What Is Morse Code?
Morse code is a character-encoding system that represents letters, numbers, and punctuation as sequences of short signals (dots) and long signals (dashes). Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed the system in the 1830s for use with the electric telegraph, the first long-distance communication technology. The original American Morse code was later standardized into International Morse Code by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which remains the version in use today.
Each character maps to a unique combination of dots and dashes. The letter "E" is a single dot (.), the shortest code, while "Q" is dash-dash-dot-dash (--.-). Spaces between letters are represented by a short pause, and spaces between words by a longer pause. This Morse code translator converts text to Morse code and back instantly, with audio playback so you can hear the actual rhythm of each message.
Key Features of This Morse Code Translator
- Bidirectional Translation: Type in either the text or the Morse code field and the other updates in real time. No need to press a convert button.
- Audio Playback: Listen to the Morse code as audio beeps generated in your browser using the Web Audio API. The tones follow ITU timing standards: a dot is one time unit, a dash is three units, and pauses between characters and words follow the standard ratios.
- Adjustable Speed: Control playback speed from 5 to 40 words per minute (WPM) using the speed slider. The default is 20 WPM, a comfortable pace for learning.
- 9 Alphabet Systems: Translate Morse code in Latin, Cyrillic, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Japanese (Katakana), Korean, and Thai scripts. Most online Morse code translators only support Latin characters.
- Reference Chart: A complete Morse code chart for the selected alphabet is displayed below the translator, showing every character and its corresponding dot-dash pattern.
- One-Click Copy: Copy either the plain text or the Morse code output to your clipboard with a single click.
- Client-Side Processing: All translation and audio generation happens entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server.
How to Use This Morse Code Translator
- Type or paste text in the left (or top) textarea to convert it to Morse code. The Morse code appears automatically in the right (or bottom) textarea.
- Enter Morse code in the right textarea to decode it back to text. Use dots (
.) and dashes (-), separate letters with spaces, and separate words with/. - Select an alphabet from the dropdown if you need a non-Latin script such as Cyrillic or Arabic.
- Click Play to hear the Morse code as audio tones. Adjust the WPM slider to change playback speed. Click Stop to end playback early.
- Click Copy on either textarea to copy the content to your clipboard.
Morse Code Alphabet Reference
The table below shows the International Morse Code for the Latin alphabet (A–Z), digits (0–9), and common punctuation marks. A dot (.) represents a short signal and a dash (-) represents a long signal.
| Character | Morse Code | Character | Morse Code | Character | Morse Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | .- | N | -. | 0 | ----- |
| B | -... | O | --- | 1 | .---- |
| C | -.-. | P | .--. | 2 | ..--- |
| D | -.. | Q | --.- | 3 | ...-- |
| E | . | R | .-. | 4 | ....- |
| F | ..-. | S | ... | 5 | ..... |
| G | --. | T | - | 6 | -.... |
| H | .... | U | ..- | 7 | --... |
| I | .. | V | ...- | 8 | ---.. |
| J | .--- | W | .-- | 9 | ----. |
| K | -.- | X | -..- | . | .-.-.- |
| L | .-.. | Y | -.-- | , | --..-- |
| M | -- | Z | --.. | ? | ..--.. |
Supported Morse Code Alphabets
This Morse code translator supports nine writing systems, making it one of the most comprehensive free translators available online. Select an alphabet from the dropdown to switch the character mapping and reference chart.
- Latin (A–Z, 0–9, punctuation) — International Morse Code, the most widely used standard.
- Cyrillic (Russian Morse code) — used in Russia and other countries that use the Cyrillic script.
- Greek — maps the Greek alphabet to Morse code patterns defined by the ITU.
- Hebrew — Hebrew-alphabet Morse code as standardized for Israeli amateur radio.
- Arabic — Arabic-alphabet Morse code used across Arabic-speaking countries.
- Persian — Persian (Farsi) Morse code, which extends the Arabic alphabet with additional characters.
- Japanese (Katakana) — Wabun code, the Japanese Morse code system using Katakana characters.
- Korean — Korean Morse code (SKATS), mapping Hangul jamo to Morse patterns.
- Thai — Thai Morse code as used by Thai amateur radio operators.
How Morse Code Audio Playback Works
The audio playback in this translator uses the Web Audio API built into modern browsers. When you click Play, the tool generates a sine wave tone at 600 Hz — the standard side-tone frequency used in Morse code practice. Timing follows the ITU standard: a dot lasts one time unit, a dash lasts three units, the gap between elements within a character is one unit, the gap between characters is three units, and the gap between words is seven units.
The time unit is calculated using the PARIS method: at 20 WPM, the word "PARIS" (a standard reference word with 50 time units) is transmitted 20 times per minute, giving a unit duration of 60 milliseconds. Adjusting the WPM slider recalculates this duration in real time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say SOS in Morse code?
SOS in Morse code is ... --- ... — three dots, three dashes, three dots. It was chosen as the international distress signal in 1906 because the pattern is simple to transmit and unmistakable, not because it stands for "Save Our Souls" (that is a backronym). Type "SOS" into this Morse code translator to hear it played back.
Who invented Morse code?
Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed the original Morse code in the 1830s for use with the electric telegraph. Morse designed the concept and Vail refined the character encodings. The system was first demonstrated publicly in 1844 with the message "What hath God wrought" sent from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore. The International Morse Code used today is a later revision standardized by the ITU, which simplified some of the original encodings.
Is Morse code still used today?
Yes. Amateur (ham) radio operators use Morse code worldwide, and many licensing exams still test proficiency. Aviation navigation aids (VOR and NDB) identify themselves with Morse code signals. The military uses it as a fallback communication method. Morse code is also used as an accessibility tool — people with limited mobility can input text using just two switches (dot and dash), and both Android and iOS support Morse code keyboard input.
What do the dots and dashes mean in Morse code?
A dot (also called a "dit") is a short signal, and a dash (also called a "dah") is a long signal lasting three times as long as a dot. Every letter, number, and punctuation mark has a unique combination of dots and dashes assigned to it. More common letters like E (one dot) and T (one dash) have shorter codes, while less common letters like Q (dash-dash-dot-dash) have longer codes. This design reduces average transmission time.
Is my data safe when using this translator?
All processing happens entirely in your browser. No text, Morse code, or audio data is sent to any server. The tool uses client-side JavaScript and the Web Audio API, so your input remains private on your device.
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