diff --git a/doc/tags/for.rst b/doc/tags/for.rst
index 1e78db63c19..b05df7b9a43 100644
--- a/doc/tags/for.rst
+++ b/doc/tags/for.rst
@@ -80,6 +80,40 @@ Variable              Description
     ``loop.last`` variables are only available for PHP arrays, or objects that
     implement the ``Countable`` interface.
 
+The ``loop.parent`` variable gives access to the context enclosing the ``for``
+loop. It is not limited to nested loops: it exposes the whole context as it was
+before the loop started, which covers two common needs.
+
+When loops are nested, the parent context holds the outer ``loop`` variable, so
+the inner loop can reach the outer iteration state:
+
+.. code-block:: twig
+
+    {% for topic, messages in topics %}
+       * {{ loop.index }} : {{ topic }}
+        {% for message in messages %}
+            - {{ loop.parent.loop.index }}.{{ loop.index }}: {{ message }}
+        {% endfor %}
+    {% endfor %}
+
+Here ``loop.parent.loop.index`` is the index of the current ``topic`` from the
+outer ``for`` loop.
+
+``loop.parent`` also lets you reach a variable that the loop variable shadows:
+when both share the same name, the outer value is still available through the
+parent context:
+
+.. code-block:: twig
+
+    {% set user = 'Fabien' %}
+    {% for user in ['Homer', 'Bart'] %}
+        {{ loop.index }}. {{ user }} (outer user: {{ loop.parent.user }})
+    {% endfor %}
+
+This outputs ``1. Homer (outer user: Fabien)`` then ``2. Bart (outer user: Fabien)``.
+
+See also :doc:`the recipe on accessing the parent context in nested loops <recipes>`.
+
 The ``else`` Clause
 -------------------