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Letter 6 of 26 · Foxtrot in the NATO alphabet
F in Morse Code
The letter F in Morse code is ..-. (dit dit dah dit): 3 dots and 1 dash. Listen to it, learn how to write it, and see the letters it is easily confused with.
Step by step
How to write F in Morse code
Send the 4 signals in order, from left to right. Keep the pauses inside the letter short (one unit) so the receiver hears a single character.
- Dot (dit)
One short signal, one unit of time. Then a one-unit pause before the next signal.
- Dot (dit)
One short signal, one unit of time. Then a one-unit pause before the next signal.
- Dash (dah)
One long signal, three units of time. Then a one-unit pause before the next signal.
- Dot (dit)
One short signal, one unit of time. Then a three-unit pause before the next letter.
How to say it: "dit dit dah dit"
Operators never say "dot" and "dash" out loud: they say dit for a dot and dah for a dash, because those syllables have the same short and long rhythm as the signals themselves. Spoken aloud, F is "dit dit dah dit". Saying it this way while you listen is the quickest way to make the pattern automatic.
Timing of the letter F
Proportional view: teal blocks are sound (dot = 1 unit, dash = 3 units), gaps are silence. The whole letter takes 9 units; at 15 WPM that is about 0.72 seconds.
Do not confuse
Letters that sound similar to F
Most copying mistakes happen between letters of the same length. These are the ones to practice side by side with F.
Examples
Words that start with F in Morse code
Five English words beginning with F, fully translated. Notice how the letter F (..-.) is followed by a space before the next letter.
| Word | Morse code | |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | ..-. --- .-. . ... - | |
| Falcon | ..-. .- .-.. -.-. --- -. | |
| Flame | ..-. .-.. .- -- . | |
| Frost | ..-. .-. --- ... - | |
| Freedom | ..-. .-. . . -.. --- -- |
About the letter F in Morse code
F is the 6th letter of the alphabet and a consonant. In International Morse code it is written ..-., a sequence of 4 signals: 3 dots and 1 dash. Spoken aloud, that is "dit dit dah dit". Including the one-unit gaps inside the character, the letter takes 9 units of time to send, where one unit is the length of a dot.
In the classic frequency count of English text, F is the 16th most common letter. It sits in the middle of the pack: common enough to show up in most sentences, rare enough that you can learn it in the second week. When spelling over the radio, operators call it "Foxtrot" using the NATO phonetic alphabet, which works alongside Morse rather than replacing it.
To send F with a flashlight, keep the light on for one count per dot and three counts per dash, with the light off for one count between them; the light signaling guide has the details. To tap it, use a short tap for each dot and a longer press (or a knock-and-hold) for each dash, as explained on the tapping page. Whatever the medium, the rhythm "dit dit dah dit" is what makes it F.
FAQ
Questions about F in Morse code
How do you write F in Morse code?
The letter F is written ..-. in Morse code: 3 dots and 1 dash, spoken "dit dit dah dit". Send the signals left to right with a one-unit pause between them and a three-unit pause before the next letter.
How many dots and dashes does F have?
F has 4 signals in total: 3 dots and 1 dash. Counting the gaps inside the character, it takes 9 units of time to send, which is about 0.72 seconds at 15 words per minute.
What is F in the NATO phonetic alphabet?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet, F is "Foxtrot". The phonetic alphabet is used for spelling words by voice over radio; Morse code is used when voice is not possible. Both are often learned together.
What words start with F in Morse code?
Any word starting with F begins with ..-.. For example Forest is ..-. --- .-. . ... - and Falcon is ..-. .- .-.. -.-. --- -.. Use the translator to convert any other word.
Which letter is F backward in Morse code?
Reversed, ..-. becomes .-.., which is the letter L. These mirror pairs (F and L) are a common source of mistakes for beginners, so practice them together.
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