Morse Code Translator
Text to Morse code and back.
Input
Result
What is a Morse Code Translator?
A Morse Code Translator converts between plain text and Morse code, a communication system that encodes characters using dots (.) and dashes (-). Each letter, digit, and punctuation mark has a unique sequence. Developed in the 1830s by Samuel Morse, it was the primary long-distance communication method before voice radio and remains in use for emergency signaling and amateur radio.
How to translate Morse code manually (the formula)
To encode text: look up each character in a Morse code table and write its dot-dash pattern, separating letters with a single space and words with a forward slash (/) or three spaces. To decode: read each dot-dash sequence, use the table to find the matching character, and note letter/word separators. International Morse code assigns shorter patterns to more frequently used letters (E = . , T = -).
Example calculation
Encode "SOS" to Morse: S = ... O = --- S = ... → ... --- .... Encode "HELLO" in Morse: H = .... E = . L = .-.. L = .-.. O = --- → .... . .-.. .-.. ---. Encode "HI THERE": H = .... I = .. (space) T = - H = .... E = . R = .-. E = . → .... .. / - .... . .-. ..
Common mistakes
- Forgetting letter spacing — Without a single space between letter codes, decoders cannot tell where one letter ends and another begins.
- Using wrong separators — Words are separated by a forward slash (/), not by extra dots or dashes. Three spaces between words is also accepted.
- Confusing dot and dash timing — A dash is three times longer than a dot. In audio Morse, timing matters: dot = 1 unit, dash = 3 units, intra-character space = 1 unit, between letters = 3 units, between words = 7 units.
Frequently asked questions
What is Morse code?
Morse code represents letters and numbers using sequences of dots (.) and dashes (-).
How do I translate Morse code manually?
Use a Morse code chart that maps each letter and number to its dot-dash pattern.
What is the SOS signal in Morse code?
SOS is three dots, three dashes, three dots (... --- ...), an internationally recognized distress signal.
What separates letters and words in Morse code?
A single space separates letters; a forward slash (/) or three spaces separate words.
Is Morse code still used today?
Yes, by amateur radio operators, aviation (NDB beacons), and as an accessibility tool.