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Reference · Operator shorthand
Morse Code Abbreviations, Prosigns and Q-codes
SOS, CQD, CQ, DE, K, 73, QTH and the rest of the shorthand that lets operators say a lot with very few signals. Every entry has its code, its meaning and how it is actually used, plus the story of how CQD became SOS.
Sent as one character
Prosigns: procedural signals
A prosign is two letters run together with no gap, so the receiver hears a single new character. In writing they get a bar over the top (AR) or angle brackets (<AR>). They control the conversation rather than carry words.
| Prosign | Code | Meaning | Usage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOS | ...---... | Distress | The international distress signal, adopted in 1906. Sent as one continuous character, not as three letters. Use it only in a real emergency. | |
| AR | .-.-. | End of message | Marks the end of a message when more will follow or when you are handing over. Same code as the plus sign. | |
| SK | ...-.- | End of contact | Signals that the conversation is over and the station is leaving the frequency ("silent key" also describes an operator who has died). | |
| BT | -...- | Break / new paragraph | A pause or paragraph separator inside a message. Same code as the equals sign. Operators also send it while thinking of what to say next. | |
| KN | -.--. | Go ahead, named station | Only the station I am calling should reply; everyone else, stand by. Same code as the open parenthesis. | |
| AS | .-... | Wait / stand by | Hold on a moment. Same code as the ampersand. | |
| CT | -.-.- | Attention / start | Also written KA. Announces that a message is about to begin. | |
| HH | ........ | Error | Eight dots: "disregard the last word, I am sending it again". | |
| BK | -...-.- | Break-in | Invites the other station to interrupt without the usual turn-taking. |
Why the bar matters. SOS sent as one character is ...---..., nine signals with only one-unit gaps. S O S sent as three letters is ... --- ..., with three-unit gaps. Both are understood as a distress call today, but the prosign is the official form.
Sent as normal letters
Common Morse code abbreviations
Unlike prosigns, these are ordinary letters and numbers with normal gaps. They grew out of commercial telegraphy, where every character cost money, and amateur radio operators still use them every day.
| Abbr. | Code | Meaning | Usage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CQ | -.-. --.- | Calling any station | The general call. "CQ CQ CQ DE W1AW" means "anyone, this is W1AW". Often said to come from the French "sécurité" or "sécu". | |
| CQD | -.-. --.- -.. | General call, distress | The Marconi company's distress call, introduced in 1904: CQ (all stations) plus D (distress). Not "Come Quick, Danger", a later backronym. See the story below. | |
| DE | -.. . | From | Separates the station being called from the caller: "K2ABC DE W1AW" is "K2ABC, this is W1AW". From the French "de". | |
| K | -.- | Over, go ahead | Sent at the end of a transmission to invite any station to reply. | |
| R | .-. | Received / roger | Everything was copied correctly. Sent alone, never "RRR". | |
| TU | - ..- | Thank you | Common at the end of a contest exchange. | |
| TNX | - -. -..- | Thanks | Also TKS. Slightly more formal than TU. | |
| PSE | .--. ... . | Please | As in "PSE QSL", please confirm. | |
| AGN | .- --. -. | Again | "AGN?" asks the other station to repeat. | |
| FB | ..-. -... | Fine business | Great, excellent. A general expression of approval. | |
| HI | .... .. | Laughter | The Morse equivalent of "haha". "HI HI" is a bigger laugh. | |
| OM | --- -- | Old man | Any male operator, regardless of age. A friendly form of address. | |
| YL | -.-- .-.. | Young lady | Any female operator. XYL is a wife ("ex-young lady"). | |
| GM | --. -- | Good morning | Likewise GA (good afternoon), GE (good evening) and GN (good night). | |
| 73 | --... ...-- | Best regards | The standard friendly sign-off. Never "73s": the number is already plural. | |
| 88 | ---.. ---.. | Love and kisses | A warmer sign-off, traditionally sent to a close friend or partner. | |
| 55 | ..... ..... | Best success | A sign-off used mainly by European operators, wishing good luck. | |
| ES | . ... | And | From the American Morse character for "&". | |
| WX | .-- -..- | Weather | "WX HR SUNNY" is "weather here sunny". | |
| HR | .... .-. | Here | As in "QTH HR BOSTON". | |
| UR | ..- .-. | Your / you are | "UR RST 599" is "your signal report is 599". | |
| CUL | -.-. ..- .-.. | See you later | Also CUAGN, see you again. | |
| RST | .-. ... - | Signal report | Readability, Strength, Tone. "599" is a perfect report; "5NN" is the same with cut numbers. | |
| DX | -.. -..- | Long distance | A distant or rare station. | |
| SRI | ... .-. .. | Sorry | Also used: SRY. | |
| VY | ...- -.-- | Very | "VY FB" is "very fine business". |
International
Q-codes: questions and answers in three letters
Q-codes were standardized for radiotelegraphy in 1912. Each one is both a question and an answer: QTH? means "where are you?", QTH LONDON means "I am in London". Because Q is never the first letter of a word, there is no risk of confusing a Q-code with a real word.
