3 in Morse code
The number 3 is dot dot dot dash dash in International Morse code, said “di-di-di-dah-dah”. Like every digit it has five elements: 3 dots followed by 2 dashes. It lasts 13 units, which is 780 ms at 20 WPM.
Hear 3 at your speed
At 15 WPM, 3 takes 1040 ms to send. Flash or vibrate it in the translator
Where 3 fits in the number pattern
All ten digits follow one rule, so learning the pattern teaches you every number. From 1 to 5 the dots grow from the left; from 6 to 0 the dashes do.
3 on a timing ruler
Characters that sound like 3
These are the characters most often copied by mistake for 3, and why.
- 7Same signals in reverse order
- 8Dots and dashes swapped
- 2One element different
- 4One element different
- VOne element shorter
Can you hear the difference?
Listen, then pick the one you heard.
3 on the air
- 73, “best regards”, is the classic sign-off at the end of a contact.
3 at a glance
- Morse code
- ...--
- Sounds like
- di-di-di-dah-dah
- Length
- 13 units
- At 20 WPM
- 780 ms
- Cut number
- None in common use
- Koch order
- 30 of 41, then Number 8
Sources: codes from ITU-R M.1677-1, the International Morse code standard. Cut numbers and on-air usage follow common amateur radio practice.