diff --git a/vlib/builtin/array.v b/vlib/builtin/array.v
index 16952c13ff..c974160b3f 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/array.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/array.v
@@ -107,7 +107,15 @@ fn (mut a array) ensure_cap(required int) {
 }
 
 // repeat returns a new array with the given array elements repeated given times.
+// `cgen` will replace this with an apropriate call to `repeat_to_depth()`
 pub fn (a array) repeat(count int) array {
+	return unsafe { a.repeat_to_depth(count, 0) }
+}
+
+// version of `repeat()` that handles multi dimensional arrays
+// `unsafe` to call directly because `depth` is not checked
+[unsafe]
+pub fn (a array) repeat_to_depth(count int, depth int) array {
 	if count < 0 {
 		panic('array.repeat: count is negative: $count')
 	}
@@ -121,13 +129,10 @@ pub fn (a array) repeat(count int) array {
 		len: count * a.len
 		cap: count * a.len
 	}
-	size_of_array := int(sizeof(array))
 	for i in 0 .. count {
-		if a.len > 0 && a.element_size == size_of_array {
-			ary := array{}
-			unsafe { C.memcpy(&ary, a.data, size_of_array) }
-			ary_clone := ary.clone()
-			unsafe { C.memcpy(arr.get_unsafe(i * a.len), &ary_clone, a.len * a.element_size) }
+		if a.len > 0 && depth > 0 {
+			ary_clone := unsafe { a.clone_to_depth(depth - 1) }
+			unsafe { C.memcpy(arr.get_unsafe(i * a.len), &byte(ary_clone.data), a.len * a.element_size) }
 		} else {
 			unsafe { C.memcpy(arr.get_unsafe(i * a.len), &byte(a.data), a.len * a.element_size) }
 		}
@@ -335,8 +340,19 @@ fn (a array) clone_static() array {
 	return a.clone()
 }
 
+fn (a array) clone_static_to_depth(depth int) array {
+	return unsafe { a.clone_to_depth(depth) }
+}
+
 // clone returns an independent copy of a given array.
+// this will be overwritten by `cgen` with an apropriate call to `.clone_to_depth()`
 pub fn (a &array) clone() array {
+	return unsafe { a.clone_to_depth(0) }
+}
+
+// recursively clone given array - `unsafe` when called directly because depth is not checked
+[unsafe]
+pub fn (a &array) clone_to_depth(depth int) array {
 	mut size := a.cap * a.element_size
 	if size == 0 {
 		size++
@@ -348,57 +364,20 @@ pub fn (a &array) clone() array {
 		cap: a.cap
 	}
 	// Recursively clone-generated elements if array element is array type
-	size_of_array := int(sizeof(array))
-	if a.element_size == size_of_array {
-		mut is_elem_array := true
+	if depth > 0 {
 		for i in 0 .. a.len {
 			ar := array{}
-			unsafe { C.memcpy(&ar, a.get_unsafe(i), size_of_array) }
-			if ar.len > ar.cap || ar.cap <= 0 || ar.element_size <= 0 {
-				is_elem_array = false
-				break
-			}
-			ar_clone := ar.clone()
+			unsafe { C.memcpy(&ar, a.get_unsafe(i), int(sizeof(array))) }
+			ar_clone := unsafe { ar.clone_to_depth(depth - 1) }
 			unsafe { arr.set_unsafe(i, &ar_clone) }
 		}
-		if is_elem_array {
-			return arr
+		return arr
+	} else {
+		if !isnil(a.data) {
+			unsafe { C.memcpy(&byte(arr.data), a.data, a.cap * a.element_size) }
 		}
+		return arr
 	}
-
-	if !isnil(a.data) {
-		unsafe { C.memcpy(&byte(arr.data), a.data, a.cap * a.element_size) }
-	}
-	return arr
-}
-
-fn (a &array) slice_clone(start int, _end int) array {
-	mut end := _end
-	$if !no_bounds_checking ? {
-		if start > end {
-			panic('array.slice: invalid slice index ($start > $end)')
-		}
-		if end > a.len {
-			panic('array.slice: slice bounds out of range ($end >= $a.len)')
-		}
-		if start < 0 {
-			panic('array.slice: slice bounds out of range ($start < 0)')
-		}
-	}
-	mut data := &byte(0)
-	offset := start * a.element_size
-	unsafe {
-		data = &byte(a.data) + offset
-	}
-	l := end - start
-	res := array{
-		element_size: a.element_size
-		data: data
-		offset: offset
-		len: l
-		cap: l
-	}
-	return res.clone()
 }
 
 // we manually inline this for single operations for performance without -prod
@@ -722,7 +701,16 @@ fn new_array_from_c_array_noscan(len int, cap int, elm_size int, c_array voidptr
 	return arr
 }
 
