How to use this tool
- Type text in the top box. Each letter turns into dots and dashes in the box below.
- Or type Morse in the second box to read it as English. Dots can be
.or·, dashes can be-,_or−. - Press Play to hear it. Turn on Light to see it flash, or Vibrate to feel it on a phone.
- Set the speed in words per minute and pick a tone you like. Your settings are kept for next time.
- Save or send it. Download a WAV file, copy the code, or make a link that opens this page with your message.
New to Morse? Open the tap key and try sending with your finger or space bar. A short press makes a dot and a long press makes a dash.
How Morse code is written
Morse code uses two signals: a short one called a dot (or "dit") and a long one called a dash (or "dah"). Each letter, number and sign is a set of these. The letter E is just one dot. The letter T is one dash. Common letters got short codes so messages go faster.
When you write it down, put one space between letters and a slash between words. For example, ···· ·· / − ···· · ·−· · means HI THERE.
Letters A to Z
| Letter | Code | Letter | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | ·− | N | −· |
| B | −··· | O | −−− |
| C | −·−· | P | ·−−· |
| D | −·· | Q | −−·− |
| E | · | R | ·−· |
| F | ··−· | S | ··· |
| G | −−· | T | − |
| H | ···· | U | ··− |
| I | ·· | V | ···− |
| J | ·−−− | W | ·−− |
| K | −·− | X | −··− |
| L | ·−·· | Y | −·−− |
| M | −− | Z | −−·· |
That is the whole Morse code chart for letters. See the full alphabet with numbers, punctuation and prosigns. You can tap any sign there to hear it.
Timing: how long is a dot?
The international standard, ITU-R M.1677-1, sets the rhythm. Everything is measured in dots:
- A dash is as long as three dots.
- The gap between dots and dashes inside one letter is one dot.
- The gap between two letters is three dots.
- The gap between two words is seven dots.
Speed is given in words per minute (WPM). The test word is PARIS. With the gap after it, PARIS is exactly 50 dot lengths long. So one dot lasts 60,000 ms divided by (50 × WPM):
dot length (ms) = 1200 ÷ WPM
20 WPM → 60 ms dot, 180 ms dash
Our timing follows these rules to the millisecond, and our tests check that PARIS lasts exactly 50 units.
Farnsworth spacing for learners
If you are learning, set the Farnsworth speed lower than the main speed. Each letter still plays at full speed, but the gaps get longer. The ARRL suggests this method because you learn the sound of each letter at the speed you will use later. For example, 18 WPM letters with an overall speed of 8 WPM.
What makes this translator different
- It works both ways as you type, with no button to press.
- Sound, light and vibration play in sync.
- Speed from 5 to 50 WPM, Farnsworth spacing, tone from 300 to 1200 Hz, and a soft or buzzy sound.
- You can save a WAV file of any message.
- A free audio decoder that reads Morse from your microphone or from a sound file.
- It knows every sign in the ITU standard, plus common extras and prosigns like <SOS> and <AR>.
- Everything runs in your browser. We never see what you type.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I translate English to Morse code?
Type your words in the Text box. The Morse code shows up right away in the box below, with a space between letters and a slash between words. Press Play to hear it or Download WAV to save it.
How do I translate Morse code to English?
Type or paste the code in the Morse code box. Use a dot for a short signal and a dash for a long one. Put one space between letters and a slash or three spaces between words. The English text appears in the Text box.
Can I translate Morse code from a sound or video?
Yes. Open our audio decoder. It can listen through your microphone or read an audio file you pick. It finds the tone and the speed by itself and writes out the letters.
What does WPM mean?
WPM means words per minute. One word is the length of the word PARIS, which is 50 dot lengths. So at 20 WPM, one dot lasts 1200 divided by 20, which is 60 milliseconds.
What is Farnsworth spacing?
It is a way to learn. The letters play at full speed, but the gaps between letters and words are longer. You learn the sound of each letter at real speed and still have time to think.
Why do some characters show as #?
Those characters have no Morse code, like emoji or the euro sign. Accents are removed from letters, except for É, which has its own code in the ITU standard.