diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 915d173..5089557 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ uv run rp <file>            # Rich-print a file
 uv run rp --help            # Show help
 uv run rp --version         # Show version
 echo '{"a":1}' | uv run rp  # Read from stdin
+cat patch.txt | uv run rp --guess-content  # Enable heuristic content guessing
 ```
 
 ### Testing
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ def detect_type(
     path: str | None = None,
     content: str | None = None,
     explicit_type: str | None = None,
+    guess_content: bool = False,
 ) -> str:
     ...
 ```
@@ -152,6 +154,11 @@ When adding new file types:
 2. Use Pygments lexer name as the value
 3. For special filenames (e.g., `Dockerfile`), add to `_FILENAME_MAP`
 
+Detection stays conservative by default: explicit type, filename map, extension map,
+shebang, and JSON detection all run before falling back to `text`. Heuristic
+Pygments content guessing is opt-in via `--guess-content` and should remain a
+late fallback.
+
 ### Rendering
 - `markdown` and `md` → use `rich.markdown.Markdown`
 - `json` → use `rich.json.JSON` with fallback to `Syntax`
@@ -190,9 +197,10 @@ rich-print/
 ## Dependencies
 
 - `rich>=13.0` — Terminal rendering (Markdown, JSON, Syntax)
+- `pygments>=2.13.0` — Lexer detection and syntax lexers
 - `typer>=0.12` — CLI framework
 
-Runtime dependencies. Dev dependencies: `ruff>=0.9`, `mypy>=1.14`, `pytest>=8.0`, `pytest-cov>=5.0`.
+Runtime dependencies. Dev dependencies: `ruff>=0.9`, `mypy>=1.14`, `pytest>=8.0`, `pytest-cov>=5.0`, `types-pygments>=2.19`.
 
 ## Git Workflow
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f0dc286..ee48cb5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -49,6 +49,13 @@ rp --type python script.txt
 rp -t json data.txt
 ```
 
+### Guess from content
+
+```bash
+cat patch.txt | rp --guess-content
+rp --guess-content snippet.txt
+```
+
 ### Pager control
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 7157280..3b32008 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ classifiers = [
 ]
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 dependencies = [
+    "pygments>=2.13.0",
     "rich>=13.0",
     "typer>=0.12",
 ]
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ dev = [
     "mypy>=1.14",
     "pytest>=8.0",
     "pytest-cov>=5.0",
+    "types-pygments>=2.19.0.20260402",
 ]
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
diff --git a/src/rp/cli.py b/src/rp/cli.py
index c29b593..8a151cd 100644
--- a/src/rp/cli.py
+++ b/src/rp/cli.py
@@ -65,6 +65,13 @@ def main(
             help="Use pager for output. Default: auto-detect.",
         ),
     ] = None,
+    guess_content: Annotated[
+        bool,
+        typer.Option(
+            "--guess-content/--no-guess-content",
+            help="Use heuristic content-based type detection as a fallback.",
+        ),
+    ] = False,
     version: Annotated[
         bool | None,
         typer.Option(
@@ -84,6 +91,7 @@ def main(
         theme: Pygments color theme.
         line_numbers: Show line numbers. Default: auto.
         pager: Use pager for output. Default: auto-detect.
+        guess_content: Use heuristic content-based type detection as a fallback.
         version: Show version and exit.
