What Is Morse Code?

Quick answer: Morse code writes each letter and number as a pattern of short signals (dots, or dits) and long signals (dashes, or dahs). S is ···, and O is −−−, so the distress call SOS is ··· −−− ···. A Morse code translator converts text into these patterns and back, and can play them as sound or light.

Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed the code for the electric telegraph in the 1830s and 1840s, and the first long-distance message, “What hath God wrought”, crossed from Washington to Baltimore in 1844. The international version used today was standardised later and still carries messages by radio, light, and sound.

This translator works in both directions and detects which one you need. It plays Morse as a tone at 5 to 40 words per minute with an adjustable pitch, flashes it on screen like a signal lamp, and saves it as a WAV file. A chart lets you hear every letter, number, and sign, and a tap keyer turns your own presses into dots, dashes, and letters.

• 47 Letters, numbers, and signs
• 5–40 Words per minute
• 3 Ways to play: sound, light, WAV

English to Morse Code in Four Steps

1. Type your message: Letters, numbers, and common punctuation all have codes.
2. Read the code: A space marks each new letter, a slash each new word.
3. Play it: Choose a speed and pitch, then listen or watch the light flash.
4. Copy or download: Paste the dots and dashes, or save the sound as a WAV file.

Morse Code Alphabet Chart

Letter	Code	Letter	Code	Letter	Code	Number	Code
A	·−	K	−·−	U	··−	1	·−−−−
B	−···	L	·−··	V	···−	2	··−−−
C	−·−·	M	−−	W	·−−	3	···−−
D	−··	N	−·	X	−··−	4	····−
E	·	O	−−−	Y	−·−−	5	·····
F	··−·	P	·−−·	Z	−−··	6	−····
G	−−·	Q	−−·−			7	−−···
H	····	R	·−·			8	−−−··
I	··	S	···			9	−−−−·
J	·−−−	T	−			0	−−−−−

Dots, bullets, and dashes for your own Morse art are in our text symbols library.

The most common letters got the shortest codes: E is a single dot and T a single dash, which is why English messages are faster to send than you might expect.

Another code made of two symbols is binary; convert text into 0s and 1s with the binary translator.

How Long Are Dots, Dashes and Gaps?

Everything in Morse is measured in units. A dot lasts one unit and a dash three. The gap inside a letter is one unit, between letters three, and between words seven. Speed is counted in words per minute using the word PARIS as the standard, so at 20 words per minute one unit lasts 60 milliseconds. The Timing Units style shows these rhythms as 1s and 0s, and the player follows them exactly.

What Does SOS Mean in Morse Code?

SOS was chosen as an international distress signal in the radio regulations of 1906 because ··· −−− ··· is easy to send and impossible to mistake. It is sent as one continuous pattern rather than three separate letters, and it does not stand for any words. Ships stopped relying on Morse for distress calls when satellite systems took over in 1999, but SOS can still be flashed with a torch or tapped on a pipe.

Where Is Morse Code Used Today?

• Amateur radio: operators still chat in Morse, known on air as CW.
• Aviation: radio navigation beacons identify themselves in Morse.
• Accessibility: some phone keyboards let people type with Morse taps.
• Scouts and outdoor skills: signalling with torches and whistles.
• Escape rooms and puzzles: beeping clues and blinking lights.
• Jewellery and tattoos: names and dates as beads or minimal lines.

For codes meant to hide a message, rather than transmit it, open the secret code translator.

Morse Code Terms

Dit and dah

The spoken names for a dot and a dash, used when learning by sound.

WPM

Words per minute, the standard measure of Morse speed.

CW

Continuous wave, the radio mode used to send Morse.

Prosign

A procedural signal sent as one run, such as SOS or AR for end of message.

Farnsworth timing

A learning method that sends letters fast but leaves longer gaps between them.

Straight key

The classic up-and-down telegraph key that the tap keyer imitates.

What This Morse Code Translator Does

Two-way translation

Automatic direction detection.

Audio player

5–40 WPM, adjustable pitch.

Signal lamp

Watch your message flash.

WAV download

Keep the sound for videos or puzzles.

Audible chart

Hear any letter, number, or sign.

Tap keyer

Send Morse with a key or the space bar.

Want to try sending Morse yourself?

Hold the key for dashes, tap for dots, and watch your letters appear.

⌨ Open the Tap Keyer

Morse Code Not Decoding or Playing?

Problem	Cause	Fix
Question marks in the text	A pattern matches no character	Check for an extra dot or a missing space between letters
Words run together	Word breaks were not marked	Put / or a triple gap between each word
No sound on a phone	Silent mode or the browser blocked audio	Turn the ringer on and press Play again
The keyer reads dots as dashes	The speed setting is too fast for your tapping	Lower the words per minute slider
Pasted dashes are not read	Unusual dash characters were used	Bullets, middle dots, en and em dashes are all accepted; replace others with –

Pair a Morse clue with a number code from the letters-to-numbers converter.

Tips for Learning Morse Code

Learn by sound

Memorise the rhythm of each letter, not the picture of dots and dashes.

Start with E, T, A and N

Short, frequent letters build confidence quickly.

Keep the speed up

Fast letters with long gaps beat slow letters for real progress.

Practise daily

Ten minutes a day with the keyer works better than one long session.

Give a sci-fi signal some style with the futuristic font generator.

Morse Code Translator FAQ

What is a Morse code translator?

It converts written words into dits and dahs, reads Morse back as English, and also plays the signal aloud.

How do I translate Morse code to English?

Paste the dots and dashes into the translator; it detects Morse and shows the English, with words split at slashes.

What is S in Morse code?

S is three dots: ···.

What is SOS in Morse code?

··· −−− ···, sent as one unbroken signal.

How do you say I love you in Morse code?

·· / ·−·· −−− ···− · / −·−− −−− ··−

Can I hear the Morse code?

Yes. Press Play sound to hear it, adjusting the speed from 5 to 40 words per minute and the pitch from 400 to 1000 Hz.

Can I download Morse code audio?

Yes. Download WAV saves the sound at your chosen speed and pitch.

How are letters and words separated?

Letters are separated by a space and words by a slash, which matches the longer gaps in sound.

Who invented Morse code?

Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed it for the telegraph in the 1830s and 1840s.

Is Morse code still used?

Yes, by amateur radio operators, in aviation beacons, in accessibility keyboards, and for emergency signalling.

How long does it take to learn Morse code?

Most people learn the alphabet by sound in a few weeks of short daily practice.

What do dit and dah mean?

They are the spoken sounds of a dot and a dash.

How do I send Morse with the tap keyer?

Press and hold the key or the space bar: a quick press is a dot, a longer one a dash, and pauses end letters and words.

Does Morse code have numbers and punctuation?

Yes. Every digit has a five-signal code, and signs such as the full stop and question mark have six.

What speed is Morse code usually sent at?

Beginners often use 5 to 15 words per minute; experienced operators send 20 to 30 or more.

Can I make a Morse code bracelet pattern?

Yes. The Bracelet Beads style shows each dot as a round bead and each dash as a long bead.

Why do E and T have such short codes?

They are the most common letters in English, so short codes make messages faster.

Is the Morse code translator free?

Yes. Translating, listening, flashing, downloading, and keying are free.

Is my message sent to a server?

No. Sound and translation are generated by your own browser.

Does it work on phones?

Yes, including the tap keyer, which responds to touch.

Can I use Morse code in an emergency?

Yes. SOS can be flashed with a torch or tapped, though phones and radios are the first choice when available.

Translate Text to Morse Code

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Hear it, flash it, download it, and send it yourself. •— Start Translating