Speaking Morse Code

For learning Morse code it is recommended to use this reference, but if you like, the dots and dashes are available too. If you click on any of the highlighted letters or symbols the Morse sound will be played.

If the duration of a dot is taken to be one unit then that of a dash is three units. The space between the components of one character is one unit, between characters is three units and between words seven units (see more on Morse code timing).

The prosigns are combinations of two letters sent together with no space in between. They are indicated here using angled brackets. The other abbreviations and Q codes are sent with the normal spacing.

The definitive references for International Morse code are Recommendation ITU-R M.1677-1 which tabulates the characters but does not include most accented characters, nor some punctuation (see notes in the tables for the exceptions) and Recommendation ITU-R M.1172 which tabulates abbreviations (with only some listed here).

Sound Controls

Pitch

Pitch in Hz. A high number makes a high pitched sound. 550 is a good value.

Volume

Volume, from 0 to 100.

Character speed

The speed in words per minute, taking 'PARIS' as the standard word.

Farnsworth speed

The Farnsworth speed slows down the space between letters and words, making it easier to learn Morse. It should be a lower value than the speed.

Letter Morse
A di-dah
B dah-di-di-dit
C dah-di-dah-dit
D dah-di-dit
E dit
F di-di-dah-dit
G dah-dah-dit
H di-di-di-dit
I di-dit
J di-dah-dah-dah
K dah-di-dah
L di-dah-di-dit
M dah-dah
Letter Morse
N dah-dit
O dah-dah-dah
P di-dah-dah-dit
Q dah-dah-di-dah
R di-dah-dit
S di-di-dit
T dah
U di-di-dah
V di-di-di-dah
W di-dah-dah
X dah-di-di-dah
Y dah-di-dah-dah
Z dah-dah-di-dit
Digit Morse
0 dah-dah-dah-dah-dah
1 di-dah-dah-dah-dah
2 di-di-dah-dah-dah
3 di-di-di-dah-dah
4 di-di-di-di-dah
5 di-di-di-di-dit
6 dah-di-di-di-dit
7 dah-dah-di-di-dit
8 dah-dah-dah-di-dit
9 dah-dah-dah-dah-dit
Cut NumbersCut numbers are a way of representing digits using shorter letters. T, A, and N for 0, 1, and 9 are most commonly used. Morse
0 (also T) dah
1 (also A) di-dah
2 (also U) di-di-dah
3 (also V) di-di-di-dah
4 di-di-di-di-dah
5 (also E) dit
6 dah-di-di-di-dit
7 (also B) dah-di-di-dit
8 (also D) dah-di-dit
9 (also N) dah-dit
Punctuation Mark Morse
Error (also ) di-di-di-di-di-di-di-dit
& Ampersand di-dah-di-di-dit
' Apostrophe di-dah-dah-dah-dah-dit
@ At sign di-dah-dah-di-dah-dit
) Bracket, close (parenthesis) dah-di-dah-dah-di-dah
( Bracket, open (parenthesis) dah-di-dah-dah-dit
: Colon dah-dah-dah-di-di-dit
, Comma dah-dah-di-di-dah-dah
= Equals sign dah-di-di-di-dah
! Exclamation markNot in ITU-R recommendation dah-di-dah-di-dah-dah
. Full-stop (period) di-dah-di-dah-di-dah
– Hyphen dah-di-di-di-di-dah
× Multiplication sign (also x) dah-di-di-dah
% Percentage (literally 0/0) dah-dah-dah-dah-dah dah-di-di-dah-dit dah-dah-dah-dah-dah
+ Plus sign di-dah-di-dah-dit
" Quotation marks di-dah-di-di-dah-dit
? Question mark (query) di-di-dah-dah-di-dit
/ Slash dah-di-di-dah-dit
Accented Letter Morse
À Å di-dah-dah-di-dah
Ä Ą Æ di-dah-di-dah
Ć Ĉ Ç dah-di-dah-di-dit
Ch Ĥ Š dah-dah-dah-dah
ĐCrossed D or dyet ÉIncluded in ITU-R Ę di-di-dah-di-dit
ÐEth, known as ðæt in Old English di-di-dah-dah-dit
È Ł di-dah-di-di-dah
Ĝ dah-dah-di-dah-dit
Ĵ di-dah-dah-dah-dit
Ń Ñ dah-dah-di-dah-dah
Ó Ö Ø dah-dah-dah-dit
Ś di-di-di-dah-di-di-dit
Ŝ di-di-di-dah-dit
Þ di-dah-dah-di-dit
Ü Ŭ di-di-dah-dah
Ź dah-dah-di-di-dah-dit
Ż dah-dah-di-di-dah
ProsignProsigns are combinations of two or three letters sent together with no space in between. They are indicated here with the angled brackets. Morse
New line di-dah-di-dah
End of message (also +) di-dah-di-dah-dit
Wait (also &) di-dah-di-di-dit
Break dah-di-di-di-dah-di-dah
New paragraph (also =) dah-di-di-di-dah
Going off the air ("clear") dah-di-dah-di-di-dah-di-dit
Start copying dah-di-dah-di-dah
Change to wabun code dah-di-di-dah-dah-dah
Starting signal dah-di-dah-di-dah
Invite a specific station to transmit dah-di-dah-dah-dit
End of transmission (also ) di-di-di-dah-di-dah
Understood (also ) di-di-di-dah-dit
Distress message di-di-di-dah-dah-dah-di-di-dit
Abbreviation Other Phrases
73 Best regards
88 Love and kisses
BCNU Be seeing you
CQ Call to all stations
CS Call sign (request)
CUL See you later
DE From (or "this is")
ES And
K Over (invitation to transmit)
OM Old man
R Received / Roger
RST Signal report
UR You are
Q CodeQ codes are sent with the normal spacing Meaning
QRL The frequency is in use
QRM Your transmission is being interfered with (1-5)
QRN I am troubled by static (1-5)
QRO Increase transmitter power
QRP Decrease transmitter power
QRQ Send faster (…words per minute)
QRS Send more slowly (…words per minute)
QRT Stop sending
QRU I have nothing for you
QRV I am ready to copy
QRX Wait
QRZ You are being called by…
QSB Your signals are fading
QSL I acknowledge receipt
QTH My location is…
Q CodeQ codes are sent with the normal spacing Meaning
QRL? Is the frequency in use?
QRM? Is my transmission being interfered with?
QRN? Are you troubled by static?
QRO? Shall I increase transmitter power?
QRP? Shall I decrease transmitter power?
QRQ? Shall I send faster?
QRS? Shall I send more slowly?
QRT? Shall I stop sending?
QRU? Have you anything for me?
QRV? Are you ready to copy?
QRX? Should I wait?
QRZ? Who is calling me?
QSB? Are my signals fading?
QSL? Do you acknowledge?
QTH? What is your location?