diff --git a/pyhive/sqlalchemy_hive.py b/pyhive/sqlalchemy_hive.py
index 49edb07c..0e3e0eeb 100644
--- a/pyhive/sqlalchemy_hive.py
+++ b/pyhive/sqlalchemy_hive.py
@@ -128,6 +128,8 @@ def __init__(self, dialect):
     'float': types.Float,
     'double': types.Float,
     'string': types.String,
+    'varchar': types.String,
+    'char': types.String,
     'date': HiveDate,
     'timestamp': HiveTimestamp,
     'binary': types.String,