Morse Code Translator: Text to Morse, Morse to Text, Audio and Light
This free Morse code translator converts English text to Morse code and decodes Morse back to plain text as you type. Press play to hear the dots and dashes as beeps, watch them as flashes of light, set the speed, or download the sound as an audio file. It runs in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded.
Type a word into the Text box and watch the Morse code appear. Press Play to hear it.
Use the toolSound and light
Flash mode blinks the screen. Do not use it if you or anyone nearby is sensitive to flashing lights.
Press Play to hear your message, or Flash to see it.
Decode sound from your microphone
Allow the microphone for this page, then play Morse code from a speaker or another device near it. The sound is analysed on your device and is never recorded or uploaded.
Not listening.
Tap key
Press and hold the pad (or the space bar) to send. A press shorter than 160 ms is a dot, and a longer one is a dash. The timing follows the speed slider. What you tap is added to the Morse box.
Morse code chart (tap a character to hear it)
Sound and light
Play it as beeps, flash it on screen or save a WAV file.
Microphone decoder
Decode Morse from sound, with the audio kept on your device.
Two-way translation
Text and Morse update each other as you type.
Private by design
Nothing you type or record is uploaded.
Type text in the Text box and the Morse code appears at once. Use a space between letters and a slash between words, and press Play to hear it.
Key Takeaways
- Type text to get Morse code, or paste dots and dashes to get text. Both boxes update as you type.
- Use a space between letters and a slash between words, for example ... --- ... for SOS.
- A dash lasts three times as long as a dot. The gap between letters is 3 dot lengths and between words is 7.
- Play the result as sound or flashing light, set the speed in words per minute, and download the audio.
- The decoder can also listen through your microphone. Audio is processed on your device and is not uploaded.
English to Morse Code: Translate Text in One Step
Type or paste your message into the Text box. The Morse code appears in the other box straight away, with a space between letters and a slash between words. Letters, numbers and common punctuation are all supported. Select Copy to take the result with you.
This is the quickest way to convert text to Morse code for a puzzle, a message, a tattoo or a bracelet, or just for fun.
Morse Code Decoder: Convert Morse Code to English
To decode Morse code, paste dots and dashes into the Morse box. Separate letters with a space and words with a slash or three spaces. The English text appears in the other box as you type.
The decoder accepts the full stop and hyphen characters, and also common stand-ins such as a middle dot, an underscore or a long dash. If it meets a group of dots and dashes that is not a valid character, it marks it with a question mark so you can see where the problem is.
Tips for Decoding Morse Code by Hand
- Look for the gaps first. A short gap splits letters and a long gap splits words.
- Learn the single-symbol letters. E is one dot and T is one dash.
- Work from short groups to long ones. Most common letters have one to three symbols.
- Check the chart below whenever a group looks unfamiliar.
How to Use the Morse Code Translator
-
1STEP 1 Type or paste text into the Text box to get Morse code, or paste dots and dashes into the Morse box to decode.
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2STEP 2 Check the separators: a space between letters and a slash between words.
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3STEP 3 Press Play to hear it, or Flash to see it as light. Move the speed slider to make it slower or faster.
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4STEP 4 Select Copy to copy the result, or Download audio to save the sound as a WAV file.
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5STEP 5 Use Swap to reverse the direction, and Clear to start again.
Morse Code Alphabet and Numbers Chart
International Morse code assigns a pattern of short signals (dots) and long signals (dashes) to every letter and number. The patterns below are the standard International Morse code set.
| Letter | Code | Letter | Code | Letter | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | .- | J | .--- | S | ... |
| B | -... | K | -.- | T | - |
| C | -.-. | L | .-.. | U | ..- |
| D | -.. | M | -- | V | ...- |
| E | . | N | -. | W | .-- |
| F | ..-. | O | --- | X | -..- |
| G | --. | P | .--. | Y | -.-- |
| H | .... | Q | --.- | Z | --.. |
| I | .. | R | .-. |
| Number | Code | Number | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ----- | 5 | ..... |
| 1 | .---- | 6 | -.... |
| 2 | ..--- | 7 | --... |
| 3 | ...-- | 8 | ---.. |
| 4 | ....- | 9 | ----. |
Morse Code Punctuation
| Character | Code |
|---|---|
| Full stop (.) | .-.-.- |
| Comma (,) | --..-- |
| Question mark (?) | ..--.. |
| Slash (/) | -..-. |
| At sign (@) | .--.-. |
The numbers follow a pattern, which makes them easy to learn. From 1 to 5, each digit swaps one more dot for a dash. From 6 to 0, each digit swaps one more dash for a dot.
Morse Code Timing: Dots, Dashes and Gaps
Morse code depends on timing as much as on the symbols. Everything is measured in one unit, the length of a dot.
| Element | Length |
|---|---|
| Dot (dit) | 1 unit |
| Dash (dah) | 3 units |
| Gap between the dots and dashes of one letter | 1 unit |
| Gap between letters | 3 units |
| Gap between words | 7 units |
If the gaps are wrong, the message becomes unreadable. For example, the dots and dashes of S O S can be run together into a different set of letters. The translator spaces everything correctly when it plays or flashes your message.
Morse Code Audio: Hear Morse Code Online
Press Play and the translator turns the dots and dashes into beeps, so you can hear Morse code as it is meant to be heard. This is useful for learning, because most people read Morse by ear and not by eye.
