How to translate Morse code
- Choose the direction. Pick Text to Morse to make Morse code, or Morse to text to read it.
- Enter your text or code. Type or paste in the Text or Morse code box. In Morse, put a space between letters and a slash ( / ) between words.
- Copy the result. The translation appears in the Result box. Press Copy to use it.
What is Morse code?
Morse code is a way to write letters and numbers with two signals: a short one called a dot and a long one called a dash. Each letter has its own pattern. For example, S is three dots and O is three dashes, so SOS is ... --- ... The guide on SOS in Morse code tells the story of that signal.
It was made for the telegraph in the 19th century and can be sent as sound, light or written marks. This tool uses International Morse Code, the version used around the world today. The Morse code chart shows all letters from A to Z.
Features
- Two directions: text to Morse and Morse to text.
- 54 characters: the letters A to Z, the digits 0 to 9 and 18 punctuation marks.
- Instant result that updates while you type.
- Counts the characters it could not translate.
- Copy, select or download the result as a .txt file.
How the code is written
| Part | In this tool | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dot | A full stop | E is . |
| Dash | A hyphen | T is - |
| Between letters | One space | SOS is ... --- ... |
| Between words | A slash with a space on each side | HI YOU is .... .. / -.-- --- ..- |
| New line | Stays a new line | Each line is translated on its own |
When you read Morse, the tool also accepts a vertical bar or three spaces between words, and other dot and dash characters such as a bullet or a long dash.
The punctuation marks are . , ? ' ! / ( ) & : ; = + - _ " $ and @. Thirteen of them are in the International Morse code recommendation of the ITU (ITU-R M.1677-1). Five are not, ! & ; _ and $, but they are in common use. The guide on Morse punctuation has the full chart.
Why the result may not look right
- A letter is missing. Morse code has no pattern for letters with accents, other scripts or emojis. They are left out, and the number is shown above the result.
- A # appears in the text. That group of dots and dashes is not a Morse character. Check the spaces between letters.
- Words run together. The Morse code has no slash or wide gap between words, so the tool cannot see where a word ends.
- The text comes back in capital letters. Morse code has no small letters, so the result is always in capitals.
- The text stops growing. The box takes up to 100,000 characters.
Related tools
Three other tools on this site turn text into another form. The binary translator writes text as 0 and 1. The reverse text tool writes it backwards. The text repeater repeats a signal such as SOS as many times as you need.
Is it private?
Yes. The translation happens inside your browser. Your text is not sent to our server and is not saved by us.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I translate text to Morse code?
- Keep Text to Morse selected and type your text. The dots and dashes appear in the result box.
- How do I read Morse code?
- Choose Morse to text and paste the code, with a space between letters and a slash between words.
- What is SOS in Morse code?
- SOS is three dots, three dashes and three dots: ... --- ...
- Does it play the Morse code as sound?
- No. This tool shows Morse code as written dots and dashes only.
- Is the Morse Code Translator free?
- Yes. It is free and you do not need an account.