This is the complete International Morse code alphabet, A to Z, in one clean chart you can read, print, or paste into the Morse code translator to hear out loud. Every pattern below matches the tool exactly, so what you see here is what you will hear when you press play.
A dot is written · and a dash is written −. The only timing rule you need to remember: a dash lasts three times as long as a dot, and the gap between letters is one dot longer than the gap between elements.
International Morse Code Alphabet (A-Z)
| Letter | Morse | Letter | Morse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | ·− |
N | −· |
|
| B | −··· |
O | −−− |
|
| C | −·−· |
P | ·−−· |
|
| D | −·· |
Q | −−·− |
|
| E | · |
R | ·−· |
|
| F | ··−· |
S | ··· |
|
| G | −−· |
T | − |
|
| H | ···· |
U | ··− |
|
| I | ·· |
V | ···− |
|
| J | ·−−− |
W | ·−− |
|
| K | −·− |
X | −··− |
|
| L | ·−·· |
Y | −·−− |
|
| M | −− |
Z | −−·· |
Want it as a printable? Use your browser's Print command (Ctrl/Cmd + P) on this page — the chart above prints cleanly on a single sheet. Pin it next to your desk or radio while you learn.
The Two Most Important Letters: E and T
Morse code is not random. Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail designed it so that the most common letters get the shortest codes — a brilliant early example of data compression.
- E, the most frequent letter in English, is a single dot:
· - T, the next most frequent, is a single dash:
−
That is why E and T are the fastest letters to send. Rare letters like Q (−−·−) and Y (−·−−) get long four-element codes, because you do not send them often. This frequency-based design is part of why Morse is so efficient over a noisy channel.
Letters That Are Mirror Images
A few pairs are exact reverses of each other. Spotting them helps you learn two letters for the price of one:
| Pair | Codes | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| A / N | ·− / −· |
reverse of each other |
| D / U | −·· / ··− |
reverse of each other |
| B / V | −··· / ···− |
reverse of each other |
| G / W | −−· / ·−− |
reverse of each other |
And some letters are simply runs of one symbol, which makes them the easiest of all:
- E
·, I··, S···, H····— one, two, three, four dots - T
−, M−−, O−−−— one, two, three dashes
Letters People Confuse (and How to Tell Them Apart)
The hardest letters to decode are the ones that differ by a single element. Train your ear on these pairs specifically:
- S
···vs. H····— three dots vs. four. Count carefully, or better, learn them by their distinct rhythm. - U
··−vs. V···−— two dots then a dash vs. three dots then a dash. - D
−··vs. B−···— one dash, then two vs. three dots. - A
·−vs. W·−−vs. J·−−−— a growing tail of dashes.
When a decoded word looks wrong, the culprit is almost always one of these near-twins — recount the dots or the dashes and the message usually snaps into place.
Learn the Letters by Sound, Not by Sight
A chart like this is the perfect reference, but it is a poor way to actually memorize Morse. Fluent operators do not picture −·−· and decode it to C — they hear dah-di-dah-dit and the letter C appears instantly.
So use this chart to look things up and check yourself, but do your real practice with audio. The Morse code audio player lets you play any letter or word and adjust the speed (WPM) and tone, which is how you build the sound → letter reflex. For the full method — Koch sequencing, Farnsworth timing, and a daily routine — see our guide to learning Morse code fast.
Beyond the Alphabet
The 26 letters are just the start. To send real messages you also need:
- Numbers 0-9 — each a tidy five-element pattern.
- Punctuation — period, comma, question mark, slash, @ and more.
- SOS — the one sequence everyone should know.
All of these are covered in the Morse code numbers and punctuation chart, and the story behind the distress signal is in What is SOS in Morse code?.
Try the Alphabet in the Tool
The best way to make this chart stick is to use it. Open the Morse code translator, type a word, and:
- Read the dots and dashes it produces and match them to the chart above.
- Watch the visual signals light up letter by letter.
- Listen to the audio and try to recognize each letter by its rhythm.
- Decode in reverse — paste dots and dashes and watch them turn back into text.
For example, paste ···· · ·−·· ·−·· −−− and the decoder returns HELLO.
FAQ
What is the Morse code alphabet?
The Morse code alphabet (International Morse code) assigns a unique pattern of dots and dashes to each letter A-Z. For example A is ·−, B is −···, and the single most common letters get the shortest codes: E is · and T is −.
What is the easiest way to memorize the Morse code alphabet?
Learn it by sound, not by sight. Use audio to train a direct "hear the rhythm, know the letter" reflex, practice 15–20 minutes a day, and add letters a few at a time. Memorizing the visual chart leads to slow dot-counting that is hard to unlearn.
Why is E just one dot and T just one dash?
Because Morse code was designed around letter frequency. E is the most common letter in English and T the second most common, so they were given the shortest possible codes to make typical messages faster to send.
Can I print this Morse code chart?
Yes. Use your browser's Print command (Ctrl/Cmd + P) on this page. The A-Z chart is formatted to print cleanly on a single page so you can keep it next to your desk, radio, or study space.
What is the difference between International and American Morse code?
The chart on this page is International Morse code, the worldwide standard used in radio and signaling today. An older American (railroad) Morse used some different patterns and internal spacing, but it is largely historical. When people say "Morse code" now, they mean International Morse.
How do I hear what each letter sounds like?
Use the Morse code audio player on the homepage. Type any letter or word, press play, and adjust the speed and tone. Hearing the letters is the single best way to learn them.
Next steps: get the numbers and punctuation chart, find out what SOS really means, or follow the fast beginner's guide to learning Morse code and start practicing in the translator.