Morse Code Translator
Translate text to Morse code — and Morse code back to text — instantly as you type. Listen to your message with real Morse audio, adjust the speed, and watch the signal light flash.
The signal light flashes in time with the sound — the same way sailors once signalled with lamps between ships.
Keyboard: Ctrl + Enter plays the sound · Esc stops it. Your speed, tone, waveform and theme choices are remembered for next time. Tip: set Spacing lower than Speed for Farnsworth timing — the letters play at full speed while the gaps between them stretch, the way radio teachers drill beginners.
⌨️ Tap mode — key it yourself
No keyboard needed: press and hold the big key (mouse, touch, or the Space bar while it is focused). A short press makes a dot, a hold makes a dash. Pause briefly and the letter decodes itself; pause longer and a word space is added. Timing follows the Speed slider above.
What is Morse code?
Morse code is a way of writing text using just two signals: a short one called a dot ( · ) and a long one called a dash ( − ). Every letter, number and common punctuation mark has its own pattern — E is a single dot, T is a single dash, and S is three dots: ... Put the patterns together and you can send any message using sound beeps, flashing light, or even taps.
It was developed in the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for the electric telegraph, and it changed communication forever: for the first time, a message could cross a continent in minutes instead of days. The first telegraph message, sent in 1844, read "WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT". The modern version — International Morse Code, standardised by the ITU — is the one this translator uses.
Telegraph wires are long gone, but Morse code never disappeared. It is still used by amateur (ham) radio operators, in aviation and navigation beacons, by the military, and as an accessibility tool — a person who can only move one switch can still write full sentences in Morse. And the most famous signal of all, the distress call SOS (... --- ...), is recognised everywhere on Earth. For the full picture, see why Morse code is still used today.
How to use this translator
- Type or paste into the box above — either plain text or Morse code. The tool auto-detects which one you entered, or you can lock a direction with the buttons.
- Read your translation. It appears live as you type. In Morse output, a space separates letters and / separates words.
- Press Play sound to hear your message as authentic Morse audio and watch the signal light flash along with it.
- Adjust the speed and tone if you like — 20 WPM is a comfortable listening speed; slow it to 5–10 WPM while learning.
- Copy the result with one click and paste it anywhere — a message, a puzzle, a game, or your notes.
- Save or share it. Download .wav saves the message as a real audio file (a ringtone, a game sound, a secret voicemail intro), and Copy link creates a link that opens this page with your message already translated — perfect for sending a coded message to a friend.
Tip: everything happens in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or saved — see our privacy policy.
Morse code alphabet and numbers at a glance
Every letter and number has its own dot-dash pattern. Here is the whole International Morse Code alphabet in one compact table — for the spoken rhythm and a sound button for every letter, open the alphabet guide; for punctuation, prosigns and a print-friendly version, see the full Morse code chart.
| A | .- | B | -... | C | -.-. |
| D | -.. | E | . | F | ..-. |
| G | --. | H | .... | I | .. |
| J | .--- | K | -.- | L | .-.. |
| M | -- | N | -. | O | --- |
| P | .--. | Q | --.- | R | .-. |
| S | ... | T | - | U | ..- |
| V | ...- | W | .-- | X | -..- |
| Y | -.-- | Z | --.. | 0 | ----- |
| 1 | .---- | 2 | ..--- | 3 | ...-- |
| 4 | ....- | 5 | ..... | 6 | -.... |
| 7 | --... | 8 | ---.. | 9 | ----. |
Explore more Morse code tools & guides
Frequently asked questions
What is Morse code?
Morse code is a method of encoding text as short signals (dots) and long signals (dashes). It was developed in the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for the electric telegraph, and the version used today is the International Morse Code standard maintained by the ITU.
How do I translate text to Morse code with this tool?
Type or paste your text into the box at the top of this page. The Morse code appears instantly as you type — you do not need to press a translate button. Press Play sound to hear it, or Copy result to copy it.
How do I decode Morse code back to text?
Paste your Morse code into the same box. Use a single space between letters and a slash ( / ) between words, for example .... . .-.. .-.. --- / .-- --- .-. .-.. -.. The tool detects the dots and dashes automatically and shows the decoded text, or you can use the dedicated Morse Code Decoder page.
What do the spaces and the slash ( / ) mean in Morse code?
A space separates one letter from the next. A slash separates one word from the next. In sound, the gap between letters is 3 units and the gap between words is 7 units, where one unit is the length of a single dot.
Can I listen to my Morse code message?
Yes. Press the Play sound button to hear your message as real Morse audio. You can adjust the speed from 5 to 50 words per minute (WPM) and change the tone frequency, pause and resume playback, and watch the signal light flash in time with the sound.
Is the text I type stored or sent to a server?
No. This translator runs 100% in your browser. The text you type is never uploaded, stored, or shared — you can even use the tool offline once the page has loaded.
Can I download my Morse code as an audio file?
Yes. Press the Download .wav button and your browser saves the message as a WAV audio file, generated on the spot at your chosen speed, tone and waveform. Use it as a ringtone, a game sound, or a secret message recording.
How can I share a Morse code message with a friend?
Press Copy link. It copies a link to this translator with your message built into it — whoever opens the link sees your message already translated, and can play it, decode it, or reply in kind.