Morse Code Translator
Translate text to International Morse code or decode written dots and dashes back to plain text. Compose Morse directly, copy the result, and listen with adjustable WPM and tone.
Text
3 / 10,000Morse code
9 signalsCompose
Duration
2 sec
How Morse code works
International Morse code represents characters with short and long signals traditionally called dots and dashes, or dits and dahs.
The pattern alone is not enough. Timing or written spacing also tells the reader where one signal element, character, or word ends.
That is why this translator preserves clear character boundaries instead of guessing how an uninterrupted stream should be divided.
Dot
·
1 unit
Dash
—
3 units
Example
... --- ...
S · O · S
Morse code alphabet A–Z
The same pattern represents a letter regardless of uppercase or lowercase. The translator displays decoded alphabetic text in uppercase.
A
.-
B
-...
C
-.-.
D
-..
E
.
F
..-.
G
--.
H
....
I
..
J
.---
K
-.-
L
.-..
M
--
N
-.
O
---
P
.--.
Q
--.-
R
.-.
S
...
T
-
U
..-
V
...-
W
.--
X
-..-
Y
-.--
Z
--..
É
..-..
Morse code numbers 0–9
Every decimal digit uses a five-element Morse sequence.
The progression is easy to see: 1 begins with one dot, 2 with two, and so on until 5 is five dots. The remaining digits progressively replace those dots with dashes until 0 becomes five dashes.
0
-----
1
.----
2
..---
3
...--
4
....-
5
.....
6
-....
7
--...
8
---..
9
----.
Morse code punctuation
These punctuation mappings come from the International Morse character set used by the translator.
.
.-.-.-
,
--..--
:
---...
?
..--..
'
.----.
-
-....-
/
-..-.
(
-.--.
)
-.--.-
"
.-..-.
=
-...-
+
.-.-.
@
.--.-.
Common converter extensions
The translator also accepts the mappings below. They are kept separate so they are not presented as part of the cited ITU written-character table.
!
-.-.--
&
.-...
;
-.-.-.
_
..--.-
$
...-..-
Why Morse spacing matters
Written Morse uses spaces to show character boundaries. A slash is the word separator generated by this translator.
One or two spaces are accepted between characters. Three or more spaces, or a line break, can also be interpreted as a word boundary.
A continuous signal stream is different. Without boundaries, more than one character segmentation may be possible.
Explicit character boundaries
... --- ...
SOS
No written boundaries
...---...
Ambiguous segmentation
Word boundary
.... .. / - .... . .-. .
HI THERE
The 1:3:7 Morse timing rule
Standard Morse timing is built from one basic unit: the duration of a dot. Dashes and the different gaps are multiples of that same unit.
Dot
1 unit
Dash
3 units
Inside character
1 unit
Between characters
3 units
Between words
7 units
Morse code speed and WPM
This player calculates dot duration from 1.2 ÷ WPM. At a higher WPM setting, every signal and gap becomes shorter.
Changing the tone frequency only changes pitch. It does not alter the encoded Morse or its timing ratios.
Standard vs Farnsworth timing
Standard timing changes character speed and message spacing together.
Farnsworth training keeps individual characters relatively fast while making the spaces between characters and words longer, reducing the effective message speed.
The player on this page deliberately uses standard timing with one WPM control.
Morse code translation examples
SOS
Input
SOS
Result
... --- ...
Three distinct character groups: S, O, S.
Hello world
Input
HELLO WORLD
Result
.... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -..
The slash marks the word boundary.
Help me
Input
.... . .-.. .--. / -- .
Result
HELP ME
Written Morse can be decoded in the opposite direction.
Email-style text
Input
A@B.COM
Result
.- .--.-. -... .-.-.- -.-. --- --
The at sign and period are part of the supported International Morse mapping.
Morse code is not encryption
Morse code changes how a supported message is represented, but it does not hide the message from someone who understands the code or uses a translator.
It is an encoding and signalling system, not a cryptographic security system.
What this decoder does not do
This page decodes written Morse. It does not listen to a microphone, analyse uploaded recordings, inspect photographs, or recognise flashing light timing.
It also does not infer a supposedly definitive message from a continuous stream with missing character boundaries or interpret radio procedure by context.
Morse Code Translator FAQ
How do I translate text to Morse code?
Type or paste a supported message into the Text editor. The Morse code editor updates automatically with spaces between characters and slash separators between words.
How do I decode Morse code to text?
Type or paste written Morse into the Morse editor. Keep each Morse character as its own group and separate adjacent groups with one or two spaces.
Do I need to choose a translation direction?
No. Both editors are live. Editing normal text translates toward Morse, while editing the Morse editor decodes toward plain text.
Can Morse code be decoded without spaces?
Not reliably in general. A continuous stream of dots and dashes can often be divided into several different valid character sequences, so this decoder requires explicit boundaries instead of guessing.
What separates letters in written Morse code?
Use one or two spaces between character groups. Keep the dots and dashes belonging to one character together with no spaces between them.
What separates words in Morse code?
This translator writes a slash between words. The decoder also accepts three or more spaces or a line break as practical word boundaries.
What does WPM mean?
WPM means words per minute. In this player it controls standard Morse timing. Higher WPM shortens dots, dashes, and gaps proportionally.
What does the Hz setting change?
Hz controls the pitch of the generated tone. It does not change the Morse characters or timing ratios.
What is the 1:3:7 Morse timing rule?
A dot lasts one timing unit, a dash three, the gap between characters three, and the gap between words seven. Elements within a character are separated by one unit.
Does this use Farnsworth timing?
No. The player uses one standard WPM value for character formation and overall spacing. Separate Farnsworth character-speed and effective-speed controls are not included.
Does International Morse distinguish uppercase and lowercase?
No. Uppercase and lowercase versions of the same supported letter use the same Morse pattern, so decoded alphabetic output is shown in uppercase.
Can this decode Morse from audio or a microphone?
No. This decoder works with written Morse. It does not analyse recordings, microphone input, radio signals, or background noise.
References
Character mappings and standard timing are grounded in the International Morse recommendation, with ARRL material used for playback-speed and Farnsworth context.