diff --git a/django/db/backends/__init__.py b/django/db/backends/__init__.py
index 1a74232704..9abb9a9637 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/__init__.py
@@ -613,6 +613,11 @@ class BaseDatabaseFeatures(object):
     # when autocommit is disabled? http://bugs.python.org/issue8145#msg109965
     autocommits_when_autocommit_is_off = False
 
+    # Does the backend support 'pyformat' style ("... %(name)s ...", {'name': value})
+    # parameter passing? Note this can be provided by the backend even if not
+    # supported by the Python driver
+    supports_paramstyle_pyformat = True
+
     def __init__(self, connection):
         self.connection = connection
 
diff --git a/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py b/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py
index 3f39a15aa7..5e2b763f52 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py
@@ -757,20 +757,37 @@ class FormatStylePlaceholderCursor(object):
         self.cursor.arraysize = 100
 
     def _format_params(self, params):
-        return tuple([OracleParam(p, self, True) for p in params])
+        try:
+            return dict((k,OracleParam(v, self, True)) for k,v in params.items())
+        except AttributeError:
+            return tuple([OracleParam(p, self, True) for p in params])
 
     def _guess_input_sizes(self, params_list):
-        sizes = [None] * len(params_list[0])
-        for params in params_list:
-            for i, value in enumerate(params):
-                if value.input_size:
-                    sizes[i] = value.input_size
-        self.setinputsizes(*sizes)
+        # Try dict handling; if that fails, treat as sequence
+        if hasattr(params_list[0], 'keys'):
+            sizes = {}
+            for params in params_list:
+                for k, value in params.items():
+                    if value.input_size:
+                        sizes[k] = value.input_size
+            self.setinputsizes(**sizes)
+        else:
+            # It's not a list of dicts; it's a list of sequences
+            sizes = [None] * len(params_list[0])
+            for params in params_list:
+                for i, value in enumerate(params):
+                    if value.input_size:
+                        sizes[i] = value.input_size
+            self.setinputsizes(*sizes)        
 
     def _param_generator(self, params):
-        return [p.force_bytes for p in params]
+        # Try dict handling; if that fails, treat as sequence
+        if hasattr(params, 'items'):
+            return dict((k, v.force_bytes) for k,v in params.items())
+        else:
+            return [p.force_bytes for p in params]
 
-    def execute(self, query, params=None):
+    def _fix_for_params(self, query, params):
         # cx_Oracle wants no trailing ';' for SQL statements.  For PL/SQL, it
         # it does want a trailing ';' but not a trailing '/'.  However, these
         # characters must be included in the original query in case the query
@@ -780,10 +797,18 @@ class FormatStylePlaceholderCursor(object):
         if params is None:
             params = []
             query = convert_unicode(query, self.charset)
+        elif hasattr(params, 'keys'):
+            # Handle params as dict
+            args = dict((k, ":%s"%k) for k in params.keys())
+            query = convert_unicode(query % args, self.charset)
         else:
-            params = self._format_params(params)
+            # Handle params as sequence
             args = [(':arg%d' % i) for i in range(len(params))]
             query = convert_unicode(query % tuple(args), self.charset)
+        return query, self._format_params(params)
+        
+    def execute(self, query, params=None):
+        query, params = self._fix_for_params(query, params)
         self._guess_input_sizes([params])
         try:
             return self.cursor.execute(query, self._param_generator(params))
@@ -794,22 +819,15 @@ class FormatStylePlaceholderCursor(object):
             raise
 
     def executemany(self, query, params=None):
-        # cx_Oracle doesn't support iterators, convert them to lists
-        if params is not None and not isinstance(params, (list, tuple)):
-            params = list(params)
-        try:
-            args = [(':arg%d' % i) for i in range(len(params[0]))]
-        except (IndexError, TypeError):
+        if not params:
             # No params given, nothing to do
             return None
-        # cx_Oracle wants no trailing ';' for SQL statements.  For PL/SQL, it
-        # it does want a trailing ';' but not a trailing '/'.  However, these
-        # characters must be included in the original query in case the query
-        # is being passed to SQL*Plus.
-        if query.endswith(';') or query.endswith('/'):
-            query = query[:-1]
-        query = convert_unicode(query % tuple(args), self.charset)
-        formatted = [self._format_params(i) for i in params]
+        # uniform treatment for sequences and iterables
+        params_iter = iter(params)
+        query, firstparams = self._fix_for_params(query, next(params_iter))
+        # we build a list of formatted params; as we're going to traverse it 
+        # more than once, we can't make it lazy by using a generator
+        formatted = [firstparams]+[self._format_params(p) for p in params_iter]
         self._guess_input_sizes(formatted)
         try:
             return self.cursor.executemany(query,
diff --git a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/base.py b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/base.py
index 324adfd97b..92dbf354ae 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/base.py
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ class DatabaseFeatures(BaseDatabaseFeatures):
     has_bulk_insert = True
     can_combine_inserts_with_and_without_auto_increment_pk = False
     autocommits_when_autocommit_is_off = True
+    supports_paramstyle_pyformat = False
 
