Text to Morse Code Converter - Free Online Translator Tool

What Is Morse Code?

Morse code is a system for sending text using two signal states, usually called dots and dashes. Each letter, number, and punctuation mark maps to a fixed sequence of dots and dashes. The system works over almost any medium that can switch between two states, including sound, light, and electrical current. A text to Morse code converter takes ordinary written text and translates it into this pattern, following the rules of International Morse Code.

Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed Morse code in the United States in the 1830s for use with the electric telegraph.

How to Convert Text to Morse Code

Type or paste text into the input box. The Morse code output appears automatically. Click "Copy" to copy the result, or "Clear" to start over.

The converter follows a few fixed rules:

• Lowercase letters are converted to uppercase, because Morse code does not distinguish between cases.
• Each letter or number becomes its dot-dash code, separated from the next by a single space.
• A space in the input becomes a forward slash (/), which marks a word boundary.
• Characters with no Morse code equivalent, such as most symbols and emoji, are dropped from the output.

Morse Code Chart

Letters

Numbers

Every number uses five symbols. Letters use between one and four symbols. The two most common letters in English, E and T, have the shortest codes: a single dot and a single dash.

Punctuation

Morse Code Timing and Speed Formula

Morse code timing is measured in units:

• A dot lasts 1 unit.
• A dash lasts 3 units.
• The gap between dots and dashes inside one letter lasts 1 unit.
• The gap between letters lasts 3 units.
• The gap between words lasts 7 units.

Speed is measured in words per minute (WPM). The reference word "PARIS" is used to define it, because it contains 50 timing units, including the gap after it. This gives the formula:

dot length (ms) = 1200 / WPM

For example, at 20 WPM, one dot lasts 1200 / 20 = 60 milliseconds, and one dash lasts three times as long, 180 milliseconds.

History of Morse Code

Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail built Morse code for the electric telegraph in the 1830s. Morse's original version had codes only for numbers. Each number pointed to a word in a printed codebook, which was slow to use. Vail replaced this with direct codes for individual letters, assigning shorter codes to letters that appear more often in English text. Operators could then send and read whole messages without a codebook.

The first long-distance message sent on the Morse system, "What hath God wrought," traveled from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore on May 24, 1844.

The version used worldwide today is called International Morse Code. It differs slightly from the original American Morse code, which is now obsolete, and is maintained as part of the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Uses of Morse Code Today

• Amateur radio: Operators use Morse code, often called CW (continuous wave), because it can be picked out of noise and weak signals that would make voice communication unreadable.
• Aviation: VOR and NDB radio navigation beacons broadcast a two- or three-letter identifier in Morse code, which pilots check to confirm they are tuned to the correct station.
• Maritime signaling: The distress signal SOS (··· −−− ···) is recognized worldwide and can be sent by light, sound, or radio.
• Assistive technology: Some communication devices for people with limited motor control use a single switch to enter dots and dashes, which the device then converts into text.

Example: Converting Text to Morse Code

Input: HELLO WORLD

Output: .... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -..

Each letter is separated by a space. The forward slash marks the space between the two words.

Input: SOS

Output: ... --- ...

Three dots, three dashes, three dots. This is the most recognized signal pattern in Morse code. In practice, SOS is sent as one continuous run of nine symbols, without the normal spacing between letters, which makes it stand out.

Frequently asked questions

Is Morse code the same in every country?

Yes. International Morse Code is standardized by the ITU and used the same way worldwide. Older systems, such as American Morse code used on 19th-century telegraph lines, are no longer in use.

Does this converter handle emoji or accented letters?

No. It supports the standard International Morse Code set: the 26 letters A-Z, the digits 0-9, and common punctuation. Emoji, accented letters, and other symbols are dropped from the output.

What does CW mean in amateur radio?

CW stands for continuous wave. It refers to a radio signal that is switched on and off to form Morse code, unlike voice modes such as SSB or FM.

Is SOS still used today?

Ships and aircraft mostly rely on automated digital distress systems now, such as Digital Selective Calling. SOS is still recognized worldwide and remains useful when no other equipment is available, since it can be sent by light, sound, or tapping.

Why do some letters have shorter codes than others?

Morse code assigns shorter codes to the letters used most often in English. E and T, the two most common letters, use a single symbol each. Less common letters, such as Q and Z, use four symbols.