Morse Code Alphabet Chart: Letters, Numbers and Phonetics

The Morse code alphabet represents each letter and number as a short pattern of dots and dashes. For example, A is dot-dash (·−), E is a single dot (·) and T is a single dash (−). The international standard is set by the ITU in Recommendation ITU-R M.1677, and the charts below follow it.

On this page

1. Morse Code Alphabet Chart: A to Z
2. Morse Code Numbers: 0 to 9
3. What Is Morse Code?
4. Morse Code Timing Rules
5. Morse Code Punctuation and Signals
6. SOS in Morse Code
7. Morse Code Alphabet and the Phonetic Alphabet
8. How to Learn the Morse Code Alphabet
9. Patterns That Make Morse Easier
10. Where Morse Code Is Used Today
11. Common Mistakes When Learning Morse
12. Wrapping Up
13. Frequently Asked Questions

Morse Code Alphabet Chart: A to Z

This chart lists every letter of the International Morse code alphabet. It also shows how each code sounds and the matching word from the NATO phonetic alphabet.

Letter	Morse code	Sounds like	NATO word
A	·−	dit dah	Alfa
B	−···	dah dit dit dit	Bravo
C	−·−·	dah dit dah dit	Charlie
D	−··	dah dit dit	Delta
E	·	dit	Echo
F	··−·	dit dit dah dit	Foxtrot
G	−−·	dah dah dit	Golf
H	····	dit dit dit dit	Hotel
I	··	dit dit	India
J	·−−−	dit dah dah dah	Juliett
K	−·−	dah dit dah	Kilo
L	·−··	dit dah dit dit	Lima
M	−−	dah dah	Mike
N	−·	dah dit	November
O	−−−	dah dah dah	Oscar
P	·−−·	dit dah dah dit	Papa
Q	−−·−	dah dah dit dah	Quebec
R	·−·	dit dah dit	Romeo
S	···	dit dit dit	Sierra
T	−	dah	Tango
U	··−	dit dit dah	Uniform
V	···−	dit dit dit dah	Victor
W	·−−	dit dah dah	Whiskey
X	−··−	dah dit dit dah	X-ray
Y	−·−−	dah dit dah dah	Yankee
Z	−−··	dah dah dit dit	Zulu

Morse Code Numbers: 0 to 9

Numbers follow a tidy pattern, which makes them easy to learn. Each digit uses exactly five elements. From 1 to 5, dots replace dashes from the left. Then, from 6 to 0, dashes replace dots from the left.

Digit	Morse code	Sounds like
1	·−−−−	dit dah dah dah dah
2	··−−−	dit dit dah dah dah
3	···−−	dit dit dit dah dah
4	····−	dit dit dit dit dah
5	·····	dit dit dit dit dit
6	−····	dah dit dit dit dit
7	−−···	dah dah dit dit dit
8	−−−··	dah dah dah dit dit
9	−−−−·	dah dah dah dah dit
0	−−−−−	dah dah dah dah dah

Radio operators also say numbers in special ways on voice channels, such as “niner” for 9. See our guide to phonetic alphabet numbers for the spoken forms.

What Is Morse Code?

Morse code is a way of sending text using on-off signals. Those signals can be sounds, flashes of light, electrical pulses or radio tones. Because it needs only two states, it works over very simple equipment and through heavy interference.

The code dates back to the electric telegraph of the mid-1800s. Samuel Morse and his collaborator Alfred Vail developed an early version in the United States. Later, a revised version spread through Europe and became the basis of today’s International Morse code. As a result, the original “American Morse” and International Morse differ for several letters. Today, the International version is the one used worldwide.

The Official Standard: ITU-R M.1677

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) publishes the official definition of International Morse code. Its Recommendation ITU-R M.1677 lists the letters, figures, punctuation and service signals, along with the timing rules. You can find ITU publications on the ITU website.

Morse Code Timing Rules

Morse code is about rhythm, not just dots and dashes. The ITU standard defines every gap in terms of the length of one dot. Get the timing right, and your code becomes easy to read.

Element	Length
Dot (dit)	1 unit
Dash (dah)	3 units
Gap between parts of the same letter	1 unit
Gap between letters	3 units
Gap between words	7 units

For example, in the word “TEN”, the dash for T, the dot for E and the dash-dot for N each sit three units apart. If you then start a new word, you wait seven units. Without those gaps, the letters would blur together, and “TEN” could be misread.

Speed: Words per Minute

Operators measure Morse speed in words per minute (wpm). Beginners often start around 5 wpm. In contrast, experienced operators can send and receive far faster. Speed comes from practice, and most learners find that it grows steadily once the letters become automatic.

Morse Code Punctuation and Signals

International Morse also includes punctuation marks and special procedure signals. Here are some of the most useful ones.

