diff --git a/decimal128.h b/decimal128.h
index df72acf..8f6b315 100644
--- a/decimal128.h
+++ b/decimal128.h
@@ -49,8 +49,13 @@
   #endif

   /* Decimal 128-bit type, accessible by bytes                        */
-  typedef struct {
+  typedef union {
     uint8_t bytes[DECIMAL128_Bytes]; /* decimal128: 1, 5, 12, 110 bits*/
+    uint16_t shorts[DECIMAL128_Bytes/2];
+    uint32_t  words[DECIMAL128_Bytes/4];
+    #if DECUSE64
+    uint64_t  longs[DECIMAL128_Bytes/8];
+    #endif
     } decimal128;

   /* special values [top byte excluding sign bit; last two bits are   */
diff --git a/decimal32.h b/decimal32.h
index faaf9a9..233f7a8 100644
--- a/decimal32.h
+++ b/decimal32.h
@@ -49,8 +49,10 @@
   #endif

   /* Decimal 32-bit type, accessible by bytes */
-  typedef struct {
+  typedef union {
     uint8_t bytes[DECIMAL32_Bytes];     /* decimal32: 1, 5, 6, 20 bits*/
+    uint16_t shorts[DECIMAL32_Bytes/2];
+    uint32_t  words[DECIMAL32_Bytes/4];
     } decimal32;

   /* special values [top byte excluding sign bit; last two bits are   */
diff --git a/decimal64.h b/decimal64.h
index d2782a3..8b5308c 100644
--- a/decimal64.h
+++ b/decimal64.h
@@ -51,8 +51,13 @@
   #endif

   /* Decimal 64-bit type, accessible by bytes                         */
-  typedef struct {
+  typedef union {
     uint8_t bytes[DECIMAL64_Bytes];     /* decimal64: 1, 5, 8, 50 bits*/
+    uint16_t shorts[DECIMAL64_Bytes/2];
+    uint32_t  words[DECIMAL64_Bytes/4];
+    #if DECUSE64
+    uint64_t  longs[DECIMAL64_Bytes/8];
+    #endif
     } decimal64;

   /* special values [top byte excluding sign bit; last two bits are   */