peartools

Morse Code Translator

Translate text into Morse code or decode dots and dashes back into letters. Play the message as sound with a flashing light, set the speed, and download it as a WAV file. Everything runs in your browser.

Text
Morse code
Speed
20 WPM
Tone
600 Hz
Morse code

What is Morse code?

Morse code writes each letter and number as a short pattern of dots and dashes, so a message can be sent as beeps, flashes of light, or taps. It was created for the electric telegraph in the 1830s and 1840s, and the version used around the world today is International Morse code.

Common letters get the shortest codes. E is a single dot and T is a single dash, while rarer letters like Q (--.-) are longer.

Why use our Morse code translator

  • ·Both directions. Encode text or decode Morse, and swap with one click.
  • ·Hear and see it. Play the message with a light that flashes on every signal.
  • ·Real timing. Standard PARIS timing from 5 to 40 words per minute.
  • ·Download the sound. Save any message as a .wav file.
  • ·Free and private. No signup, and nothing is uploaded.

How to translate text to Morse code

  1. 1

    Choose a direction

    Pick Text to Morse to encode a message, or Morse to text to decode dots and dashes.

  2. 2

    Type or paste your message

    The translation appears as you type. When decoding, put a space between letters and a slash (/) between words.

  3. 3

    Play the sound

    Press play to hear the message, with a light that flashes on each signal. Set the speed in words per minute and the pitch of the tone.

  4. 4

    Copy or download

    Copy the result, download it as a .txt file, or save the sound as a .wav file.

Morse code alphabet chart

The full International Morse code for letters, numbers, and punctuation, as used by this translator.

Letters

Numbers

Punctuation and symbols

* Not part of the international standard (ITU-R M.1677-1), but widely used. Other operators may not recognize them.

How Morse code timing works

Morse code is a rhythm, and every part is measured in units, where one unit is the length of a dot. The gaps matter as much as the signals: a gap that is too short runs two letters into one.

PartLength
Dot1 unit
Dash3 units
Gap between the dots and dashes of one letter1 unit
Gap between letters3 units
Gap between words7 units

Speed is measured in words per minute (WPM) using the word PARIS, which is exactly 50 units long with the gap after it. That makes one unit 1.2 seconds divided by the speed, so a dot lasts 60 milliseconds at 20 WPM and 120 milliseconds at 10 WPM. The translator plays sound with this timing.

Who uses a Morse code translator

  • ·People learning Morse code. Hear each letter at a real sending speed and see the light flash with it, then check your own decoding against the translator.
  • ·Ham radio operators. Practice sending and receiving at a set speed, or make a .wav file of a message to listen to away from the radio.
  • ·Teachers, scouts, and puzzle makers. Create secret messages for a lesson, a scouting badge, a scavenger hunt, or an escape room clue.
  • ·Writers and crafters. Turn a name or a date into dots and dashes for a bracelet, a tattoo idea, a card, or a hidden message in a story.

Related text tools

Morse code FAQ

How do I read Morse code?
Each letter is a short group of dots (short signals) and dashes (long signals). Split the message into letters at each space and into words at each slash, then look each group up in the chart above. For example, .... .. reads as HI. To learn it properly, practice by ear, since experienced operators hear the rhythm of each letter rather than counting dots.
How do you separate letters and words in Morse code?
In written Morse, a single space goes between letters and a slash (/) between words. In sound or light, the gap between letters is three dots long and the gap between words is seven dots long. This translator also accepts a vertical bar (|) or three spaces as a word break.
What is SOS in Morse code?
SOS is ... --- ... (three dots, three dashes, three dots). As a real distress signal it is sent as one run of nine signals without the usual gaps between letters. It was chosen because it is easy to send and recognize, and it does not stand for "Save Our Souls".
What does WPM mean in Morse code?
WPM is words per minute. Speeds are measured with the standard word PARIS, which is 50 units long including the gap after it. At 20 WPM, one dot lasts 60 milliseconds. Beginners often start around 5 to 10 WPM.
Is Morse code still used today?
Yes. Amateur radio operators still use it, especially for long-distance contacts with weak signals. Radio navigation beacons for aircraft identify themselves in Morse code, and some people with limited mobility use Morse as a way to type.
Why do some characters not translate?
Morse code only covers letters, numbers, and some punctuation. Emoji, symbols like # or *, and most accented letters have no code. The translator lists the characters it left out, and turns accented letters like Ñ into the plain letter (N), except É, which has its own code.
What is the difference between International and American Morse code?
American Morse was the original code used on US railroad and telegraph lines. Several letters are different, and some include gaps inside the letter. International Morse code is the version used in radio around the world today, and it is the one this translator uses.
Why does my decoded text show a # sign?
A # marks a group of dots and dashes that is not a valid Morse character. Check for a missing space between two letters, or an extra dot or dash. The invalid groups are listed under the input box.
Is the Morse code translator free and private?
Yes. There is no signup or limit, and the translation and the sound are made in your browser, so your message is never uploaded.