Speed in Words per Minute
Morse speed is measured in words per minute. The standard test word is PARIS, which counts as 50 units. The length of one unit in milliseconds is 1200 divided by the speed in words per minute, so 20 words per minute gives a 60 millisecond dot. The speed slider runs from 5 to 40 words per minute, with 15 as a comfortable starting point for a beginner.
Download Morse Code as Audio
Select Download audio to save the sound as a WAV file. Use it for a ringtone, a video, a puzzle clue or a school project. The file uses the speed and pitch you set at the time.
Morse Code Light: Flash Morse Code on Screen
Select Flash and the screen blinks the message as short and long flashes, using the same timing as the sound. This shows how Morse code can be sent with a lamp, a torch or a mirror, and it works when you cannot play sound. Turn the brightness up, and avoid it if you or anyone nearby is sensitive to flashing lights.
The tool shows a warning before the first flash, and asks again if your device is set to reduce motion. You can also fill the whole screen with the flash, which is handy for signalling across a room.
Audio Morse Code Decoder: Decode Sound From Your Microphone
Select Listen to decode Morse code from sound. The tool listens through your microphone, picks out the beeps and turns them into text. It works best with a clear, steady tone and little background noise. Hold the source close to the microphone, or play the audio from another device nearby.
- Your browser will ask for permission to use the microphone. Allow it for this page only.
- The sound is processed on your device. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
- Accuracy falls with noise, uneven timing and very high speeds. Hand-keyed Morse is harder to decode than computer-generated Morse.
- If decoding is wrong, slow the source down and try again.
Tap Morse Code: Send It With Your Own Key
Select Tap key and use the space bar, or tap the button on your phone. A short press makes a dot and a long press makes a dash. The tool measures your timing and writes the letters as you go. It is a good way to practise sending, and it works like a simple telegraph key.
SOS and Other Morse Code Signals
The best-known signal is SOS: three dots, three dashes and three dots, written ... --- ... and sent without gaps between the letters. It is a prosign, a signal sent as one unit and not as three separate letters. SOS marks the start of a distress message, and other stations should stay silent while it is sent.
Morse code was the international standard for maritime distress until 1999, when the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System replaced it. It remains in use by amateur radio operators, in aviation navigation aids and as an assistive technology. To try it, enter SOS in the Text box above.
| Phrase | Morse code |
|---|---|
| SOS | ... --- ... |
| HELLO | .... . .-.. .-.. --- |
| I LOVE YOU | .. / .-.. --- ...- . / -.-- --- ..- |
| HELP | .... . .-.. .--. |
| OK | --- -.- |
A Short History of Morse Code
Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed the original code in the 1830s and 1840s for the electric telegraph. It was later simplified into the International Morse code used today. The International Telecommunication Union maintains the standard as Recommendation ITU-R M.1677-1. For the full story, see Wikipedia's Morse code article.
Because it needs only a signal that is on or off, Morse code can be sent by radio, wire, light or sound. That simplicity is why it is still taught.
Why Use This Morse Code Translator?
- Learners can hear and see the code, with the chart beside them.
- Puzzle and escape room makers can encode clues quickly.
- Teachers and scout leaders can use the sound and light modes in lessons.
- Amateur radio beginners can practise copying at their own speed.
- Accessibility users can explore Morse as an input method that needs only one or two switches.
- Gift makers can check a Morse message before it goes on a bracelet or an engraving.
Privacy: Your Text and Audio Stay in Your Browser
Translation, sound, light and decoding all happen on your device. The text you type and the audio your microphone hears are not uploaded or stored, and they are gone when you close the tab.
FAQs
How do I translate English to Morse code?
Type or paste your text into the Text box and the Morse code appears in the other box straight away. Letters are separated by a space and words by a slash. For example, SOS becomes ... --- ... . Press Play to hear it, or Copy to take the result with you.
How do I decode Morse code to English?
Paste the dots and dashes into the Morse box, with a space between letters and a slash between words. The English text appears as you type. If a group of symbols is not a valid character, the decoder shows a question mark in its place so you can see which group to check.
What does SOS look like in Morse code?
SOS is three dots, three dashes and three dots: ... --- ... . It is sent as one continuous signal, with no gaps between the letters.
How long is a dash compared to a dot?
A dash is three times as long as a dot. The gap between the symbols of one letter equals one dot, the gap between letters equals three dots and the gap between words equals seven dots. The translator uses this timing for its sound and light output.
Can I hear Morse code as sound?
Yes. Press Play and the translator turns your message into beeps. Use the speed slider to set the pace from 5 to 40 words per minute, and the pitch slider to change the tone. Select Download audio to save the sound as a WAV file.
Can this Morse code translator decode audio?
Yes. Select Listen and allow microphone access. The tool picks out the beeps and writes the text. It works best with a clear, steady tone and little noise, and it is less accurate with hand-keyed Morse or very high speeds. The sound is processed on your device and not uploaded.
Can I translate a picture of Morse code?
This tool does not read images. If you have a picture of dots and dashes, type or paste what you see into the Morse box, using a slash between words, and the text appears. The chart on this page can help you read unclear symbols.
How many words per minute is Morse code?
Speed is measured with the word PARIS, which counts as 50 dot units. At 20 words per minute a dot lasts 60 milliseconds. Beginners often start around 5 to 15 words per minute. Skilled operators work much faster, so the slider goes up to 40.
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