Press play to hear it or flash light to see the rhythm. To signal with a torch, whistle or mirror, keep the dots short, the dashes three times longer, and pause before repeating.
How Morse code is timed
Morse code is built from one basic unit of time. A dot lasts one unit and a dash three. Inside a letter, the gap between symbols is one unit; between letters it is three units, and between words seven. Speed is measured in words per minute using the word PARIS, which is exactly fifty units long including the gap after it, so at 20 WPM one unit lasts 60 milliseconds. MorseKit uses these timings for sound, light and the downloadable WAV file.
Farnsworth spacing keeps each character at full speed but stretches the gaps between characters and words. Learners hear the true rhythm of every letter while having time to think, and the gaps are shortened as they improve. Set the Farnsworth speed below the character speed to turn it on; set them equal to switch it off.
Translating and reading
The translator decides the direction for you. If what you type contains only dots, dashes, spaces and slashes, it is decoded to text; anything else is encoded to Morse. Dots may be written as periods, bullets or middots and dashes as hyphens, minus signs, en or em dashes, so text copied from websites or puzzles usually works without editing. Characters that have no Morse equivalent, and Morse groups that are not valid characters, are listed under the result so you can fix them.
Practising by ear
Reading dots and dashes is slow; real Morse is understood as sound. The trainer uses the Koch method: it plays a random character from a small set at full speed and you type what you heard. Begin with two letters and add one each time your score stays above ninety percent. The alphabet chart plays any character when you tap it, which helps link the sound to the letter. Your speed, tone and practice score are saved only in this browser.
Frequently asked questions
What does SOS stand for?
Nothing. It was chosen as a distress signal in 1906 because the pattern is simple and distinctive.
How do I signal SOS with a flashlight?
Three short flashes, three long flashes, three short flashes, then a pause, repeated.
Is SOS still used?
Formal maritime distress moved to satellite systems in 1999, but SOS is still widely recognised by light, sound or written on the ground.
Is MorseKit free?
Yes. Translation, audio, light and practice are all free with no sign-up.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser and your settings are saved only on this device.