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Free online tool
Morse Code Translator
Translate English to Morse code and Morse code back to English in real time. Listen to the signal, copy the result, download the audio, and learn what every dot and dash means.
Auto mode detects whether you typed text or Morse. Use / (or three spaces) between words in Morse, and single spaces between letters. Tip: press Ctrl+Enter to listen.
Step by step
How to use the Morse code translator
The translator works in both directions and needs no settings. Here is the fastest way to get a clean result, whether you are encoding a message or decoding one.
- Type or paste your message
Enter English text to get Morse code, or paste dots and dashes to get English. Auto mode detects which one you typed; the Text → Morse and Morse → Text tabs force a direction if you need it.
- Read the result in real time
The right pane updates with every keystroke. Each letter becomes a group of dots and dashes separated by a single space, and each word is separated by a slash. The stats line counts characters, words, dots and dashes.
- Listen, copy or download
Press Listen to hear the code as beeps at the speed (WPM) and tone (Hz) you set with the sliders. Copy puts the result on your clipboard; Download WAV saves an audio file you can share or use as a ringtone. Swap moves the result into the input so you can translate it back.
Timing rules
What the output means
Morse code is a rhythm, not just a picture. Every symbol has a length measured in units, where one unit is the length of a dot. These five rules define the whole system; the strips below show them to scale.
The five timing rules
| Element | Length | Shown as |
|---|---|---|
| Dot (dit) | 1 unit | . |
| Dash (dah) | 3 units | - |
| Gap between symbols of one letter | 1 unit silence | (none) |
| Gap between letters | 3 units silence | single space |
| Gap between words | 7 units silence | / |
At 15 WPM one unit lasts 80 milliseconds (1.2 ÷ WPM seconds, the PARIS standard), so a dash is 240 ms and a word gap is just over half a second.
The shortest letter: one dot. The most common letter in English gets the quickest code.
Three dots, three dashes, three dots. Notice the 3-unit gaps between letters.
The long silence in the middle is the 7-unit word gap, written as a slash.
Why the slash? Written Morse has no agreed symbol for a word gap, so most translators, this one included, use /. Some people type three spaces, a vertical bar or the word "space". Our decoder understands all of them, and it also accepts typographic dots (·) and dashes (–, —) copied from web pages.
Examples
Morse code examples to try
Click Play to hear a word, or load it into the translator above. Each word links to a page with its letter-by-letter breakdown and ways to send it with light, sound or taps.
About the code
What is Morse code, in one minute
Morse code represents letters and numbers as sequences of short and long signals, the dots and dashes, sent by sound, light or electricity. Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed it for the electric telegraph; the first public message, "What hath God wrought", travelled from Washington to Baltimore on May 24, 1844. The international version used today was standardized for radio and is still heard in aviation beacons and amateur radio.
Tools & guides
Explore Morse code
Everything on this site is free and works in the browser: reference charts, a decoder for messages you receive, audio practice, and generators for names, tattoos and jewelry.
Morse Code Alphabet
Every letter from A to Z with its code, sound and a mnemonic.
.- -... -.-.
Morse Code Numbers
Digits 0–9 follow one easy pattern. Learn it in two minutes.
.---- ..--- ...--
Morse Code Chart
Printable international reference table: letters, numbers, punctuation.
Morse Code Decoder
Paste dots and dashes, or tap them on a keypad, and read the message.
... --- ... → SOS
Audio Translator
Turn text into Morse sound, set the speed and tone, download a WAV.
Learn Morse Code
A realistic method (Koch + Farnsworth) to get fluent by ear.
Words & Phrases
Hello, I love you, help, thank you and dozens more, with audio.
Practice & Quiz
Hear a letter, type what you heard. Track your accuracy.
Your Name in Morse
Type a name and get its code, plus the most popular names translated.
Morse Code Tattoo
Ideas, placements and a generator for a tattoo that reads correctly.
Morse Code Jewelry
How bead bracelets encode a word, and how to read one.
Binary Code Translator
Text to binary and back. Compare it with Morse.
01001000 01101001
NATO Phonetic Alphabet
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie: spell words out loud without errors.
Caesar Cipher
Shift letters to encrypt and decrypt secret messages.
Picture Translator
Got Morse in a photo, tattoo or bracelet? Rebuild it symbol by symbol.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a Morse code translator?
A Morse code translator converts normal text into Morse code (dots and dashes) and Morse code back into text. This one does both automatically: type English and you get Morse; paste dots and dashes and you get English. It also plays the code as sound and lets you download it.
How do I translate Morse code to English?
Paste the code in the input box using dots (.) and dashes (-), with a space between letters and a slash (/) between words. The translation appears on the right. If you are reading the code from a picture or a bracelet, use the on-screen keys to tap it in. For a letter-by-letter view, try the Morse code reader.
Is the Morse code translator free?
Yes, completely free, with no sign-up and no limits for normal use. Everything runs in your browser, so your messages are never sent to a server.
Can I hear the Morse code and download the audio?
Yes. Press Listen to play the code as beeps. The Speed slider sets words per minute (5–40 WPM) and the Tone slider sets the pitch (400–1000 Hz). Download WAV saves the same audio as a file. The audio translator has more options.
What do the slashes and spaces mean?
A single space separates letters; a slash separates words. In sound, a letter gap is three dot-lengths of silence and a word gap is seven. So ... --- ... is one word (SOS) and .... .. / -.-- --- ..- is two words (HI YOU).
Does it support numbers and punctuation?
Yes. All ten digits and the standard International Morse punctuation marks are supported in both directions: period, comma, question mark, apostrophe, exclamation, slash, parentheses, ampersand, colon, semicolon, equals, plus, hyphen, underscore, quotation marks, dollar sign and @.
Ready to learn the code behind the tool?
Start with the alphabet, then train your ear with the practice quiz. Most people can read SOS and their own name within an hour.