How do I space Morse code so it translates?

One space between characters and a slash between words: ... --- ... is SOS, and -.-. --- -- . / --.- ..- .. -.-. -.- .-.. -.-- is COME QUICKLY. Three or more spaces are read as a word break as well, since that is how a lot of Morse is written down.

Why does it say a group is not a Morse letter?

Because that run of dots and dashes is not in the alphabet, and the usual cause is two characters run together with no space between them. Eight dots in a row is not a character; four dots and four dots is H H. The message names the group it could not read so you can see where to put the space.

Does it matter which dot and dash characters I paste?

No. Bullets and middle dots are read as dots, and en dashes, em dashes, minus signs and underscores are read as dashes, because that is what turns up when Morse is copied out of a document. A vertical bar is read as a word slash.

What if I have the direction wrong?

Switch it. The control above has Detect, which picks the direction from what is in the box, and the two fixed directions. This page opens on Morse to text because that is the job it is here for, and the tool page opens on Detect.

Does this translate an uploaded recording or picture?

This workflow reads typed text or pasted Morse marks. It creates downloadable sound from that text; it does not recognize audio, video, photographs or blinking lights.

Morse Code to English

Paste dots and dashes and read the words: this page opens in the Morse into text direction with -.-. --- -- . / --.- ..- .. -.-. -.- .-.. -.-- in the box, which reads COME QUICKLY. Dots can be typed as dots or bullets, dashes as hyphens or en dashes, and words can be split with a slash, a vertical bar or a run of spaces. If a group is not a letter, the message under the box names the group rather than guessing at it.

MorseMorse to text

Output

COME QUICKLY

Direction

Input notation

Speed

The international Morse alphabet

Click a character to add its text or code in the selected direction. Download all 54 reference rows as a printable PDF or CSV.

The player creates tones from text or pasted Morse. To decode a recording, microphone, image, or flashing light, a signal decoder is needed.

Common questions

How do I space Morse code so it translates?: One space between characters and a slash between words: ... --- ... is SOS, and -.-. --- -- . / --.- ..- .. -.-. -.- .-.. -.-- is COME QUICKLY. Three or more spaces are read as a word break as well, since that is how a lot of Morse is written down.
Why does it say a group is not a Morse letter?: Because that run of dots and dashes is not in the alphabet, and the usual cause is two characters run together with no space between them. Eight dots in a row is not a character; four dots and four dots is H H. The message names the group it could not read so you can see where to put the space.
Does it matter which dot and dash characters I paste?: No. Bullets and middle dots are read as dots, and en dashes, em dashes, minus signs and underscores are read as dashes, because that is what turns up when Morse is copied out of a document. A vertical bar is read as a word slash.
What if I have the direction wrong?: Switch it. The control above has Detect, which picks the direction from what is in the box, and the two fixed directions. This page opens on Morse to text because that is the job it is here for, and the tool page opens on Detect.
Does this translate an uploaded recording or picture?: This workflow reads typed text or pasted Morse marks. It creates downloadable sound from that text; it does not recognize audio, video, photographs or blinking lights.

Exact for the displayed international Morse letters and digits, with 18 supported punctuation entries. Audio plays at the speed you set with standard PARIS timing: a dot is one unit, a dash three, and the gaps inside a letter, between letters and between words are one, three and seven units. Characters with no agreed Morse equivalent are reported rather than approximated.