The Morse code alphabet
Every letter and number with audio. Blue is a dit, amber is a dah. Tap play to hear it, or tap the character to learn it.
Punctuation
Timing rules
| Element | Length |
|---|---|
| Dit (·) | 1 unit |
| Dah (–) | 3 units |
| Gap inside a letter | 1 unit |
| Gap between letters | 3 units |
| Gap between words | 7 units |
At 20 words per minute one unit is 60 ms. Speed is measured with the standard word PARIS, which is exactly 50 units long. Read more in our alphabet guide and Farnsworth timing article, or try the translator.
Don’t memorise the chart
This page is a reference, not a study plan. Counting dots and dashes caps most people around 10 WPM. The Koch method teaches each character as a sound at full speed instead — which is how DotDash works.
FAQ
How many characters are in the Morse code alphabet?
International Morse code defines 26 letters, 10 numerals and around 18 punctuation marks and procedural signals, plus prosigns such as SOS, AR and SK.
What is the difference between a dot and a dash?
A dash (dah) lasts three times as long as a dot (dit). The gap between dots and dashes within a letter is one dot long; between letters, three; between words, seven.
Is Morse code the same in every language?
International Morse is used worldwide for the Latin alphabet. Languages with extra letters (like ä, é, ñ) and other scripts such as Cyrillic, Japanese (Wabun) and Korean (SKATS) have their own extensions.
DotDash teaches you Morse code in five minutes a day — free on iOS and Android.