Morse Code Translator
Convert text to Morse code — or Morse code back to text — instantly. Press play to hear the beeps, or flash the signal as light. Free, no sign-up.
Tip: in the Morse box, separate letters with a space and words with / . While it plays, watch the light box — that is how Morse was sent by lamp.
What Is Morse Code?
Morse code is a way of sending text using only two signals: a short one, called a dot (or dit), and a long one, called a dash (or dah). Every letter of the alphabet and every digit has its own pattern of dots and dashes. The system was developed in the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for the electric telegraph — for the first time in history, a message could travel faster than the person carrying it.
Because it needs nothing more than a tone, a light, or a tap, Morse code survived every technology that replaced the telegraph. Radio operators adopted it, ships used it to signal for help, and pilots and soldiers still learn it today. Our translator above works both ways: it is a text-to-Morse encoder and a Morse-to-text decoder in one.
How Morse Code Works
Morse is all about timing. Everything is measured in one basic unit — the length of a dot:
- Dot = 1 unit of sound
- Dash = 3 units of sound
- Gap between the parts of one letter = 1 unit of silence
- Gap between letters = 3 units of silence
- Gap between words = 7 units of silence
Frequent letters were given the shortest codes so messages could be sent quickly: E is a single dot (.), T is a single dash (-), while rare letters like Q (--.-) take longer. That is why listening to real Morse, some letters flash past and others feel heavy. Try it in the tool — type a sentence and play it at different speeds with the WPM slider.
Morse Code Alphabet (Quick Look)
The five letters you will meet most often:
| Letter | Code | Letter | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | .- | S | ... |
| E | . | O | --- |
| H | .... |
See the full chart — every letter, number and punctuation mark, each with its own play button — on our Morse Code Alphabet page.
How to Use This Translator
- To encode: type or paste text in the top box. The Morse code appears below as you type.
- To decode: type dots and dashes in the Morse box (or use the · and − buttons). Plain text appears above.
- To listen: press Play Sound. Adjust the speed with the slider — beginners should start around 10–15 WPM. Watch the light box flash along with the sound.
Where Morse Code Is Still Used
Emergencies. The distress signal SOS — ... --- ... — can be sent with a torch, a whistle, a horn, or by tapping, which makes it useful when nothing else works.
Ham radio. Amateur radio operators around the world still chat in Morse (they call it CW) because a Morse signal gets through noise that would bury a voice.
Aviation and the military. Navigation beacons still identify themselves in Morse, and some armed forces continue to train operators in it.
Accessibility. Switches that blink or tap allow people with limited mobility to type in Morse, letter by letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I translate text to Morse code?
Type or paste your text in the Text box above. The Morse code appears instantly — a space between letters and a slash between words.
How do I decode Morse code back to text?
Paste the dots and dashes into the Morse box, with a space between letters and a slash ( / ) between words. The plain text appears instantly above.
What is SOS in Morse code?
SOS is ... --- ... — three dots, three dashes, three dots. Read more on our SOS in Morse Code page.
Is Morse code still used today?
Yes — by ham radio operators, in aviation and maritime signalling, by the military, and as an accessibility tool.
What do the dots and dashes mean?
A dot is a short signal and a dash is a long one lasting three times as long. Each letter and number has its own pattern: A is .-, S is ..., O is ---.
How do you say I love you in Morse code?
.. / .-.. --- ...- . / -.-- --- ..- — paste it into the Morse box above and press Play to hear it.
More Morse Tools & Guides
Every letter, number and punctuation mark with sound — A is .-, Z is --..
What ... --- ... means, where it came from, and how to send it by sound or light.
Text to Morse and Morse to text, with audio playback and a light flasher.