Morse Code Translator
Convert text to Morse code, or paste dots and dashes to translate Morse code to English. This free online translator works as you type and plays the code as sound, light or vibration.
Flash makes rapidly flashing light. Don't use it if flashing lights affect you or anyone watching.
Speed, tone and volume
Speed is in words per minute using the standard word PARIS (one dot lasts 1200 ÷ WPM milliseconds). Farnsworth spacing keeps each letter at full speed and adds longer gaps between letters and words, which is easier for learners. Set it equal to the speed to switch it off.
International Morse code (ITU-R M.1677-1): 26 letters, 10 numbers, 18 punctuation marks and 10 prosigns. Speed 5 to 40 words per minute, tone 300 to 1200 Hz.
How to use the Morse code translator
Text to Morse code
Type English in the box and every letter turns into dots and dashes, with a space between letters and a slash between words. Press Play to hear it as beeps while each letter lights up. Switch on Flash to turn the whole screen into a signal lamp, or Vibrate to feel it on an Android phone.
Morse code to text
Paste or type dots and dashes and they become English straight away. The translator sees that the box holds Morse code and switches direction by itself; tap Text → Morse or Morse → Text to choose it yourself.
Sound, sharing and more
Open Speed, tone and volume to change the words per minute, add Farnsworth spacing for learning, pick the pitch and turn on repeat. Copy the result, or share a link that opens this page with your message already in the box.
It works as a Morse code converter in both directions, on phones and computers, with nothing to install. Need an audio file? The Morse code generator makes a WAV you can download. Have Morse code as a sound or a recording? The Morse code decoder listens and writes it out.
How to write Morse code so it translates
- Use a full stop
.for a dot and a hyphen-for a dash. Underscores, bullets and long dashes work too. - Put one space between letters:
.... ..is HI, but......is not a letter. - Put a slash between words (
/), or two spaces:.... .. / -.-- --- ..-is HI YOU. - On an iPhone, typing three dots can turn into an ellipsis (…) and two hyphens into a long dash. The translator reads those correctly.
- For a prosign sent as one signal, type it in angle brackets, like
<SOS>or<AR>.
What is Morse code?
Morse code writes each letter and number as a short pattern of dots and dashes, sent as sound, light or taps. A dot is one unit long, a dash is three, and the gaps between letters and words are three and seven units. It was created for the electric telegraph in the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail, and the International version is still used by radio amateurs, pilots checking navigation beacons and anyone who needs a signal that works with almost nothing. How Morse code works explains the timing and the standard.
Morse code chart
Letters and numbers in International Morse code. The full Morse code alphabet adds punctuation, prosigns, sound for each letter and a printable chart.
- A .-
- B -...
- C -.-.
- D -..
- E .
- F ..-.
- G --.
- H ....
- I ..
- J .---
- K -.-
- L .-..
- M --
- N -.
- O ---
- P .--.
- Q --.-
- R .-.
- S ...
- T -
- U ..-
- V ...-
- W .--
- X -..-
- Y -.--
- Z --..
- 1 .----
- 2 ..---
- 3 ...--
- 4 ....-
- 5 .....
- 6 -....
- 7 --...
- 8 ---..
- 9 ----.
- 0 -----
Examples
| English | Morse code |
|---|---|
| SOS | ... --- ... |
| HELLO | .... . .-.. .-.. --- |
| I LOVE YOU | .. / .-.. --- ...- . / -.-- --- ..- |
| HELP ME | .... . .-.. .--. / -- . |
| THANK YOU | - .... .- -. -.- / -.-- --- ..- |
More words, with what they mean and how they are used, are on the common Morse code phrases page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert Morse code to English?
Paste or type the dots and dashes into the box. The translator sees that it is Morse code and shows the English straight away. Put a space between letters and a slash (/) between words, for example .... .. / - .... . .-. . for HI THERE.
How do I translate English to Morse code?
Type your text in the box. Each letter becomes its Morse code, with a space between letters and a slash between words. Press Play to hear it, or switch on Flash to see it as light.
What is SOS in Morse code?
SOS is ... --- ... (three dots, three dashes, three dots). In a real distress call it is sent as one unbroken signal, ...---..., without the usual gaps between the letters.
What speed should I use?
Beginners usually listen at 15 to 20 words per minute with Farnsworth spacing around 5 to 10, so the letters sound right but there is time to think between them. Experienced operators often copy 25 to 35 words per minute.
Why does part of my Morse code show as #?
The # marks a group of dots and dashes that is not a Morse character. It usually means two letters are joined together. Add a space between letters and a slash or two spaces between words.
Is this International or American Morse code?
International Morse code, as set out by the International Telecommunication Union in Recommendation ITU-R M.1677-1. It is the Morse code used today by radio amateurs and everyone else. American (railroad) Morse is an older code with different letters and is not used here.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Sound and screen flash work in every modern browser. Vibration works on Android phones; iPhone browsers do not allow websites to vibrate. On Android you can also flash the phone flashlight from the settings. If you hear nothing on an iPhone, turn the volume up.
Can it decode Morse code from sound?
Yes, with the Morse code decoder. Play Morse code near your microphone or upload an audio file, and it turns the beeps into text as it hears them. This translator is for Morse code written as dots and dashes.
Is what I type sent anywhere?
No. The translation and the sound are made in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded or stored on a server.