Morse Code Translator
Type English to get dots and dashes, or paste Morse to read it. Hear it as a tone, watch it flash, and download it as a sound file.
How Morse timing works
Morse is not just dots and dashes: it is a rhythm built from one unit of time. A dot is 1 unit, a dash is 3, the gap inside a letter is 1, between letters 3, and between words 7. Type a word to see its rhythm drawn to scale.
“PARIS” is exactly 50 units including the word gap, which is why it is the standard word for measuring speed: at 18 WPM you send it 18 times a minute, so one unit lasts 60,000 ÷ (50 × 18) = 67 ms.
Reading and writing Morse code
International Morse Code, standardised by the ITU as recommendation M.1677, gives each letter a pattern whose length roughly follows how common the letter is in English. E, the most frequent letter, is a single dot; T is a single dash; rare letters such as Q (--.-) and Y (-.--) take four symbols. Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail reportedly worked out frequencies by counting the type in a printer’s case.
When writing Morse as text, the convention is one space between letters and a slash between words. When it is sent by sound or light, the spacing carries the same information, so a translator needs clear gaps to split letters correctly.
Want a single letter? The Morse code alphabet chart lists every character with its sound, plus common phrases such as SOS.
Questions people ask
How do I type Morse code into the translator?
Use a full stop or period for a dot and a hyphen for a dash. Put one space between letters and a slash (/) between words, for example “.... .. / - .... . .-. .”. The translator also accepts the middle dot (·) and long dashes.
How fast is Morse code sent?
Speed is measured in words per minute using the standard word PARIS, which is exactly 50 units long. At 20 WPM one dot lasts 60 ms. Beginner practice is often 5–13 WPM; experienced operators copy 25–40 WPM by ear.
What is the Farnsworth method?
Farnsworth timing sends each letter at full speed but stretches the gaps between letters and words. You learn the sound of each character as a rhythm instead of counting dots, then close up the gaps as you improve. Set a lower “spacing” speed here to try it.
Is Morse code still used?
Yes. Amateur radio operators use it daily, aviation navigation beacons (VOR and NDB) still identify themselves in Morse, and it is a practical assistive input method: Android’s Gboard has a Morse keyboard for people with limited mobility.
Why are some characters shown as #?
A # in the decoded text means the sequence of dots and dashes does not match any character in International Morse (ITU-R M.1677). Check for a missing space between two letters.