Softonic

Text to Morse Code

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Morse code predates email by 160 years and it’s still how amateur radio operators chat, how SOS signals cross ice floes, and how escape rooms hide puzzles. Type text and this translator returns the classic dot-dash sequence using International Morse, with optional audio playback at any WPM, and the reverse direction decodes any ..- ... / -- --- .-. string back to letters.

How to translate text to Morse

  1. 1

    Type text

    Letters, numbers and standard punctuation (`.`, `,`, `?`, `!`, `/`).

  2. 2

    Pick a separator

    Slash between words, space between letters is standard. Custom separators available for puzzles.

  3. 3

    Play audio (optional)

    Set words-per-minute and frequency (Hz); the tool beeps the sequence at standard Morse timing.

  4. 4

    Decode by pasting Morse

    Dots and dashes (with any common spacing) turn back into readable text.

International Morse alphabet

Letter Code Letter Code
A .- N -.
B -… O ---
C -.-. P .--.
D -.. Q --.-
E . R .-.
F ..-. S …
G --. T -
H …. U ..-
I .. V …-
J .--- W .--
K -.- X -..-
L .-.. Y -.--
M -- Z --..

Numbers 0-9 use five-symbol codes (0 = -----, 1 = .----, and so on).

Timing: what makes Morse “real”

International Morse has strict timing ratios. A dash is three times the length of a dot; the gap between symbols of the same letter is one dot; between letters is three dots; between words is seven dots. Anything else reads as a different character, which is why a computer-generated audio file usually sounds cleaner than a human fist.

Speed in words per minute (WPM)

The reference “PARIS” (50 dot-units) is used to measure WPM. At:

  • 5 WPM: learner pace, comfortable to copy by ear.
  • 15 WPM: amateur-radio test speed.
  • 25-30 WPM: fluent conversation for experienced operators.
  • 40+ WPM: contest-grade; trained operators only.

SOS is not three letters

SOS is transmitted as a single unbroken sequence: ...---... with no spaces between letters. That’s what distinguishes it from S O S (which includes inter-letter gaps) and made it unmistakable over noise, the signature was designed to be easy to recognise regardless of the operator’s fist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some, via extensions. Ä = .-.-, É = ..-.., Ñ = --.--. International Morse covers the 26-letter Latin alphabet, digits, and common punctuation; anything beyond needs extended tables.

Yes. Dot and dash lengths, inter-symbol, inter-letter and inter-word gaps are all set by the WPM you choose, following the standard PARIS unit.

By amateur radio enthusiasts, aviation NDB/VOR station identifiers, and some maritime distress comms. Commercial telegraphy ended decades ago, but the code persists as a hobby and a backup skill.

No. Translation runs entirely in your browser, including the audio playback.

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