Morse code translator

Type text to get Morse code, or paste dots and dashes to read them. It switches direction by itself.

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How to write and read Morse code here

Text becomes dots (.) and dashes (-), with one space between letters and a slash between words, so "Hello world" is .... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -... To read Morse, paste it in the same way. Dots written as • or ·, dashes as − or —, and three spaces between words are understood too. A group of dots and dashes that isn't a known letter shows as # and is listed underneath, which usually means two letters ran together.

SOS is sent as one run, ...---..., with no gaps between the letters, which is why it is easy to recognize; written with gaps as above it reads the same.

Sound and light

Play sound beeps the code at the speed you set, in words per minute. The timing follows the international standard: a dash is three dots long, the gap inside a letter is one dot, between letters three dots and between words seven. At 15 words per minute a dot lasts 80 milliseconds, from the usual rule that one dot is 1,200 ÷ speed milliseconds. Flash light lights a panel with each beep, for practicing signals with a lamp or a phone screen. Many teachers have beginners hear each letter at 15 to 20 wpm but with longer gaps between letters, known as Farnsworth timing (ARRL), so slow the speed down if you are just starting.

Speeds are measured with the word PARIS, which is exactly 50 dot-lengths long including the gap after it, so at 15 words per minute you could send it 15 times in a minute. SOS on its own takes about 2.2 seconds at 15 words per minute.

Common words and phrases in Morse code

Words people look up most often, worked out by the same translator as above. A slash marks the gap between words.

Is Morse code still used?

Yes, though no longer for everyday messages. Radio amateurs still send it by hand, often called CW, because a simple signal gets through noise and over long distances with very little power. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission stopped requiring a Morse code test for any amateur radio license on February 23, 2007 (ARRL report), yet many operators learn it anyway. Radio navigation beacons for aircraft also identify themselves with a few letters in Morse code. The international standard for the letters, numbers and timing is ITU-R Recommendation M.1677-1 (ITU), which this translator follows.

Morse code chart

Letters, numbers and punctuation in International Morse Code. Signs marked * are common but not part of the ITU standard.

Questions

How do I convert Morse code to text?

Paste the dots and dashes into the box. Leave one space between letters and a slash or three spaces between words, and the English text appears underneath. Dots typed as • or · and dashes as − or — work too.

What is International Morse Code?

The standard version of Morse code set by the International Telecommunication Union and used around the world. It is the one this translator and the chart below use. The older American Morse used on US telegraph lines differs for several letters.

How are numbers written in Morse code?

Every digit uses five symbols. 1 is .----, and each next digit swaps one more dot in from the left, up to 5 as all dots; 0 is -----. The chart below lists them all.

Can I hear the Morse code as audio?

Yes. Press Play sound to hear the translation as beeps, and use Speed to slow it down while you learn or speed it up to practice.

Is this the same Morse code as American Morse?

No. This is International Morse Code, used by radio amateurs and for distress signals worldwide. American Morse, used on old US telegraph lines, had different codes for several letters and is rarely used today.

Can it translate accented letters?

Not in the standard alphabet. Letters like é or ñ have national variants that aren't widely agreed, so they are skipped and listed under the result. Write them without the accent, as most operators do.

How do you say I love you in Morse code?

.. / .-.. --- ...- . / -.-- --- ..-. Each letter is separated by a space and each word by a slash. Tap Play sound to hear it, or Flash light to send it with a screen or lamp.

What does SOS stand for?

Nothing. SOS became the international distress signal at the 1906 International Radiotelegraph Convention in Berlin (history), picked because its pattern, three dots, three dashes and three dots sent without gaps, is easy to send and hard to mistake. Phrases like "save our souls" were made up afterwards.

Why can't I hear anything?

Browsers only play sound after you tap the page, so press Play sound directly. Check that your device isn't muted. The sound stops when you press Stop or start a new message.

Last updated November 7, 2026 · Spotted a wrong result? Tell us and we'll check it.