     """
     console = Console()
@@ -114,7 +122,12 @@ def main(
         console.print("[dim]Empty input, nothing to display.[/dim]")
         raise typer.Exit()
 
-    file_type = detect_type(path=file_path, content=content, explicit_type=file_type)
+    file_type = detect_type(
+        path=file_path,
+        content=content,
+        explicit_type=file_type,
+        guess_content=guess_content,
+    )
 
     options = RenderOptions(
         theme=theme,
diff --git a/src/rp/detect.py b/src/rp/detect.py
index fd3dc00..a53bb47 100644
--- a/src/rp/detect.py
+++ b/src/rp/detect.py
@@ -3,8 +3,13 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
+import shlex
+from numbers import Real
 from pathlib import Path
 
+from pygments.lexers import guess_lexer
+from pygments.util import ClassNotFound
+
 EXTENSION_MAP: dict[str, str] = {
     ".md": "markdown",
     ".json": "json",
@@ -52,13 +57,153 @@ EXTENSION_MAP: dict[str, str] = {
 _FILENAME_MAP: dict[str, str] = {
     "Dockerfile": "docker",
     "Makefile": "make",
+    ".bashrc": "bash",
+    ".zshrc": "bash",
+    ".profile": "bash",
 }
 
+_SHEBANG_MAP: dict[str, str] = {
+    "python": "python",
+    "python3": "python",
+    "python2": "python",
+    "sh": "bash",
+    "bash": "bash",
+    "zsh": "bash",
+}
+
+_ENV_OPTIONS_WITH_ARG = {
+    "-C",
+    "-u",
+    "--argv0",
+    "--block-signal",
+    "--chdir",
+    "--default-signal",
+    "--ignore-signal",
+    "--unset",
+}
+
+_ENV_LONG_OPTIONS_WITH_ARG = {
+    opt.lstrip("-") for opt in _ENV_OPTIONS_WITH_ARG if opt.startswith("--")
+}
+
+
+def _is_env_assignment(part: str) -> bool:
+    """Return whether a token looks like an env-style variable assignment."""
+    name, separator, _ = part.partition("=")
+    return (
+        bool(separator)
+        and bool(name)
+        and (name[0].isalpha() or name[0] == "_")
+        and all(char.isalnum() or char == "_" for char in name[1:])
+    )
+
+
+def _detect_env_program(parts: list[str]) -> str | None:
+    """Return the actual program name from an env-based shebang."""
+    remaining = parts[1:]
+
+    while remaining:
+        part = remaining.pop(0)
+
+        if part.startswith("--split-string="):
+            try:
+                remaining = shlex.split(part.partition("=")[2]) + remaining
+            except ValueError:
+                return None
+            continue
+
+        if part in {"-S", "--split-string"}:
+            if not remaining:
+                return None
+            try:
+                remaining = shlex.split(remaining.pop(0)) + remaining
+            except ValueError:
+                return None
+            continue
+
+        if part.startswith("-S"):
+            try:
+                remaining = shlex.split(part[2:]) + remaining
+            except ValueError:
+                return None
+            continue
+
+        if part == "--":
+            if not remaining:
+                return None
+            return Path(remaining[0]).name
+
+        if part in _ENV_OPTIONS_WITH_ARG:
+            if not remaining:
+                return None
+            remaining.pop(0)
+            continue
+
+        if any(part.startswith(f"{option}=") for option in _ENV_LONG_OPTIONS_WITH_ARG):
+            continue
+
+        if part.startswith("-"):
+            continue
+
+        if _is_env_assignment(part):
+            continue
+
+        return Path(part).name
+
+    return None
+
+
+def _detect_shebang(content: str) -> str | None:
+    """Return a lexer from the first shebang line when recognized."""
+    lines = content.splitlines()
+    first_line = lines[0] if lines else content
+    if not first_line.startswith("#!"):
+        return None
+
+    command = first_line[2:].strip()
+    if not command:
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        parts = shlex.split(command)
+    except ValueError:
+        return None
+
+    if not parts:
+        return None
+
+    program = Path(parts[0]).name
+    if program == "env":
+        env_program = _detect_env_program(parts)
+        if env_program is None:
+            return None
+        program = env_program
+
+    return _SHEBANG_MAP.get(program)
+
+
+def _detect_pygments_content(content: str) -> str | None:
+    """Return a lexer guessed from content when Pygments is confident."""
