x10 := MapThread[List, {x6, List /@ list10}] x6 := Range[Length[list10]] list10 = {a, b, c, d, e} x10 > {{1, {a}}, {2, {b}}, {3, {c}}, {4, {d}}, {5, {e}}} n = 5; lst = Array[Symbol["a" <> ToString@#] &, n]; MapIndexed[{#2[[1]], {#}} &, lst] > {{1, {a1}}, {2, {a2}}, {3, {a3}}, {4, {a4}}, {5, {a5}}} Also MapIndexed[{#2[[1]], #} &, List /@ lst] MapIndexed[{#2.{1}, {#}} &, lst] (* thanks: Mr.Wizard *) MapThread[List, {Range@n, List /@ lst}] Thread[{Range @ n, List /@ lst}] >{{1, {a1}}, {2, {a2}}, {3, {a3}}, {4, {a4}}, {5, {a5}}}