Morse Code
Tap the telegraph key for a dot, hold it for a dash (or hold the space bar). In Decode, tap the letter you heard.
What is Morse Code?
Morse Code is a free online learning game where you tap out real Morse code on a brass telegraph key. A quick tap sends a dot and a longer hold sends a dash, with real audio tones, a signal lamp and a paper tape that prints every signal you send. Learn mode teaches two letters at a time, starting with E and T, the most common letters in English. Decode mode plays a letter for you to name, and Send mode has you key whole words like SOS. Along the way you discover why common letters got the shortest codes, the same trick data compression uses today.
How to play Morse Code
Controls: Tap the telegraph key for a dot, hold it for a dash (or hold the space bar). In Decode, tap the letter you heard.
- 1Tap the brass key for a short beep, a dot. Hold it down for a long beep, a dash. On a computer you can hold the space bar instead.
- 2Watch the symbol under the card: it starts as a dot and stretches into a dash if you keep holding.
- 3Learn mode shows each new letter with its code. Send it on the key, then send it again from memory.
- 4Decode mode plays a letter. Listen, watch the paper tape, then tap the letter you heard.
- 5Send mode gives you a word such as SOS to key one letter at a time, with the code shown to help.
- 6Open the code card any time to look up a letter. Pausing in the middle of a letter is fine.
Morse Code tips and strategy
- Learn each letter as a sound, not a list of symbols: A is di-dah, N is dah-dit. Counting dots slows you down.
- A dash is about three dots long. Hold until the symbol under the card turns into a dash, then let go.
- Some letters are mirror pairs: A and N, D and U, G and W. Learning them together makes both easier to remember.
- In Decode, first count the beeps to narrow it down, then listen for where the long ones fall.
Morse Code FAQ
What is Morse code?
Morse code sends letters as short and long signals called dots and dashes. It was developed in the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail for the electric telegraph, and it can be sent with sound, light or radio. It is one of the first digital codes, because every letter is built from just two kinds of signal.
Why do some letters have shorter Morse codes?
The most common letters in English, like E and T, were given the shortest codes on purpose, so everyday messages take less time to send. Data compression uses the same idea today: frequent symbols get short codes and rare ones get longer codes.
What is SOS in Morse code?
SOS is dot dot dot, dash dash dash, dot dot dot, sent as one continuous signal. It does not stand for any words; it was chosen because it is easy to send and hard to mistake.
How long does it take to learn Morse code?
Many learners know the whole alphabet after a few weeks of short daily practice. Learning two letters at a time, and hearing each one as a sound rather than counting dots, makes it stick much faster.
