path2)| path1.content.cmp(&path2.content));
             files
         }
     }
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
index 1e443ce7ff0e..2f4a6010a44d 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use helix_view::keyboard::KeyCode;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::{borrow::Cow, ops::RangeFrom};
 use tui::buffer::Buffer as Surface;
+use tui::text::Span;
 use tui::widgets::{Block, Widget};
 
 use helix_core::{
@@ -19,7 +20,8 @@ use helix_view::{
 };
 
 type PromptCharHandler = Box<dyn Fn(&mut Prompt, char, &Context)>;
-pub type Completion = (RangeFrom<usize>, Cow<'static, str>);
+
+pub type Completion = (RangeFrom<usize>, Span<'static>);
 type CompletionFn = Box<dyn FnMut(&Editor, &str) -> Vec<Completion>>;
 type CallbackFn = Box<dyn FnMut(&mut Context, &str, PromptEvent)>;
 pub type DocFn = Box<dyn Fn(&str) -> Option<Cow<str>>>;
@@ -382,7 +384,7 @@ impl Prompt {
 
         let (range, item) = &self.completion[index];
 
-        self.line.replace_range(range.clone(), item);
+        self.line.replace_range(range.clone(), &item.content);
 
         self.move_end();
     }
@@ -407,7 +409,7 @@ impl Prompt {
         let max_len = self
             .completion
             .iter()
-            .map(|(_, completion)| completion.len() as u16)
+            .map(|(_, completion)| completion.content.len() as u16)
             .max()
             .unwrap_or(BASE_WIDTH)
             .max(BASE_WIDTH);
@@ -446,18 +448,22 @@ impl Prompt {
             for (i, (_range, completion)) in
                 self.completion.iter().enumerate().skip(offset).take(items)
             {
-                let color = if Some(i) == self.selection {
-                    selected_color // TODO: just invert bg
+                let is_selected = Some(i) == self.selection;
+
+                let completion_item_style = if is_selected {
+                    selected_color
                 } else {
-                    completion_color
+                    completion_color.patch(completion.style)
                 };
+
                 surface.set_stringn(
                     area.x + col * (1 + col_width),
                     area.y + row,
-                    completion,
+                    &completion.content,
                     col_width.saturating_sub(1) as usize,
-                    color,
+                    completion_item_style,
                 );
+
                 row += 1;
                 if row > area.height - 1 {
                     row = 0;
diff --git a/runtime/themes/catppuccin_mocha.toml b/runtime/themes/catppuccin_mocha.toml
index 76e65c62f7be..a96b46df5085 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/catppuccin_mocha.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/catppuccin_mocha.toml
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
 "ui.text" = "text"
 "ui.text.focus" = { fg = "text", bg = "surface0", modifiers = ["bold"] }
 "ui.text.inactive" = { fg = "overlay1" }
+"ui.text.directory" = { fg = "blue" }
 
 "ui.virtual" = "overlay0"
 "ui.virtual.ruler" = { bg = "surface0" }
diff --git a/runtime/themes/dark_plus.toml b/runtime/themes/dark_plus.toml
index 813eebf3c252..7f57723c5f71 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/dark_plus.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/dark_plus.toml
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
 "ui.bufferline.background"   = { bg = "background" }
 "ui.text"                    = { fg = "text" }
 "ui.text.focus"              = { fg = "white" }
+"ui.text.directory"          = { fg = "blue3" }
 "ui.virtual.whitespace"      = { fg = "#3e3e3d" }
 "ui.virtual.ruler"           = { bg = "borders" }
 "ui.virtual.indent-guide"    = { fg = "dark_gray4" }
diff --git a/runtime/themes/dracula.toml b/runtime/themes/dracula.toml
index c1a9a12bc84a..bb4a38d5e22a 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/dracula.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/dracula.toml
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@
 "ui.statusline.select"            = { fg    = "black",           bg = "cyan",          modifiers = ["bold"] }
 "ui.text"                         = { fg    = "foreground"                                                  }
 "ui.text.focus"                   = { fg    = "cyan"                                                        }
+"ui.text.directory"               = { fg    = "cyan"                                                        }
 "ui.virtual.indent-guide"         = { fg    = "indent"                                                      }
 "ui.virtual.inlay-hint"           = { fg    = "cyan"                                                        }
 "ui.virtual.inlay-hint.parameter" = { fg    = "cyan",            modifiers = ["italic", "dim"]              }
diff --git a/runtime/themes/dracula_at_night.toml b/runtime/themes/dracula_at_night.toml
index 55f2615398c1..ac75199d9d56 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/dracula_at_night.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/dracula_at_night.toml
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 "ui.statusline.select" = { fg = "background_dark", bg = "purple" }
 "ui.text" = { fg = "foreground" }
 "ui.text.focus" = { fg = "cyan" }
+"ui.text.directory" = { fg = "cyan" }
 "ui.window" = { fg = "foreground" }
 "ui.virtual.jump-label" = { fg = "pink", modifiers = ["bold"] }
 "ui.virtual.ruler" = { bg = "background_dark" }
diff --git a/runtime/themes/github_dark.toml b/runtime/themes/github_dark.toml
index e98032108e26..c0f89cc815c9 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/github_dark.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/github_dark.toml
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ label = "scale.red.3"
 "ui.text" = { fg = "fg.muted" }
 "ui.text.focus" = { fg = "fg.default" }
 "ui.text.inactive" = "fg.subtle"
+"ui.text.directory" = { fg = "scale.blue.2" }
 "ui.virtual" = { fg = "scale.gray.6" }
 "ui.virtual.ruler" = { bg = "canvas.subtle" }
 "ui.virtual.jump-label" = { fg = "scale.red.2", modifiers = ["bold"] }
diff --git a/runtime/themes/github_light.toml b/runtime/themes/github_light.toml
index cd3f1e5d16cd..6fa79c7d63c6 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/github_light.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/github_light.toml
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ label = "scale.red.5"
 "ui.text" = { fg = "fg.muted" }
 "ui.text.focus" = { fg = "fg.default" }
 "ui.text.inactive" = "fg.subtle"
+"ui.text.directory" = { fg = "scale.blue.4" }
 "ui.virtual" = { fg = "scale.gray.2" }
 "ui.virtual.ruler" = { bg = "canvas.subtle" }
 
