Morse Code Words: Common Words and Phrases in Dots and Dashes

How Words Are Written in Morse Code

Words in Morse code are written by replacing each letter with its pattern, leaving one space between letters and a slash between words. International Morse code, defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Recommendation ITU-R M.1677-1, has no separate pattern for a whole word, so every word is spelled out.

Timing turns the written form into sound or light. A dot lasts 1 unit, a dash lasts 3 units, the gap inside a letter lasts 1 unit, the gap between letters lasts 3 units and the gap between words lasts 7 units. At 20 words per minute (wpm), one unit lasts 60 milliseconds (0.06 seconds).

.... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -..

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Common Words in Morse Code

The 22 words below cover greetings, answers, emergencies and the words people put on jewellery and tattoos. HI is the shortest at 13 timing units, and FAMILY is the longest at 61 units. Words with a full page are linked.

Common Phrases in Morse Code

Phrases in Morse code need a slash between every word. A phrase written without the slashes decodes as one long word, so I LOVE YOU without word breaks reads ILOVEYOU. The 11 phrases below show the correct breaks.

Words Radio Operators Shorten

Radio operators shorten frequent words to save time on the air. Amateur radio operators use 3 kinds of shortcuts: abbreviations such as TNX for thanks and PSE for please, Q-codes such as QTH for location, and number codes such as 73 for best regards and 88 for love and kisses. The CW abbreviations guide lists the common ones.

Tips for Learning Morse Code Words

There are 5 practical tips for learning Morse code words quickly:

1. Start with short words such as HI, NO, YES and SOS, which use the most common letters.
2. Learn by sound, saying dit and dah aloud instead of counting dots on paper.
3. Practise the gaps, because correct letters with wrong spacing decode as different words.
4. Send each word by sound, tapping and light, so the rhythm sticks in more than one sense.
5. Check every copy in the Morse Code Translator before you share or engrave it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are words written in Morse code?

Words in Morse code are written as letter patterns separated by single spaces, with a slash between words. HELLO WORLD is written .... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -... When the words are sent as sound or light, the space becomes a silence 3 dot lengths long and the slash becomes a silence 7 dot lengths long.

What is the most common word in Morse code?

SOS is the most widely recognised word in Morse code, written ... --- .... SOS is not an abbreviation. The 1906 International Radiotelegraph Convention in Berlin adopted the pattern because 3 dots, 3 dashes and 3 dots is easy to send and hard to mistake.

Is there a Morse code for whole words?

No, International Morse code has no single pattern for a whole word. Every word is spelled letter by letter. Operators shorten frequent words with abbreviations and Q-codes instead, such as TNX for thanks, CQ for calling any station and 73 for best regards.

What is the easiest word to learn in Morse code?

The easiest words to learn in Morse code are short words built from short letters. HI is the shortest word in the table on this page, at 13 timing units. SOS is the easiest word to remember, because the pattern is three identical groups of three.

Can I translate any word into Morse code?

Yes, any word written in the Latin alphabet with the digits 0 to 9 and common punctuation translates into International Morse code. Type the word into the Morse Code Translator to see the code, hear it, flash it and copy it. Letters with accents and non-Latin scripts use extended or national Morse alphabets.