-fn (a array) repeat_noscan(count int) array {
+// repeat returns a new array with the given array elements repeated given times.
+// `cgen` will replace this with an apropriate call to `repeat_to_depth()`
+pub fn (a array) repeat_noscan(count int) array {
+	return unsafe { a.repeat_to_depth_noscan(count, 0) }
+}
+
+// version of `repeat()` that handles multi dimensional arrays
+// `unsafe` to call directly because `depth` is not checked
+[unsafe]
+fn (a array) repeat_to_depth_noscan(count int, depth int) array {
 	if count < 0 {
 		panic('array.repeat: count is negative: $count')
 	}
@@ -732,16 +720,16 @@ fn (a array) repeat_noscan(count int) array {
 	}
 	arr := array{
 		element_size: a.element_size
-		data: vcalloc_noscan(size)
+		data: if depth > 0 { vcalloc(size) } else { vcalloc_noscan(size) }
 		len: count * a.len
 		cap: count * a.len
 	}
 	size_of_array := int(sizeof(array))
 	for i in 0 .. count {
-		if a.len > 0 && a.element_size == size_of_array {
+		if a.len > 0 && depth > 0 {
 			ary := array{}
 			unsafe { C.memcpy(&ary, a.data, size_of_array) }
-			ary_clone := ary.clone()
+			ary_clone := unsafe { ary.clone_to_depth_noscan(depth - 1) }
 			unsafe { C.memcpy(arr.get_unsafe(i * a.len), &ary_clone, a.len * a.element_size) }
 		} else {
 			unsafe { C.memcpy(arr.get_unsafe(i * a.len), &byte(a.data), a.len * a.element_size) }
@@ -750,67 +738,32 @@ fn (a array) repeat_noscan(count int) array {
 	return arr
 }
 
-pub fn (a &array) clone_noscan() array {
+pub fn (a &array) clone_to_depth_noscan(depth int) array {
 	mut size := a.cap * a.element_size
 	if size == 0 {
 		size++
 	}
 	mut arr := array{
 		element_size: a.element_size
-		data: vcalloc_noscan(size)
+		data: if depth > 0 { vcalloc(size) } else { vcalloc_noscan(size) }
 		len: a.len
 		cap: a.cap
 	}
 	// Recursively clone-generated elements if array element is array type
-	size_of_array := int(sizeof(array))
-	if a.element_size == size_of_array {
-		mut is_elem_array := true
+	if depth > 0 {
 		for i in 0 .. a.len {
 			ar := array{}
-			unsafe { C.memcpy(&ar, a.get_unsafe(i), size_of_array) }
-			if ar.len > ar.cap || ar.cap <= 0 || ar.element_size <= 0 {
-				is_elem_array = false
-				break
-			}
-			ar_clone := ar.clone()
+			unsafe { C.memcpy(&ar, a.get_unsafe(i), int(sizeof(array))) }
+			ar_clone := unsafe { ar.clone_to_depth_noscan(depth - 1) }
 			unsafe { arr.set_unsafe(i, &ar_clone) }
 		}
-		if is_elem_array {
-			return arr
+		return arr
+	} else {
+		if !isnil(a.data) {
+			unsafe { C.memcpy(&byte(arr.data), a.data, a.cap * a.element_size) }
 		}
+		return arr
 	}
-
-	if !isnil(a.data) {
-		unsafe { C.memcpy(&byte(arr.data), a.data, a.cap * a.element_size) }
-	}
-	return arr
-}
-
-fn (a &array) slice_clone_noscan(start int, _end int) array {
-	mut end := _end
-	$if !no_bounds_checking ? {
-		if start > end {
-			panic('array.slice: invalid slice index ($start > $end)')
-		}
-		if end > a.len {
-			panic('array.slice: slice bounds out of range ($end >= $a.len)')
-		}
-		if start < 0 {
-			panic('array.slice: slice bounds out of range ($start < 0)')
-		}
-	}
-	mut data := &byte(0)
-	unsafe {
-		data = &byte(a.data) + start * a.element_size
-	}
-	l := end - start
-	res := array{
-		element_size: a.element_size
-		data: data
-		len: l
-		cap: l
-	}
-	return res.clone_noscan()
 }
 
 fn (a array) reverse_noscan() array {
diff --git a/vlib/builtin/array_test.v b/vlib/builtin/array_test.v
index 54646b007a..ad84541a46 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/array_test.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/array_test.v
@@ -233,6 +233,21 @@ fn test_repeat() {
 	}
 }
 
+fn test_deep_repeat() {
+	mut a3 := [[[1, 1], [2, 2], [3, 3]], [[4, 4], [5, 5], [6, 6]]]
+	r := a3.repeat(3)
+	a3[1][1][0] = 17
+	assert r == [
+		[[1, 1], [2, 2], [3, 3]],
+		[[4, 4], [5, 5], [6, 6]],
+		[[1, 1], [2, 2], [3, 3]],
+		[[4, 4], [5, 5], [6, 6]],
+		[[1, 1], [2, 2], [3, 3]],
+		[[4, 4], [5, 5], [6, 6]],
+	]
+	assert a3 == [[[1, 1], [2, 2], [3, 3]], [[4, 4], [17, 5], [6, 6]]]
+}
+
 fn test_right() {
 	a := [1, 2, 3, 4]
 	c := a[1..a.len]
@@ -367,7 +382,7 @@ fn test_copy() {
 	assert b[2] == 3
 }
 */
-fn test_mutli_array_clone() {
+fn test_multi_array_clone() {
 	// 2d array_int
 	mut a2_1 := [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]
 	mut a2_2 := a2_1.clone()
@@ -647,7 +662,7 @@ fn test_anon_fn_map() {
 	assert [1, 2, 3].map(add_num) == [2, 3, 4]
 }
 