     @cached_property
     def uses_savepoints(self):
diff --git a/django/db/models/query.py b/django/db/models/query.py
index b0ce25f5b5..27a87a3f65 100644
--- a/django/db/models/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/query.py
@@ -1445,7 +1445,10 @@ class RawQuerySet(object):
             yield instance
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return "<RawQuerySet: %r>" % (self.raw_query % tuple(self.params))
+        text = self.raw_query
+        if self.params:
+            text = text % (self.params if hasattr(self.params, 'keys') else tuple(self.params))
+        return "<RawQuerySet: %r>" % text
 
     def __getitem__(self, k):
         return list(self)[k]
diff --git a/docs/ref/databases.txt b/docs/ref/databases.txt
index a648ac1709..4e5f136e2e 100644
--- a/docs/ref/databases.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/databases.txt
@@ -623,6 +623,14 @@ If you're getting this error, you can solve it by:
 SQLite does not support the ``SELECT ... FOR UPDATE`` syntax. Calling it will
 have no effect.
 
+"pyformat" parameter style in raw queries not supported
+-------------------------------------------------------
+
+For most backends, raw queries (``Manager.raw()`` or ``cursor.execute()``)
+can use the "pyformat" parameter style, where placeholders in the query
+are given as ``'%(name)s'`` and the parameters are passed as a dictionary
+rather than a list. SQLite does not support this.
+
 .. _sqlite-connection-queries:
 
 Parameters not quoted in ``connection.queries``
diff --git a/docs/releases/1.6.txt b/docs/releases/1.6.txt
index 2c1fffd8cd..1fd98e1271 100644
--- a/docs/releases/1.6.txt
+++ b/docs/releases/1.6.txt
@@ -337,6 +337,12 @@ Minor features
   default) to allow customizing the :attr:`~django.forms.Form.prefix` of the
   form.
 
+* Raw queries (``Manager.raw()`` or ``cursor.execute()``) can now use the 
+  "pyformat" parameter style, where placeholders in the query are given as 
+  ``'%(name)s'`` and the parameters are passed as a dictionary rather than
+  a list (except on SQLite). This has long been possible (but not officially
+  supported) on MySQL and PostgreSQL, and is now also available on Oracle.
+
 Backwards incompatible changes in 1.6
 =====================================
 
diff --git a/docs/topics/db/sql.txt b/docs/topics/db/sql.txt
index 2ec31a4988..7437d51d28 100644
--- a/docs/topics/db/sql.txt
+++ b/docs/topics/db/sql.txt
@@ -166,9 +166,17 @@ argument to ``raw()``::
     >>> lname = 'Doe'
     >>> Person.objects.raw('SELECT * FROM myapp_person WHERE last_name = %s', [lname])
 
-``params`` is a list of parameters. You'll use ``%s`` placeholders in the
-query string (regardless of your database engine); they'll be replaced with
-parameters from the ``params`` list.
+``params`` is a list or dictionary of parameters. You'll use ``%s``
+placeholders in the query string for a list, or ``%(key)s``
+placeholders for a dictionary (where ``key`` is replaced by a
+dictionary key, of course), regardless of your database engine.  Such
+placeholders will be replaced with parameters from the ``params``
+argument.
+
+.. note:: Dictionary params not supported with SQLite
+
+   Dictionary params are not supported with the SQLite backend; with
+   this backend, you must pass parameters as a list.
 
 .. warning::
 
@@ -181,14 +189,21 @@ parameters from the ``params`` list.
 
     **Don't.**
 
-    Using the ``params`` list completely protects you from `SQL injection
+    Using the ``params`` argument completely protects you from `SQL injection
     attacks`__, a common exploit where attackers inject arbitrary SQL into
     your database. If you use string interpolation, sooner or later you'll
     fall victim to SQL injection. As long as you remember to always use the
-    ``params`` list you'll be protected.
+    ``params`` argument you'll be protected.
 