+    try:
+        lexer = guess_lexer(content)
+    except ClassNotFound:
+        return None
+
+    aliases: list[str] = getattr(lexer, "aliases", [])
+    alias = aliases[0] if aliases else None
+    analyse_text = getattr(lexer, "analyse_text", None)
+    score_value = analyse_text(content) if callable(analyse_text) else 0.0
+    score = float(score_value) if isinstance(score_value, Real) else 0.0
+    if alias == "text" or score < 0.5:
+        return None
+    return alias
+
 
 def detect_type(
     path: str | None = None,
     content: str | None = None,
     explicit_type: str | None = None,
+    guess_content: bool = False,
 ) -> str:
     """Detect the file type for syntax highlighting.
 
@@ -66,13 +211,16 @@ def detect_type(
     1. Explicit type if provided
     2. Filename-based mapping (for example, Dockerfile)
     3. Extension-based mapping
-    4. JSON if content starts with '{' or '[' and parses successfully
-    5. Fallback to 'text'
+    4. Shebang-based mapping for script content
+    5. JSON if content starts with '{' or '[' and parses successfully
+    6. Heuristic content guessing when enabled
+    7. Fallback to 'text'
 
     Args:
         path: File path for filename and extension detection.
         content: File content for JSON detection.
         explicit_type: Override auto-detection with explicit type.
+        guess_content: Enable heuristic content-based lexer guessing.
 
     Returns:
         Pygments lexer name for the detected file type.
@@ -90,6 +238,10 @@ def detect_type(
             return EXTENSION_MAP[suffix]
 
     if content is not None:
+        shebang_type = _detect_shebang(content)
+        if shebang_type is not None:
+            return shebang_type
+
         stripped = content.strip()
         if stripped and (
             (stripped[0] == "{" and stripped[-1] == "}")
@@ -101,4 +253,9 @@ def detect_type(
             except (json.JSONDecodeError, ValueError):
                 pass
 
+        if guess_content:
+            pygments_type = _detect_pygments_content(content)
+            if pygments_type is not None:
+                return pygments_type
+
     return "text"
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 6e6576c..2490e32 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ class TestFileInput:
             path=str(file),
             content="x = 1\n",
             explicit_type=None,
+            guess_content=False,
         )
 
     def test_render_called_with_correct_options(self, tmp_file) -> None:
@@ -180,6 +181,7 @@ class TestStdinInput:
             path=None,
             content="hello\n",
             explicit_type=None,
+            guess_content=False,
         )
 
     def test_stdin_shows_tty_prompt(self) -> None:
@@ -216,6 +218,7 @@ class TestTypeOverride:
 
         _, kwargs = mock_detect_type.call_args
         assert kwargs["explicit_type"] == "json"
+        assert kwargs["guess_content"] is False
 
     def test_explicit_type_short_flag(self, tmp_file) -> None:
         file = tmp_file("def foo(): pass\n", suffix=".txt")
@@ -236,6 +239,28 @@ class TestThemeOption:
         assert result.exit_code == 0
 
 
+class TestGuessContentOption:
+    """Tests for the guess-content flag."""
+
+    def test_guess_content_is_forwarded(self) -> None:
+        with patch("rp.cli.detect_type") as mock_detect_type:
+            mock_detect_type.return_value = "diff"
+            with patch("rp.cli.render"):
+                runner.invoke(app, ["--guess-content", "--no-pager"], input="hello\n")
+
+        _, kwargs = mock_detect_type.call_args
+        assert kwargs["guess_content"] is True
+
+    def test_guess_content_disabled_by_default(self) -> None:
+        with patch("rp.cli.detect_type") as mock_detect_type:
+            mock_detect_type.return_value = "text"
+            with patch("rp.cli.render"):
+                runner.invoke(app, ["--no-pager"], input="hello\n")
+
+        _, kwargs = mock_detect_type.call_args
+        assert kwargs["guess_content"] is False
+
+
 class TestLineNumbersOption:
     """Tests for the line number flags."""
