diff --git a/internal/core/cmdHandler.go b/internal/core/cmdHandler.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d108bd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/core/cmdHandler.go
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+package core
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/disgoorg/disgo/events"
+)
+
+type MessageCommandHandler func(event *events.MessageCreate, args []string)
+
+type commandNode struct {
+	handler  MessageCommandHandler
+	children map[string]*commandNode
+}
+
+var (
+	rootCommand   = &commandNode{children: make(map[string]*commandNode)}
+	registryMutex sync.RWMutex
+	botPrefix     = "!" // configurable command prefix
+)
+
+// SetBotPrefix updates the command prefix at runtime.
+func SetBotPrefix(prefix string) {
+	botPrefix = prefix
+}
+
+// GetBotPrefix returns the active command prefix.
+func GetBotPrefix() string {
+	return botPrefix
+}
+
+// RegisterCommand registers a top-level command handler.
+func RegisterCommand(command string, handler func(*events.MessageCreate)) {
+	RegisterCommandPath([]string{command}, func(event *events.MessageCreate, args []string) {
+		handler(event)
+	})
+}
+
+// RegisterCommandPath registers a handler for a path of nested command names.
+func RegisterCommandPath(path []string, handler MessageCommandHandler) {
+	if len(path) == 0 || handler == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	registryMutex.Lock()
+	defer registryMutex.Unlock()
+
+	node := rootCommand
+	for _, segment := range path {
+		if node.children == nil {
+			node.children = make(map[string]*commandNode)
+		}
+		child, exists := node.children[segment]
+		if !exists {
+			child = &commandNode{children: make(map[string]*commandNode)}
+			node.children[segment] = child
+		}
+		node = child
+	}
+	node.handler = handler
+}
+
+// RegisterSubcommand registers a nested handler under the given parent path.
+func RegisterSubcommand(parent []string, command string, handler MessageCommandHandler) {
+	path := append(append([]string(nil), parent...), command)
+	RegisterCommandPath(path, handler)
+}
+
+// DispatchCommand dispatches a prefix-based message command to the deepest registered handler.
+func DispatchCommand(event *events.MessageCreate) {
+	if event.Message.Author.Bot {
+		return
+	}
+	content := strings.TrimSpace(event.Message.Content)
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(content, botPrefix) {
+		return
+	}
+	words := strings.Fields(strings.TrimPrefix(content, botPrefix))
+	if len(words) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	registryMutex.RLock()
+	defer registryMutex.RUnlock()
+
+	node := rootCommand
+	var lastHandler MessageCommandHandler
+	var lastMatch int
+	for i, word := range words {
+		child, exists := node.children[word]
+		if !exists {
+			break
+		}
+		node = child
+		if node.handler != nil {
+			lastHandler = node.handler
+			lastMatch = i + 1
+		}
+	}
+
+	if lastHandler != nil {
+		lastHandler(event, words[lastMatch:])
+	}
+}
+
+// Slash commands in Disgo are handled separately via application command registration and interaction event listeners.
diff --git a/internal/core/start.go b/internal/core/start.go
index e620a3f..fb6fb65 100644
--- a/internal/core/start.go
+++ b/internal/core/start.go
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
-	"strings"
-	"sync"
 	"syscall"
 
 	"github.com/disgoorg/disgo"
@@ -15,47 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/disgoorg/disgo/gateway"
 )
 
-var (
-	commandRegistry = make(map[string]func(*events.MessageCreate))
-	registryMutex   sync.RWMutex
-	botPrefix       = "!" // configurable command prefix
-)
-
-// SetBotPrefix sets the command prefix (default is "!")
-func SetBotPrefix(prefix string) {
-	botPrefix = prefix
-}
-
-// RegisterCommand registers a command handler
-func RegisterCommand(command string, handler func(*events.MessageCreate)) {
-	registryMutex.Lock()
-	defer registryMutex.Unlock()
-	commandRegistry[command] = handler
-}
-
-// DispatchCommand dispatches a message to the appropriate command handler
-func DispatchCommand(event *events.MessageCreate) {
-	if event.Message.Author.Bot {
-		return
-	}
-	content := strings.TrimSpace(event.Message.Content)
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(content, botPrefix) {
-		return
-	}
-	parts := strings.Fields(content)
-	if len(parts) == 0 {
-		return
-	}
-	// Remove prefix from command to match registry key
-	command := strings.TrimPrefix(parts[0], botPrefix)
-	registryMutex.RLock()
-	handler, exists := commandRegistry[command]
-	registryMutex.RUnlock()
-	if exists {
-		handler(event)
-	}
-}
-
 func Start(ctx context.Context, token string, listener func(*events.MessageCreate)) error {
 	slog.Info("starting pen bot...")
 	slog.Info("disgo version", slog.String("version", disgo.Version))