Symbol or signal	Morse code
Period (full stop)	·−·−·−
Comma	−−··−−
Question mark	··−−··
Slash (/)	−··−·
At sign (@)	·−−·−·
Error	········ (eight dots)
Invitation to transmit (K)	−·−
End of message (AR)	·−·−·

Signals like AR are called prosigns. They are sent as one run of elements, without the usual gaps between letters. Similarly, a single R is widely used in Morse practice to mean “received”, which is the origin of the radio word “roger”. Read more in our post on the roger that meaning.

SOS in Morse Code

SOS is the most famous Morse signal of all. It is sent as three dots, three dashes and three dots: ···−−−···. Importantly, it goes out as one continuous pattern, not as the separate letters S, O and S. In other words, there are no letter gaps inside it.

Contrary to popular belief, SOS does not stand for “save our souls” or “save our ship”. Those are later interpretations. The pattern was chosen because it is simple, distinctive and hard to mistake, even for a beginner. It became an international distress signal in the early 1900s.

Morse Code Alphabet and the Phonetic Alphabet

Morse code and the phonetic alphabet solve related problems. Morse encodes letters as signals, while the phonetic alphabet encodes letters as clear spoken words. Both aim to send text accurately over imperfect radio links.

They also share history. Early radio operators worked with Morse first, and spoken alphabets grew alongside voice radio. Our history of the phonetic alphabet covers how the spoken codes developed. Today, ham radio operators often use both: Morse on CW (continuous wave) and phonetic words on voice. See our ham radio phonetic alphabet guide for more.

How to Learn the Morse Code Alphabet

Many people try to memorize dots and dashes visually. However, experienced operators recommend learning Morse by sound instead. That way, you hear each letter as a single rhythm rather than counting dots.

Learn by Sound, Not by Sight

Say codes out loud as “dit” and “dah”. For instance, A is “di-dah” and B is “dah-di-di-dit”. In addition, listen to audio practice at a realistic speed. Over time, your brain links each rhythm directly to its letter.

Try the Koch and Farnsworth Methods

Two popular training methods help many learners. The Koch method starts with just two letters at full speed, then adds one letter at a time as accuracy improves. The Farnsworth method sends each letter at full speed but stretches the gaps between letters, giving you time to think. Many training apps combine both.

Start With the Most Common Letters

Morse gave the shortest codes to the most frequent English letters. So E, T, A, I, N and S are quick to send and worth learning first. Next, add the rest in small groups. Finally, practice real words and callsigns.

Practice Little and Often

Short daily sessions work better than long weekly ones. Even ten to fifteen minutes a day builds steady progress. Organizations such as the ARRL (the US national association for amateur radio) offer resources for learners.

Patterns That Make Morse Easier

Although you should learn letters by sound, a few patterns help them stick. Grouping related codes shows how logical the system is.

All Dots and All Dashes

Some letters use only dots: E (·), I (··), S (···) and H (····). The digit 5 (·····) continues that run. Likewise, some use only dashes: T (−), M (−−) and O (−−−), with 0 (−−−−−) at the end. Learning these two ladders together gives you eight characters in minutes. See our pages on E (Echo) and T (Tango) for more on the two shortest codes.

Opposite Pairs

Several letters are mirror images of each other. For example, A (·−) flips to N (−·), D (−··) flips to U (··−), and B (−···) flips to V (···−). Similarly, G (−−·) flips to W (·−−). Practicing these pairs side by side helps you avoid mixing them up.

Words That Sound Like Letters

Some learners link a rhythm to a word with the same beat. For instance, the rhythm of C (dah-di-dah-dit) suits a four-beat phrase with stresses on the first and third beats. Mnemonics like these help some people at the start. However, drop them once you recognize letters instantly, because they slow you down at higher speeds.

Where Morse Code Is Used Today

Morse code is no longer the backbone of global communication. Even so, it remains in active use in several areas.

• Amateur radio: Many hams enjoy CW because it can get through weak, noisy conditions with simple equipment.
• Aviation navigation aids: Many radio beacons identify themselves with a short Morse code ident, which pilots can listen to.
• Signaling with light: Ships can still exchange messages with signal lamps.
• Emergencies: Tapping or flashing SOS is a widely recognized call for help.
• Accessibility: Some assistive technologies let users type using Morse input.

Common Mistakes When Learning Morse

• Counting dots. It slows you down. Learn each letter as a rhythm.
• Ignoring spacing. Letter and word gaps matter as much as the signals.
• Confusing mirror letters. A (·−) and N (−·) are opposites, as are D (−··) and U (··−). Practice them together.
• Learning too slowly. Very slow letters encourage counting. Use Farnsworth spacing instead.

Wrapping Up

The Morse code alphabet turns every letter and number into a simple pattern of dits and dahs. Keep the charts above handy, respect the timing rules from ITU-R M.1677, and learn by sound for the fastest progress. Then, pair it with the NATO alphabet, and you will be ready to spell anything, whether by signal or by voice.