 
diff --git a/tests/test_detect.py b/tests/test_detect.py
index 0393a33..b000712 100644
--- a/tests/test_detect.py
+++ b/tests/test_detect.py
@@ -70,7 +70,13 @@ class TestExtensionMap:
         assert detect_type(path="archive.tar.gz") == "text"
 
     def test_hidden_file(self) -> None:
-        assert detect_type(path=".bashrc") == "text"
+        assert detect_type(path=".bashrc") == "bash"
+
+    def test_zshrc(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(path=".zshrc") == "bash"
+
+    def test_profile(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(path=".profile") == "bash"
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("suffix", "expected"),
@@ -80,8 +86,73 @@ class TestExtensionMap:
         assert detect_type(path=f"example{suffix}") == expected
 
 
+class TestShebangDetection:
+    """Priority 4: detect common scripts from shebangs."""
+
+    def test_env_python3_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(content="#!/usr/bin/env python3\nprint('hi')\n") == "python"
+
+    def test_env_python3_with_assignment(self) -> None:
+        assert (
+            detect_type(content="#!/usr/bin/env FOO=1 python3\nprint('hi')\n")
+            == "python"
+        )
+
+    def test_env_ignore_environment_before_program(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(content="#!/usr/bin/env -i bash\necho hi\n") == "bash"
+
+    def test_env_split_string_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert (
+            detect_type(content="#!/usr/bin/env -S python3 -u\nprint('hi')\n")
+            == "python"
+        )
+
+    def test_env_compact_split_string_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert (
+            detect_type(content="#!/usr/bin/env -Spython3 -u\nprint('hi')\n")
+            == "python"
+        )
+
+    def test_env_quoted_split_string_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert (
+            detect_type(
+                content='#!/usr/bin/env --split-string="python3 -u"\nprint("hi")\n'
+            )
+            == "python"
+        )
+
+    def test_env_long_option_with_equals(self) -> None:
+        assert (
+            detect_type(content="#!/usr/bin/env --ignore-signal=TERM bash\necho hi\n")
+            == "bash"
+        )
+
+    def test_direct_python_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(content="#!/usr/bin/python3\nprint('hi')\n") == "python"
+
+    def test_bash_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(content="#!/bin/bash\necho hi\n") == "bash"
+
+    def test_sh_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(content="#!/bin/sh\necho hi\n") == "bash"
+
+    def test_zsh_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(content="#!/bin/zsh\necho hi\n") == "bash"
+
+    def test_extension_wins_over_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert (
+            detect_type(path="script.py", content="#!/bin/bash\necho hi\n") == "python"
+        )
+
+    def test_filename_wins_over_shebang(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(path=".bashrc", content="#!/usr/bin/env python3\n") == "bash"
+
+    def test_unrecognized_shebang_falls_through(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(content="#!/usr/bin/env ruby\nputs 'hi'\n") == "text"
+
+
 class TestContentJsonDetection:
-    """Priority 4: detect JSON from content when path gives no clue."""
+    """Priority 5: detect JSON from content when path gives no clue."""
 
     def test_json_object(self, sample_json: str) -> None:
         assert detect_type(content=sample_json) == "json"
@@ -104,9 +175,31 @@ class TestContentJsonDetection:
     def test_content_with_valid_path_takes_priority(self) -> None:
         assert detect_type(path="script.py", content='{"a": 1}') == "python"
 
+    def test_shebang_takes_priority_over_json(self) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(content='#!/usr/bin/env python3\n{"a": 1}\n') == "python"
+
+
+class TestGuessContent:
+    """Priority 6: optional heuristic content guessing."""
