Morse Code Translator

Morse Code Translator — Free online Morse code translator and reference hub. Convert text to Morse code, decode Morse to English, look up SOS, common phrases, alphabet letters, numbers, punctuation, and spacing rules.

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Morse code

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Morse code

Quick Morse code answers

Use this Morse code translator to convert English text into dots and dashes, decode Morse code back to readable text, or quickly look up the alphabet, numbers, SOS, and common Morse phrases before copying the result.

SOS in Morse code

... --- ...

Three dots, three dashes, three dots — the universal distress signal. Learn the timing.

Most common letters

E = . T = - A = .-

Start with E and T, then use the alphabet guide for the full chart.

Word spacing

.... .. / - .... . .-. .

Use one space between letters and a slash between words.

Morse code alphabet preview

Here are all 26 English letters in International Morse code. Use the full guide when you need punctuation, timing rules, and learning notes.

Open full alphabet guide →

-...

-.-.

-..

..-.

--.

....

.---

-.-

.-..

---

.--.

--.-

.-.

...

..-

...-

.--

-..-

-.--

--..

Numbers in Morse code

Morse numbers use five symbols each. The pattern is easy to scan: 1 starts with one dot and four dashes, 5 is five dots, and 0 is five dashes.

-----

.----

..---

...--

....-

.....

-....

--...

---..

----.

Common Morse code phrases

SOS

... --- ...

Universal distress signal

I love you

.. / .-.. --- ...- . / -.-- --- ..-

Common phrase people search for

Hello

.... . .-.. .-.. ---

Simple first test message

Help

.... . .-.. .--.

Short emergency-style word

Morse to English vs English to Morse

English to Morse

Choose Text → Morse when you want to encode a normal message into dots and dashes. This is best for creating puzzle clues, radio practice text, classroom examples, or copyable Morse messages.

Morse to English

Choose Morse → Text when you found a sequence like ... --- ... and need to decode it. Keep one space between letters and a slash between words for the cleanest result.

How to translate Morse code

Choose a direction — Text → Morse to encode plain text, or Morse → Text to decode Morse back to letters.
Paste or type your input. The translation updates instantly with no button press needed.
In decode mode, use a single space between letters and a slash (/) between words. The pipe (|) and triple-space are also accepted as word separators.
Toggle the reference chart to see the full Morse alphabet at a glance without leaving the tool.
Use “Swap” to immediately feed the output back as input — useful for double-checking a translation.

Morse code basics

Morse code represents each letter and digit as a sequence of dots (·) and dashes (−). A dot is a short signal; a dash is three times as long. The spacing rules are:

Between dots/dashes within a letter — 1 unit of silence
Between letters within a word — 3 units (written as one space)
Between words — 7 units (written as / )

The most famous Morse sequence is SOS — ... --- ... — chosen because it is easy to send and unmistakable even in poor conditions.

Common Morse code uses today

Amateur (ham) radio

CW (continuous wave) Morse is still used by radio operators worldwide. Many license exams test Morse fluency.

Aviation

VOR and NDB navigation beacons transmit their identifier in Morse code, audible to pilots tuning in.

Accessibility

Morse code can be input via single-switch devices, making it a viable communication method for people with limited mobility.

Emergency signalling

SOS transmitted by light, sound, or radio remains a recognised distress signal internationally.

Puzzles and escape rooms

Morse code is a popular puzzle element — translate a hidden message to find a clue or combination.

Learning and hobbyist projects

Arduino and Raspberry Pi projects commonly implement Morse code with LEDs or buzzers as a first signal-processing exercise.

Also try the ROT13 Encoder for a different kind of text cipher, or Binary to Text Converter to translate text into binary. If you landed here for reference, the Morse Code Alphabet guide has the full A-Z chart, numbers, punctuation, SOS, and timing rules.

Morse code reference

Need the full alphabet chart with every letter, digit, and punctuation mark? The Morse Code Alphabet guide has the complete reference table with timing rules and tips for learning the code.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I translate text to Morse code?

Set the direction to Text → Morse, then paste or type your message into the input box. The Morse code appears instantly as you type, so there is no convert button to press. Letters are separated by a single space, and words are separated by the word separator you choose, usually a slash (/). If you need a quick test, click Try sample to see “Hello World” converted into Morse code.

How do I decode Morse code to text?

Switch to Morse → Text mode and paste your Morse code into the input box. Use one space between letters and a slash (/), pipe (|), or triple-space between words. For example, ... --- ... decodes to SOS. If the output looks wrong, check that each letter is separated clearly; missing spaces are the most common reason Morse code decoders cannot tell where one character ends and the next begins.

What is SOS in Morse code?

SOS in Morse code is ... --- ... — three dots, three dashes, and three dots. It is not an abbreviation for “save our ship”; it became the international distress signal because the rhythm is short, memorable, and hard to confuse with other messages. In real signalling, SOS is usually sent as one continuous pattern instead of three normally spaced letters, which makes it stand out by sound, light, or radio.

What characters does Morse code support?

International Morse code supports all 26 English letters from A to Z, digits 0 through 9, and common punctuation such as period, comma, question mark, slash, parentheses, colon, semicolon, equals, plus, minus, quote, apostrophe, dollar sign, and the @ symbol. This translator supports those standard characters and marks anything unknown so you can spot unsupported symbols before copying the result.

What is the standard Morse code separator?

In written Morse code, dots and dashes inside one letter are written together, letters inside a word are separated by one space, and words are separated by a slash with spaces around it, like .... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -... This tool also supports pipe (|) and triple-space word separators because copied Morse code often comes from different sources with slightly different formatting conventions.

Where can I see the full Morse code alphabet?

Use the Show reference button inside the translator for a quick A–Z and 0–9 chart, or open the Morse Code Alphabet guide for the full reference with letters, numbers, punctuation, timing rules, SOS explanation, and learning tips. The guide is better when you need to look up a specific character, while the translator is better when you want to convert an entire sentence or decode a pasted message.

Who invented Morse code?

Morse code was developed by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail in the 1830s for the electric telegraph. The original American Morse code later evolved into International Morse code, which was standardized in the 1860s and became the version most people learn today. It is still used by amateur radio operators, aviation beacons, accessibility systems, emergency signalling, puzzles, and electronics projects.