Morse Code Translator with Sound: Text to Morse

How Morse code works

Morse code turns each letter, digit, and punctuation mark into a short pattern of two signals: a dot (a short beep, also called a dit) and a dash (a long beep, a dah). E, the most common letter in English, is a single dot. T is a single dash. Rare letters get longer codes: Q is --.- and Y is -.--. That frequency-based design is why a skilled operator could send English faster than early printing telegraphs.

This translator uses International Morse Code as defined by the ITU (Recommendation M.1677-1), the version used by amateur radio operators, aviation beacons, and the military today. American Morse, the original railroad telegraph code, is different and essentially extinct.

The timing rules

Morse is really a rhythm, and every duration is a multiple of one unit. A dot is 1 unit. A dash is 3 units. The silence between dots and dashes inside a letter is 1 unit. The gap between letters is 3 units. The gap between words is 7 units.

Speed is measured in words per minute using the word PARIS, which is exactly 50 units long including the gap after it. So at 20 WPM, one unit lasts 1.2 ÷ 20 = 0.06 seconds, or 60 milliseconds. The speed slider above uses that formula. 5 WPM is a comfortable learning speed; 20 WPM is what most licensed hams copy easily; contest operators run at 35 and up.

The Letter spacing option adds Farnsworth timing: letters are sent at full speed, but the gaps between letters and words are stretched. It is the standard way to learn. You hear each letter as a single sound pattern instead of counting dots, and you do not build a habit you have to unlearn later.

How to write and read Morse in this tool

In the Morse box, letters are separated by a single space and words by a slash, like .... .. / - .... . .-. . for "HI THERE". When decoding, the tool also accepts a pipe | or three or more spaces between words, the bullet • or middle dot · for dots, and underscores or long dashes for dashes, so you can paste Morse from almost any source.

If a group of dots and dashes does not match any character, it shows up as # in the text and the unknown code is listed so you can spot a typo. Characters that have no Morse equivalent, such as emoji or accented letters, are skipped and listed when translating from text.

Worked example: SOS

SOS is ... --- ... . Three dots, three dashes, three dots. In real distress procedure it is sent as one continuous signal with no letter gaps (a prosign written as SOS with a bar over it), which is why it is easy to recognize, not because the letters stand for anything. "Save Our Ship" was invented after the fact.

Type SOS in the Text box and press Play sound to hear it. At 20 WPM the whole thing takes about 1.6 seconds. Slow it to 10 WPM and you can count every element.

Tips for learning Morse

Learn by sound, not by sight. Charts of dots and dashes make you translate visually, which caps your speed around 10 WPM. Listen to each letter at 18 to 20 WPM with wide Farnsworth spacing, so the pattern becomes one sound.

Start with the Koch method order: K, M, U, R, E, S, N, A, P, T, L, W, I, ., J, Z, =, F, O, Y, ,, V, G, 5, /, Q, 9, 2, H, 3, 8, B, ?, 4, 7, C, 1, D, 6, 0, X. Add a new character only once you copy the current set at 90 percent accuracy.

Use a tone you like. Most people find 550 to 700 Hz comfortable for long sessions, which is why this tool defaults to 600 Hz.

Pitfalls

No sound? Browsers only allow audio after you interact with the page, so the Play button starts it. Check that your device is not muted, and that the tab is not muted in your browser.

Case does not exist in Morse. Hello and HELLO send the same signal, and decoded text always comes back in capitals.

Punctuation varies. The ITU set covers period, comma, question mark, apostrophe, slash, parentheses, colon, equals, plus, minus, quotes, and @. The exclamation mark -.-.-- and the dollar sign are common but not part of the ITU standard, so some decoders will not know them.

Everything runs in your browser, including the audio, which is synthesized with the Web Audio API. Nothing you type is uploaded.