-fn test_mutli_anon_fn_map() {
+fn test_multi_anon_fn_map() {
 	a := [1, 2, 3].map(fn (i int) int {
 		return i + 1
 	})
@@ -987,7 +1002,7 @@ fn test_array_with_cap() {
 	assert a5.cap == 10
 }
 
-fn test_mutli_array_index() {
+fn test_multi_array_index() {
 	mut a := [][]int{len: 2, init: []int{len: 3, init: 0}}
 	a[0][0] = 1
 	assert '$a' == '[[1, 0, 0], [0, 0, 0]]'
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v
index d890834a7b..84627eb058 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/cgen.v
@@ -2775,9 +2775,11 @@ fn (mut g Gen) gen_clone_assignment(val ast.Expr, right_sym ast.TypeSymbol, add_
 		if add_eq {
 			g.write('=')
 		}
-		g.write(' array_clone_static(')
+		g.write(' array_clone_static_to_depth(')
 		g.expr(val)
-		g.write(')')
+		elem_type := (right_sym.info as ast.Array).elem_type
+		array_depth := g.get_array_depth(elem_type)
+		g.write(', $array_depth)')
 	} else if g.is_autofree && right_sym.kind == .string {
 		if add_eq {
 			g.write('=')
@@ -6601,6 +6603,17 @@ fn (mut g Gen) trace(fbase string, message string) {
 	}
 }
 
+pub fn (mut g Gen) get_array_depth(el_typ ast.Type) int {
+	typ := g.unwrap_generic(el_typ)
+	sym := g.table.get_final_type_symbol(typ)
+	if sym.kind == .array {
+		info := sym.info as ast.Array
+		return 1 + g.get_array_depth(info.elem_type)
+	} else {
+		return 0
+	}
+}
+
 // returns true if `t` includes any pointer(s) - during garbage collection heap regions
 // that contain no pointers do not have to be scanned
 pub fn (mut g Gen) contains_ptr(el_typ ast.Type) bool {
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/fn.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/fn.v
index c8f7dcf24b..edfe0223e3 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/fn.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/fn.v
@@ -649,7 +649,16 @@ fn (mut g Gen) method_call(node ast.CallExpr) {
 		}
 	}
 	mut name := util.no_dots('${receiver_type_name}_$node.name')
-	if left_sym.kind == .chan {
+	mut array_depth := -1
+	if left_sym.kind == .array {
+		if node.name in ['clone', 'repeat'] {
+			elem_type := (left_sym.info as ast.Array).elem_type
+			array_depth = g.get_array_depth(elem_type)
+			if node.name == 'repeat' {
+				array_depth++
+			}
+		}
+	} else if left_sym.kind == .chan {
 		if node.name in ['close', 'try_pop', 'try_push'] {
 			name = 'sync__Channel_$node.name'
 		}
@@ -702,6 +711,9 @@ fn (mut g Gen) method_call(node ast.CallExpr) {
 	if !node.receiver_type.is_ptr() && node.left_type.is_ptr() && node.name == 'str' {
 		g.write('ptr_str(')
 	} else {
+		if array_depth >= 0 {
+			name = name + '_to_depth'
+		}
 		g.write('${name}(')
 	}
 	if node.receiver_type.is_ptr() && (!node.left_type.is_ptr()
@@ -773,6 +785,9 @@ fn (mut g Gen) method_call(node ast.CallExpr) {
 	*/
 	// ///////
 	g.call_args(node)
+	if array_depth >= 0 {
+		g.write(', $array_depth')
+	}
 	g.write(')')
 }
 
diff --git a/vlib/v/markused/markused.v b/vlib/v/markused/markused.v
index bfddb8528a..ff8b53a021 100644
--- a/vlib/v/markused/markused.v
+++ b/vlib/v/markused/markused.v
@@ -83,11 +83,14 @@ pub fn mark_used(mut table ast.Table, pref &pref.Preferences, ast_files []&ast.F
 		'21.set_unsafe',
 		'21.get_with_check' /* used for `x := a[i] or {}` */,
 		'21.clone_static',
+		'21.clone_static_to_depth',
+		'21.clone_to_depth',
 		'21.first',
 		'21.last',
 		'21.pointers' /* TODO: handle generic methods calling array primitives more precisely in pool_test.v */,
 		'21.reverse',
 		'21.repeat',
+		'21.repeat_to_depth',
 		'21.slice',
 		'21.slice2',
 		'59.get',