 __ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_injection
 
+.. versionchanged:: 1.6
+
+    In Django 1.5 and earlier, you could pass parameters as dictionaries
+    when using PostgreSQL or MySQL, although this wasn't documented. Now
+    you can also do this whem using Oracle, and it is officially supported.
+
+
 .. _executing-custom-sql:
 
 Executing custom SQL directly
diff --git a/tests/backends/tests.py b/tests/backends/tests.py
index c6cad56ec1..c1a26df7fc 100644
--- a/tests/backends/tests.py
+++ b/tests/backends/tests.py
@@ -456,13 +456,24 @@ class SqliteChecks(TestCase):
 class BackendTestCase(TestCase):
 
     def create_squares_with_executemany(self, args):
+        self.create_squares(args, 'format', True)
+
+    def create_squares(self, args, paramstyle, multiple):    
         cursor = connection.cursor()
         opts = models.Square._meta
         tbl = connection.introspection.table_name_converter(opts.db_table)
         f1 = connection.ops.quote_name(opts.get_field('root').column)
         f2 = connection.ops.quote_name(opts.get_field('square').column)
-        query = 'INSERT INTO %s (%s, %s) VALUES (%%s, %%s)' % (tbl, f1, f2)
-        cursor.executemany(query, args)
+        if paramstyle=='format':
+            query = 'INSERT INTO %s (%s, %s) VALUES (%%s, %%s)' % (tbl, f1, f2)
+        elif paramstyle=='pyformat':
+            query = 'INSERT INTO %s (%s, %s) VALUES (%%(root)s, %%(square)s)' % (tbl, f1, f2)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("unsupported paramstyle in test")
+        if multiple:
+            cursor.executemany(query, args)
+        else:
+            cursor.execute(query, args)
 
     def test_cursor_executemany(self):
         #4896: Test cursor.executemany
@@ -491,6 +502,35 @@ class BackendTestCase(TestCase):
             self.create_squares_with_executemany(args)
         self.assertEqual(models.Square.objects.count(), 9)
 
+    @skipUnlessDBFeature('supports_paramstyle_pyformat')
+    def test_cursor_execute_with_pyformat(self):
+        #10070: Support pyformat style passing of paramters
+        args = {'root': 3, 'square': 9}
+        self.create_squares(args, 'pyformat', multiple=False)
+        self.assertEqual(models.Square.objects.count(), 1)
+
+    @skipUnlessDBFeature('supports_paramstyle_pyformat')
+    def test_cursor_executemany_with_pyformat(self):
+        #10070: Support pyformat style passing of paramters
+        args = [{'root': i, 'square': i**2} for i in range(-5, 6)]
+        self.create_squares(args, 'pyformat', multiple=True)
+        self.assertEqual(models.Square.objects.count(), 11)
+        for i in range(-5, 6):
+            square = models.Square.objects.get(root=i)
+            self.assertEqual(square.square, i**2)
+
+    @skipUnlessDBFeature('supports_paramstyle_pyformat')
+    def test_cursor_executemany_with_pyformat_iterator(self):
+        args = iter({'root': i, 'square': i**2} for i in range(-3, 2))
+        self.create_squares(args, 'pyformat', multiple=True)
+        self.assertEqual(models.Square.objects.count(), 5)
+
+        args = iter({'root': i, 'square': i**2} for i in range(3, 7))
+        with override_settings(DEBUG=True):
+            # same test for DebugCursorWrapper
+            self.create_squares(args, 'pyformat', multiple=True)
+        self.assertEqual(models.Square.objects.count(), 9)
+        
     def test_unicode_fetches(self):
         #6254: fetchone, fetchmany, fetchall return strings as unicode objects
         qn = connection.ops.quote_name
diff --git a/tests/raw_query/tests.py b/tests/raw_query/tests.py
index e404c8b065..7242b8309b 100644
--- a/tests/raw_query/tests.py
+++ b/tests/raw_query/tests.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import
 from datetime import date
 
 from django.db.models.query_utils import InvalidQuery
-from django.test import TestCase
+from django.test import TestCase, skipUnlessDBFeature
 
 from .models import Author, Book, Coffee, Reviewer, FriendlyAuthor
 
@@ -123,10 +123,27 @@ class RawQueryTests(TestCase):
         query = "SELECT * FROM raw_query_author WHERE first_name = %s"
         author = Author.objects.all()[2]
         params = [author.first_name]
-        results = list(Author.objects.raw(query, params=params))
+        qset = Author.objects.raw(query, params=params)
+        results = list(qset)
         self.assertProcessed(Author, results, [author])
         self.assertNoAnnotations(results)
         self.assertEqual(len(results), 1)
+        self.assertIsInstance(repr(qset), str)
+
+    @skipUnlessDBFeature('supports_paramstyle_pyformat')
+    def testPyformatParams(self):
+        """
+        Test passing optional query parameters
+        """
+        query = "SELECT * FROM raw_query_author WHERE first_name = %(first)s"
+        author = Author.objects.all()[2]
+        params = {'first': author.first_name}
+        qset = Author.objects.raw(query, params=params)
+        results = list(qset)
+        self.assertProcessed(Author, results, [author])
+        self.assertNoAnnotations(results)
+        self.assertEqual(len(results), 1)
+        self.assertIsInstance(repr(qset), str)
 
     def testManyToMany(self):
         """