About this tool
Morse code was developed in the 1830s for electric telegraphy and represents every character as a sequence of short and long signals – dots and dashes. Best known is the distress signal SOS (· · · – – – · · ·). Morse is still used today: in amateur radio, in aviation to identify radio beacons and as an emergency signal with light or knocking.
This translator converts text to Morse code and back – both fields are editable. It knows the international Morse alphabet with digits, punctuation and the German special characters Ä, Ö, Ü, ß and CH. Click “Play” to hear the code; speed and pitch are adjustable.
How it works
- Type text into the left field – the Morse code appears on the right. Or enter Morse code to translate it.
- In Morse code, separate letters by spaces and words by a slash.
- Set the speed (words per minute) and pitch.
- Click “Play” to hear the code.
Frequently asked questions
How long are dots, dashes and pauses?
A dash is three times as long as a dot. Between the signals of a letter there is a pause of one dot, between letters three and between words seven dot lengths. Words per minute refer to the standard word “PARIS”.
How do you send SOS?
Three short, three long, three short: · · · – – – · · ·. SOS is sent as one character without letter gaps and is recognized internationally as a distress signal.
Are there Morse codes for umlauts?
Yes, in the extended alphabet: Ä (·–·–), Ö (–––·), Ü (··––), CH (––––) and ß (···––··). Accented letters like é or ñ have their own codes; others are sent without the accent.
What speed is common?
Beginners often learn at 5 to 12 words per minute; experienced radio amateurs send at 20 to 30. For encodings like binary or hex, use the Text ↔ Hex / Binary / ASCII.