morse code translator

How to use the morse code translator

  1. Pick a direction: 'Text → Morse' to encode, 'Morse → Text' to decode.
  2. Type or paste your input — the translation updates live on every keystroke.
  3. Optionally customize the dot and dash characters, or swap the word separator from ' / ' to your preference.
  4. Click 'Play' to hear the morse at a chosen WPM and pitch — the Web Audio API beeps follow standard timing (1 unit dot, 3 unit dash, 7 unit word gap).
  5. Copy the output or click 'Swap direction' to reverse the translation.

When to use it

Use it for amateur radio practice, geocaching puzzles, escape-room clues, or teaching kids how encoding works. The audio playback makes it a passable CW practice tool for learning the rhythm of letters like SOS, CQ, 73. Alternative: morsecode.world has a similar encoder with a richer radio-prop simulation; this tool is faster for one-off translations and includes the reference chart inline.

Example

The classic distress signal:

SOS → ... --- ...
HELLO WORLD → .... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -..

Frequently asked questions

What is Morse code?
A character-encoding scheme invented by Samuel Morse in the 1830s that represents letters and numbers as sequences of short signals (dots) and long signals (dashes). It's still used in amateur radio, aviation identifiers, and as an assistive input method.
What is the Morse code for SOS?
`... --- ...` — three dots, three dashes, three dots. Transmitted as a continuous sequence without letter gaps, it's internationally recognized as a distress call.
Can the morse code translator play audio?
Yes. Click 'Play' in the sidebar to hear the morse at a configurable WPM (speed) and frequency (pitch). It uses the browser's Web Audio API — no downloads or plugins.
Does the translator support punctuation and numbers?
Yes — digits 0-9 and common punctuation (period, comma, question mark, exclamation, apostrophe, parentheses, colon, semicolon, equals, plus, minus, underscore, quote, dollar, at) are all supported. The sidebar shows the full reference chart.
What is WPM in morse code?
Words per minute. Standard amateur radio exchanges happen at 15-25 WPM; beginners practice at 5-10 WPM. The tool uses the PARIS standard: 1 unit = 1200 / WPM milliseconds.
Why do I hear gaps between characters?
Morse timing is hierarchical: 1 unit between dots/dashes inside a letter, 3 units between letters, 7 units between words. These gaps are what make morse rhythm readable to a trained ear.

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Last updated: 2026-04-24