Reference
Morse Code Alphabet
The Morse code alphabet maps every letter A to Z to a pattern of dots and dashes. The chart below shows all 26 letters. E is a single dot and T is a single dash, because the shortest codes were given to the most common letters.
Last updated 14 July 2026
How to read the Morse alphabet chart
Each letter is a sequence of dots and dashes. Read them left to right. A dot is a short signal and a dash is a long one, about three times the length of a dot.
When sending, leave a short gap between the dots and dashes of a single letter, a longer gap between letters, and the longest gap between words. Those gaps are what let a listener tell where one letter ends and the next begins.
What letter is dot dash? A reverse Morse chart
Most Morse charts only run one way, from letter to pattern, which is useless when you already have the pattern and want the letter. The table below runs the other way: every letter and digit sorted by pattern length, so a short signal you have just heard or written down is quick to find.
Read it by counting symbols first. One symbol can only be E (dot) or T (dash). Two symbols give you A, I, M and N. Three give S, U, R, W, D, K, G and O. Anything five symbols long is almost always a digit, because every number is exactly five dots and dashes.
| Pattern | Spoken as | Means |
|---|---|---|
| - | dash | T |
| . | dot | E |
| -- | dash dash | M |
| -. | dash dot | N |
| .- | dot dash | A |
| .. | dot dot | I |
| --- | dash dash dash | O |
| --. | dash dash dot | G |
| -.- | dash dot dash | K |
| -.. | dash dot dot | D |
| .-- | dot dash dash | W |
| .-. | dot dash dot | R |
| ..- | dot dot dash | U |
| ... | dot dot dot | S |
| --.- | dash dash dot dash | Q |
| --.. | dash dash dot dot | Z |
| -.-- | dash dot dash dash | Y |
| -.-. | dash dot dash dot | C |
| -..- | dash dot dot dash | X |
| -... | dash dot dot dot | B |
| .--- | dot dash dash dash | J |
| .--. | dot dash dash dot | P |
| .-.. | dot dash dot dot | L |
| ..-. | dot dot dash dot | F |
| ...- | dot dot dot dash | V |
| .... | dot dot dot dot | H |
| ----- | dash dash dash dash dash | 0 |
| ----. | dash dash dash dash dot | 9 |
| ---.. | dash dash dash dot dot | 8 |
| --... | dash dash dot dot dot | 7 |
| -.... | dash dot dot dot dot | 6 |
| .---- | dot dash dash dash dash | 1 |
| ..--- | dot dot dash dash dash | 2 |
| ...-- | dot dot dot dash dash | 3 |
| ....- | dot dot dot dot dash | 4 |
| ..... | dot dot dot dot dot | 5 |
Does Morse code have punctuation?
Yes. International Morse code, as standardised by the ITU, includes a full stop, comma, question mark, apostrophe, exclamation mark, slash, brackets, ampersand, colon, semicolon, equals sign, plus, hyphen, underscore, quotation mark, dollar sign and at sign. Punctuation patterns are longer than letters, five or six symbols, which is part of how they are recognised.
The at sign is the newest addition: the ITU adopted it in 2004 as a run-together A and C, so that email addresses could be sent by radio.
| Character | Name | Morse |
|---|---|---|
| . | Full stop (period) | .-.-.- |
| , | Comma | --..-- |
| ? | Question mark | ..--.. |
| ' | Apostrophe | .----. |
| ! | Exclamation mark | -.-.-- |
| / | Slash | -..-. |
| ( | Open bracket | -.--. |
| ) | Close bracket | -.--.- |
| & | Ampersand | .-... |
| : | Colon | ---... |
| ; | Semicolon | -.-.-. |
| = | Equals | -...- |
| + | Plus | .-.-. |
| - | Hyphen | -....- |
| _ | Underscore | ..--.- |
| " | Quotation mark | .-..-. |
| $ | Dollar sign | ...-..- |
| @ | At sign | .--.-. |
Tips for memorising the alphabet
Start with the simplest letters: E (dot), T (dash), then I, A, N and M. Learn them by sound, not by looking at dots on a page, because you will ultimately read Morse by ear.
Group letters that mirror each other, like A (dot dash) and N (dash dot), to reinforce the pattern. Practising in short daily sessions beats one long session.
Frequently asked questions
What letter is dot dash in Morse code?
Dot dash (.-) is A. Reversed, dash dot (-.) is N. Those two mirrored pairs are usually the first thing beginners learn to tell apart.
What is dash dot dot dash in Morse code?
Dash dot dot dash (-..-) is X. Swapping the ends gives -.-. which is C, so it is worth reading the pattern all the way through before deciding.
What is the easiest letter in Morse code?
E is the easiest: a single dot. T, a single dash, is just as simple. These two are the shortest codes because E and T are the most common letters in English.
How do I read the Morse code chart quickly?
Learn letters by their sound rather than their look. Say dot as di and dash as dah, so A becomes di-dah. Reading by rhythm is far faster than counting dots on paper.