+
+    def test_guess_content_disabled_by_default(self) -> None:
+        diff = "--- a/file\n+++ b/file\n@@ -1 +1 @@\n-old\n+new\n"
+        assert detect_type(content=diff) == "text"
+
+    def test_guess_content_detects_diff(self) -> None:
+        diff = "--- a/file\n+++ b/file\n@@ -1 +1 @@\n-old\n+new\n"
+        assert detect_type(content=diff, guess_content=True) == "diff"
+
+    def test_guess_content_rejects_low_confidence_false_positive(self) -> None:
+        python_snippet = "def f():\n    return 1\n"
+        assert detect_type(content=python_snippet, guess_content=True) == "text"
+
+    def test_json_still_wins_over_guess_content(self, sample_json: str) -> None:
+        assert detect_type(content=sample_json, guess_content=True) == "json"
+
 
 class TestFallback:
-    """Priority 5: fallback to 'text'."""
+    """Priority 7: fallback to 'text'."""
 
     def test_no_args(self) -> None:
         assert detect_type() == "text"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index c8e832e..f3d0a14 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -342,6 +342,7 @@ name = "rp"
 version = "0.2.3"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
+    { name = "pygments" },
     { name = "rich" },
     { name = "typer" },
 ]
@@ -352,10 +353,12 @@ dev = [
     { name = "pytest" },
     { name = "pytest-cov" },
     { name = "ruff" },
+    { name = "types-pygments" },
 ]
 
 [package.metadata]
 requires-dist = [
+    { name = "pygments", specifier = ">=2.13.0" },
     { name = "rich", specifier = ">=13.0" },
     { name = "typer", specifier = ">=0.12" },
 ]
@@ -366,6 +369,7 @@ dev = [
     { name = "pytest", specifier = ">=8.0" },
     { name = "pytest-cov", specifier = ">=5.0" },
     { name = "ruff", specifier = ">=0.9" },
+    { name = "types-pygments", specifier = ">=2.19.0.20260402" },
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -417,6 +421,27 @@ wheels = [
     { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/4a/91/48db081e7a63bb37284f9fbcefda7c44c277b18b0e13fbc36ea2335b71e6/typer-0.24.1-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:112c1f0ce578bfb4cab9ffdabc68f031416ebcc216536611ba21f04e9aa84c9e", size = 56085, upload-time = "2026-02-21T16:54:41.616Z" },
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "types-docutils"
+version = "0.22.3.20260322"
+source = { registry = "https://pypi.org/simple" }
+sdist = { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/44/bb/243a87fc1605a4a94c2c343d6dbddbf0d7ef7c0b9550f360b8cda8e82c39/types_docutils-0.22.3.20260322.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:e2450bb997283c3141ec5db3e436b91f0aa26efe35eb9165178ca976ccb4930b", size = 57311, upload-time = "2026-03-22T04:08:44.064Z" }
+wheels = [
+    { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/c6/4a/22c090cd4615a16917dff817cbe7c5956da376c961e024c241cd962d2c3d/types_docutils-0.22.3.20260322-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:681d4510ce9b80a0c6a593f0f9843d81f8caa786db7b39ba04d9fd5480ac4442", size = 91978, upload-time = "2026-03-22T04:08:43.117Z" },
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "types-pygments"
+version = "2.19.0.20260402"
+source = { registry = "https://pypi.org/simple" }
+dependencies = [
+    { name = "types-docutils" },
+]
+sdist = { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/a6/a8/5834c55d900ce31b31367eedb82e664347dfa551a957b74a0ce0cd9f4f9a/types_pygments-2.19.0.20260402.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:bd26e1f662c9a3b8ea56668ddc099b809ffd54931bee97b15853bc4a8e5d4250", size = 18808, upload-time = "2026-04-02T04:21:13.058Z" }
+wheels = [
+    { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/f7/f2/b23659df4219fc4f39a45ede527cc209d961c7ff957678536a7a9d9ac9c5/types_pygments-2.19.0.20260402-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:5b0d863cec1c43ba38c946fb6e89d389c1cf287806f72360336fba4482f8daeb", size = 25672, upload-time = "2026-04-02T04:21:11.916Z" },
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "typing-extensions"
 version = "4.15.0"