How to use Morse Code Translator
Translate text to Morse code and decode Morse code back to plain text, entirely in your browser with no server uploads. The tool follows the ITU International Morse Code standard — the same system used by maritime radio operators and amateur radio enthusiasts worldwide. Letters, digits, and common punctuation are all supported. Optional audio playback lets you hear the dots and dashes at an adjustable words-per-minute speed.
- Choose direction: "Text to Morse" or "Morse to Text".
- Type or paste your input — letters, numbers, and supported punctuation are accepted.
- The output updates in real time; click "Translate" to confirm.
- Optionally click "Play audio" to hear the Morse code at your chosen words-per-minute (WPM) speed.
- Copy the Morse output or download it as a .txt file.
Your data never leaves your device — 100% private processing.
International Morse Code timing rules
International Morse Code is built on a single time unit called the dit (dot). A dot lasts 1 unit; a dash lasts 3 units. The gap between elements within the same letter is 1 unit (silent). The gap between letters within the same word is 3 units. The gap between words is 7 units. These ratios are fixed regardless of transmission speed — doubling the speed simply halves the absolute duration of each unit. This proportional timing standard was formalised by the International Telecommunication Union in recommendation ITU-R M.1677-1.
| Letter | Morse | Letter | Morse |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | .- | N | -. |
| B | -... | O | --- |
| C | -.-. | P | .--. |
| D | -.. | Q | --.- |
| E | . | R | .-. |
| S | ... | T | - |
| H | .... | V | ...- |
| 1 | .---- | 0 | ----- |
Morse code text representation conventions
Morse code is case-insensitive — all letters are transmitted as uppercase. In written text form, dots are represented as periods (.), dashes as hyphens (-), letters within the same word are separated by single spaces, and words are separated by forward slashes (/) or double spaces. Prosigns are procedural signals formed by running two characters together without an inter-letter gap — for example, AR (end of message) and SK (end of contact). When the tool displays Morse code as text, it follows ITU-R M.1677-1 conventions for all letters, digits, and punctuation marks.
Worked examples
Text to Morse (SOS)
Inputs: 'SOS'
Result: ... --- ...
Encode a word
Inputs: 'HELLO'
Result: .... . .-.. .-.. ---
Decode Morse
Inputs: .- -...
Result: AB
Glossary
- Dit (dot)
- The shortest element in Morse code, lasting 1 time unit; written as a period (.).
- Dah (dash)
- The longer Morse element lasting 3 time units; written as a hyphen (-).
- Prosign
- A procedural Morse signal formed by combining two characters without an inter-letter gap, used to convey control information such as end-of-message (AR) or end-of-contact (SK).
- WPM (words per minute)
- A Morse speed measure using "PARIS" as the standard 50-unit word; 1 WPM equals transmitting that word once per minute.
- ITU-R M.1677-1
- The International Telecommunication Union recommendation that defines the International Morse Code character set, symbol representations, and timing rules.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use Morse Code Translator?
- Follows ITU-R M.1677-1 exactly, matching the codes used by licensed amateur radio operators worldwide
- Audio playback at adjustable WPM speed lets you practise listening comprehension, not just visual reading
- Supports digits and common punctuation beyond the alphabetic characters most translators omit
- Bidirectional conversion — text to Morse and Morse back to text — in a single interface
Common use cases
- Translate a call sign or short phrase to Morse for an amateur radio certification study session
- Decode a Morse sequence found in a puzzle, escape room clue, or educational worksheet
- Generate Morse-encoded text to illustrate timing principles in a communications technology lesson
- Practise receiving Morse at your target WPM speed using the built-in audio playback feature
- Convert a word to its Morse pattern to embed as a visual rhythm element in a graphic design
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