What is Morse Code?
Morse Code is a method of transmitting text information using sequences of dots (·) and dashes (—). It was developed in the 1830s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for telegraph communication.
Morse Code Translator
Instant text ↔ Morse conversion with audio playback.
Audio: 700 Hz · 20 WPM · WAV download available
Morse Code Chart
A
.-
B
-...
C
-.-.
D
-..
E
.
F
..-.
G
--.
H
....
I
..
J
.---
K
-.-
L
.-..
M
--
N
-.
O
---
P
.--.
Q
--.-
R
.-.
S
...
T
-
U
..-
V
...-
W
.--
X
-..-
Y
-.--
Z
--..
0
-----
1
.----
2
..---
3
...--
4
....-
5
.....
6
-....
7
--...
8
---..
9
----.
.
.-.-.-
,
--..--
?
..--..
'
.----.
!
-.-.--
/
-..-.
(
-.--.
)
-.--.-
&
.-...
:
---...
;
-.-.-.
=
-...-
+
.-.-.
-
-....-
_
..--.-
"
.-..-.
$
...-..-
@
.--.-.
How this Morse translator handles text
The translator follows International Morse patterns for A-Z, 0-9, and common punctuation. It converts accented Latin letters to their base form, so café becomes CAFE before encoding instead of silently dropping the accented letter.
Standard timing used by the audio
| Signal | Timing | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dot | 1 unit | Shortest signal |
| Dash | 3 units | Long signal |
| Inside a letter | 1 unit | Gap between dots and dashes |
| Between letters | 3 units | Separates encoded characters |
| Between words | 7 units | Shown as / in text |
Input, decoding, and practice notes
- Text mode supports Latin letters, digits, and punctuation such as . , ? ! / - and @. Unsupported symbols are omitted from encoding.
- Morse mode expects spaces between letters and a slash or a long gap between words. An unknown sequence decodes as a question mark so errors stay visible.
- Playback and WAV export use a 700 Hz tone at 20 WPM. Use the download for study or demonstrations, not as a substitute for certified emergency equipment.
Worked examples
SOS
... --- ...Three dots, three dashes, three dots.
HELLO
.... . .-.. .-.. ---Single spaces separate letters.
WAIT!
.-- .- .. - -.-.--The exclamation mark has its own code.
A repeatable practice workflow
- 1Start with five short words and encode them from text without looking at the chart. Compare the generated result character by character.
- 2Play the audio once while reading the dots and dashes, then play it again while looking only at the original word.
- 3Paste the Morse into the decoder and correct spacing errors. A single space separates letters; the slash separates words.
- 4Download the WAV only after the visual sequence is correct, so the recording does not reinforce a mistaken code.
What 20 WPM means here
At 20 words per minute, the standard dot duration is 1.2 / 20 seconds, or 60 milliseconds. A dash lasts 180 milliseconds. The translator keeps the tone at 700 Hz and applies the 1-3-7 timing relationships shown above. Real operators may vary character and word spacing while learning, so use this output as a consistent reference rather than a measure of radio proficiency. Decode your final sequence back to text before saving audio to catch missing separators or unsupported symbols.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
How do I read Morse Code audio?
Short sounds (dots or 'dits') are one unit long. Long sounds (dashes or 'dahs') are three units long. Spaces between letters are three units, and spaces between words are seven units.
Can I use Morse Code without audio?
Yes! You can use the visual text representation with dots and dashes, or use light signals (short flash = dot, long flash = dash) to communicate.