The Morse code reference covers the complete international Morse code standard: all 26 letters, digits 0-9, and common punctuation. Each character is encoded as a sequence of dots (.) and dashes (-) separated by spaces.
Text to Morse Translator
Letters A–Z
Numbers 0–9
Common Symbols
How to Read and Use Morse Code
Morse code encodes text as a sequence of short signals (dots) and long signals (dashes). The International Morse Code standard is used worldwide for amateur radio, aviation, and emergency communications. This Morse code reference provides a complete lookup table and text translator.
Step 1: Learn the Timing Rules
A dash lasts 3 times longer than a dot. The gap between elements within a character is 1 dot. The gap between characters is 3 dots. The gap between words is 7 dots. At 20 WPM (words per minute), a dot is about 60ms, a dash 180ms, and a word gap 420ms.
Step 2: Recognize Common Short Codes
The most common letters have the shortest codes. E = . (1 element), T = - (1 element), I = .. (2), A = .- (2), N = -. (2), M = -- (2). These five letters cover about 50% of English text frequency. Learning them first makes practice much faster.
Step 3: Memorize SOS and Common Prosigns
SOS is ...---... (no gaps between characters — it is one prosign). CQ means "calling any station" and is used to initiate contact. 73 means "best regards." AR means "end of message." These prosigns are second nature to any radio operator.
FAQ
Is this Morse code reference free?
Yes, completely free with no signup. Type text to instantly see the Morse code translation.
What is Morse code?
Morse code is a character encoding system using dots (short signals) and dashes (long signals) to represent letters, numbers, and symbols. Originally used for telegraph communication, it is still used in amateur radio, aviation, and emergency signaling.
What is the Morse code for SOS?
SOS is ... --- ... (three dots, three dashes, three dots). It is the international distress signal because it is easy to transmit and recognize, not because it stands for any specific phrase.
How long are dots and dashes in Morse code?
A dash is 3 times the duration of a dot. Gaps between elements of the same character equal 1 dot duration. Gaps between characters equal 3 dot durations. Gaps between words equal 7 dot durations.
What is the most common Morse code letter?
The letter E (a single dot) is the most common because it maps to the most frequent letter in English. T (single dash), A (dot-dash), I (dot-dot), and N (dash-dot) are also short, reflecting their frequency in English text.