Morse Code Chart and Translator — Ham Radio CW Reference
International Morse code uses dots and dashes to represent every letter, number and common punctuation mark. Known in amateur radio as CW (Continuous Wave), it remains in active use for long-distance contacts, emergency communications, and as the most efficient mode when signals are weak. This page includes a complete chart, an interactive translator, timing reference, and prosign list.
Interactive Morse Code TranslatorText to Morse / Morse to Text
Letters are separated by spaces, words by / when decoding Morse.
Click any character to hear it played. Letters A–Z, numbers 0–9, and common punctuation.
Numbers and Punctuation Timing ReferenceMorse code timing is built from one unit — the duration of a dot (dit). All other timings are multiples of that unit. At 20 WPM using the PARIS standard, one dit is 60ms.
| Element | Duration | At 15 WPM | At 20 WPM | At 30 WPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dit (dot) | 1 unit | 80 ms | 60 ms | 40 ms |
| Dah (dash) | 3 units | 240 ms | 180 ms | 120 ms |
| Gap between elements | 1 unit | 80 ms | 60 ms | 40 ms |
| Gap between letters | 3 units | 240 ms | 180 ms | 120 ms |
| Gap between words | 7 units | 560 ms | 420 ms | 280 ms |
Prosigns are special Morse sequences sent without the inter-letter gap — the two characters run together as one symbol. They are shown with an overline in traditional notation.
Learning Morse Code TipsLearn by sound, not by counting. The biggest mistake beginners make is counting dots and dashes. Instead, learn each character as a rhythm — the letter A sounds like “di-dah”, the letter C like “dah-di-dah-dit”. Your brain processes rhythm far faster than it can count, and at higher speeds counting becomes impossible.
Use the Koch method. Start with just two characters — K and M — at full speed (at least 15 WPM). Once you can copy them at 90% accuracy, add a third character. This trains your ear from the start to associate sound with meaning rather than relying on a chart. The Farnsworth method is similar: send each character fast but put long gaps between characters, then gradually reduce the gaps as you improve.
Practice in short daily sessions. Ten to fifteen minutes of focused copying every day produces faster results than an hour-long session once a week. Your brain consolidates what it learns during sleep, so regular short sessions are far more effective.
Target speeds: 5 WPM is a comfortable conversational pace for beginners. 10–13 WPM lets you handle most casual contacts. 20 WPM is the traditional “comfortable” speed for experienced CW operators. Contest operators often run 30–40 WPM and above.
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