diff --git a/runtime/themes/gruvbox.toml b/runtime/themes/gruvbox.toml
index e91b6f32284b..933b63125f94 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/gruvbox.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/gruvbox.toml
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@
 "ui.statusline.select" = { fg = "bg1", bg = "orange1", modifiers = ["bold"] }
 
 "ui.text" = { fg = "fg1" }
+"ui.text.directory" = { fg = "blue1" }
 "ui.virtual.inlay-hint" = { fg = "gray" }
 "ui.virtual.jump-label" = { fg = "purple0", modifiers = ["bold"] }
 "ui.virtual.ruler" = { bg = "bg1" }
diff --git a/runtime/themes/material_deep_ocean.toml b/runtime/themes/material_deep_ocean.toml
index 8b1e3c86144d..76041d07d345 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/material_deep_ocean.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/material_deep_ocean.toml
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
 
 "ui.background" = { bg = "bg", fg = "text" }
 "ui.text" = { fg = "text" }
+"ui.text.directory" = { fg = "blue" }
 
 "ui.statusline" = { bg = "bg", fg = "text" }
 "ui.statusline.inactive" = { bg = "bg", fg = "disabled" }
diff --git a/runtime/themes/rose_pine.toml b/runtime/themes/rose_pine.toml
index 9a5ba450e92e..ae88bdc5441b 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/rose_pine.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/rose_pine.toml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 "ui.text" = { fg = "text" }
 "ui.text.focus" = { bg = "overlay" }
 "ui.text.info" = { fg = "subtle" }
+"ui.text.directory" = { fg = "iris" }
 
 "ui.virtual.jump-label" = { fg = "love", modifiers = ["bold"] }
 "ui.virtual.ruler" = { bg = "overlay" }
diff --git a/runtime/themes/tokyonight.toml b/runtime/themes/tokyonight.toml
index 4e53e03b85f5..08e7ce3aec33 100644
--- a/runtime/themes/tokyonight.toml
+++ b/runtime/themes/tokyonight.toml
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ hint = { fg = "hint" }
 "ui.text.focus" = { bg = "bg-focus" }
 "ui.text.inactive" = { fg = "comment", modifiers = ["italic"] }
 "ui.text.info" = { bg = "bg-menu", fg = "fg" }
+"ui.text.directory" = { fg = "cyan" }
 "ui.virtual.ruler" = { bg = "fg-gutter" }
 "ui.virtual.whitespace" = { fg = "fg-gutter" }
 "ui.virtual.inlay-hint" = {  bg = "bg-inlay", fg = "teal" }
diff --git a/theme.toml b/theme.toml
index c1e5883d0bec..ccb2ec795445 100644
--- a/theme.toml
+++ b/theme.toml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ label = "honey"
 "ui.text" = { fg = "lavender" }
 "ui.text.focus" = { fg = "white" }
 "ui.text.inactive" = "sirocco"
+"ui.text.directory" = { fg = "lilac" }
 "ui.virtual" = { fg = "comet" }
 "ui.virtual.ruler" = { bg = "bossanova" }
 "ui.virtual.jump-label" = { fg = "apricot", modifiers = ["bold"] }