| Q-code | Code | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| QTH | --.- - .... | My location is… / What is your location? | The most common Q-code. "QTH?" asks where you are. |
| QSL | --.- ... .-.. | I confirm receipt / Can you confirm? | Also the name of the postcard operators exchange to confirm a contact. |
| QRZ | --.- .-. --.. | You are being called by… / Who is calling me? | Sent when a station heard a call but missed the call sign. |
| QRM | --.- .-. -- | Interference from other stations | Man-made interference. "QRM" alone means "I am being interfered with". |
| QRN | --.- .-. -. | Static / atmospheric noise | Natural noise from storms. Not the same as QRM. |
| QSO | --.- ... --- | A contact / conversation | "Nice QSO" means "nice chat". Used as a noun. |
| QRT | --.- .-. - | Stop sending / I am closing down | "QRT" as a statement means "I am shutting down the station". |
| QRS | --.- .-. ... | Send more slowly | The most useful code for beginners: ask the other station to slow down. |
| QRQ | --.- .-. --.- | Send faster | The opposite of QRS. |
| QRL | --.- .-. .-.. | Is this frequency in use? | Sent before calling CQ, out of courtesy. |
| QRV | --.- .-. ...- | I am ready / Are you ready? | "QRV?" means "are you ready to receive?". |
| QSY | --.- ... -.-- | Change frequency | "QSY 7030" means "move to 7.030 MHz". |
| QSB | --.- ... -... | Your signal is fading | Fading in and out; common on long-distance paths. |
| QRP | --.- .-. .--. | Low power | Also describes operating with 5 watts or less. |
The story of CQD and SOS
What does CQD mean? CQD is the general call CQ ("all stations") followed by D for "distress". The Marconi company introduced it in 1904 as the distress call for its wireless operators at sea. The popular expansions "Come Quick, Danger" and "Come Quickly, Distress" were invented afterwards; the letters were never an acronym.
CQD had a problem: it was three separate letters, -.-. --.- -.., easy to lose in static. The 1906 International Radiotelegraph Convention in Berlin chose a different signal, ...---..., because it was unmistakable: a simple, rhythmic nine-signal character that anyone could recognize even without knowing Morse. It came into force in 1908. The letters S-O-S were read into it later; "Save Our Souls" and "Save Our Ship" are also backronyms.
On the night of April 14–15, 1912, the Titanic's operators Jack Phillips and Harold Bride sent both: CQD, the call Marconi operators had been trained on, and SOS, the newer international signal. The disaster helped push SOS into universal use, and CQD faded within a few years. Today SOS is still the recognized distress signal, while CQ lives on as the everyday "anyone there?" call on amateur radio.
Hear the difference
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does CQD mean in Morse code?
CQD is the general call CQ ("all stations") plus D for "distress". It was the Marconi company's distress call from 1904 until SOS replaced it after 1908. In Morse it is -.-. --.- -... "Come Quick, Danger" is a later invention, not the real meaning.
What is the difference between a prosign and an abbreviation?
A prosign is sent as a single character with no gaps between its letters, for example AR (.-.-.), and it controls the flow of a conversation (end of message, wait, go ahead). An abbreviation such as TNX or 73 is just ordinary letters sent with normal gaps, standing in for a longer word.
What does 73 mean in Morse code?
73 means "best regards" and is the standard friendly way to end a contact. 88 means "love and kisses" and 55 "best success". These number codes date back to the telegraph era, when operators used numbers as shorthand for common phrases.
What does CQ mean?
CQ is a general call to any station that can hear you: "CQ CQ CQ DE W1AW" means "calling anyone, this is W1AW". It is often said to come from the French "sécurité" (attention), and it is the normal way to start a conversation on amateur radio.
What are Q-codes?
Q-codes are three-letter codes starting with Q that pack a whole question or statement into three characters: QTH is "location", QSL is "confirm", QRZ is "who is calling?", QRS is "send more slowly". With a question mark they ask, without one they answer. They were standardized internationally in 1912 and are used in Morse and voice radio alike.
Is SOS a prosign or three letters?
Officially it is a prosign: ...---... sent as one continuous character. In practice "S O S" sent as three separate letters is understood just as well, and in written form the letters SOS are universal. Use it only in a genuine emergency; false distress calls are illegal in most countries.
Decode a real transmission
Paste any sequence of dots and dashes, abbreviations included, and read it in plain English.