Morse Code Translator
Morse code uses dots (dits) and dashes (dahs) to represent letters and numbers. SOS = ... --- ... (three dots, three dashes, three dots). A = .-, B = -..., E = . (single dot, shortest code). Letters are separated by spaces, words by / or longer pauses. Invented by Samuel Morse in the 1830s for telegraph communication. Still used in aviation, amateur radio, and emergency signaling.
Translate text to Morse code and Morse code to text. Encode any message into dots and dashes or decode Morse back to letters. Play audio beeps. Supports A-Z, 0-9, and common punctuation. Full reference chart included.
Mode
Presets
Text Input
Morse Code Reference
| Character | Morse Code | Character | Morse Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 to Use
- 1
Choose direction
Select Text to Morse to encode a message, or Morse to Text to decode dots and dashes back to letters.
- 2
Enter your input
Type or paste text (for encoding) or Morse code with dots, dashes, spaces between letters, and / between words (for decoding). Or click a preset.
- 3
Read the result
The converted output appears instantly. Text becomes dots and dashes; Morse becomes readable letters.
- 4
Play or copy
Click Play Audio to hear the Morse beeps (600 Hz tone). Click Copy to copy the result to your clipboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is SOS in Morse code?
- SOS in Morse code is ... --- ... (three dots, three dashes, three dots). It is the international distress signal chosen because it is easy to transmit and recognize. SOS does not stand for any words — it was selected for its distinct pattern. You can signal SOS with light, sound, or tapping.
- How do you read Morse code?
- Each letter is a unique sequence of dots (short signals) and dashes (long signals). A dash is 3x the length of a dot. Letters are separated by a space equal to 3 dots. Words are separated by a space equal to 7 dots (shown as / in text). Learn common letters first: E (.), T (-), A (.-), I (..), N (-.), S (...).
- Who invented Morse code?
- Samuel F.B. Morse and Alfred Vail developed Morse code in the 1830s-1840s for use with the electric telegraph. The original American Morse code was later standardized as International Morse Code (ITU standard) in 1865. It remains in use today in amateur radio, aviation (IDENT signals), and emergency communication.
- Can Morse code include numbers and punctuation?
- Yes. Numbers 0-9 each have 5-symbol codes (e.g., 1 = .----, 0 = -----). Common punctuation is also supported: period (.-.-.-), comma (--..--), question mark (..--..), exclamation mark (-.-.--), and slash (-..-.). This converter handles all standard International Morse Code characters.
- How fast is Morse code?
- Speed is measured in words per minute (WPM) using the word PARIS as the standard (50 dot-lengths). Beginners send at 5-10 WPM. Experienced operators reach 20-30 WPM. Competition operators exceed 40 WPM. The audio playback in this tool uses approximately 15 WPM.
- Is Morse code still used today?
- Yes. Amateur radio operators use Morse code (CW mode) for long-distance communication — it works at lower signal strengths than voice. Aviation navigation aids (VORs, NDBs) transmit their identifier in Morse. The military uses it as a backup. It is also used by people with disabilities as an accessible input method.