6 in Morse code
The number six
6 in Morse code is -...., one dash followed by four dots, said dah-di-di-di-dit. The opening dash count gives the value: 6 to 9 begin with one to four dashes, and 0 with five. Reversed, the same marks make 4, and without the last dot they make the letter B.
-.... (dash dot dot dot dot)
“dah-di-di-di-dit”dash dot dot dot dot
5 elements · 4 dots, 1 dash · 11 units
Hear it at your speed (WPM)
733 ms at 18 WPM
6 at a glance
- Morse code
- -....
- Said as
- dah-di-di-di-dit
- Elements
- 5
- Length
- 11 units
- At 18 WPM
- 733 ms
- Koch order
- 39 of 41Then 0
- Pattern
- 1 dash, then 4 dots
- Cut number
- NoneSent in full
One dash for 6: the second half of the pattern
All ten digits are five elements long. From 1 to 5 the dots lead; from 6 on the dashes lead, and their number is the digit minus five. 6 has one dash, 7 is --... with two, and 8 is ---.. with three.
It also helps to hear 6 as the opposite of 1, .----: swap every dot for a dash and every dash for a dot and one turns into the other.
Hear it
- 7--...
- 8---..
- 1.----
6, B, 4 and the hyphen
The letter B:
-...is 6 without its last dot.The hyphen:
-....-is 6 with a dash added at the end.The digit 4:
....-is 6 played backwards.The digit 5:
.....is 6 with its dash turned into a dot.
The Sound-alike drill trains close pairs like 6 and B, which differ by one short tone.
Hear it
- B-...
- --....-
- 4....-
6 is never shortened
Cut numbers shorten a digit by trimming its dashes to one and keeping its dots. 6 already has a single dash, so it has no cut form and is always sent in full; 4 is the only other digit like it.
Watch for one trap
The cut form of 7 is B, -..., which looks like 6 missing a dot. In a contest serial number a B means 7, not a damaged 6.
All the cut forms are on the numbers page.
Hear it
- B-...
Six dots: the old American 6, and HI
Six dots in a row are not a character in International Morse. In American (Railroad) Morse, the code of US telegraph lines, they were the digit 6.
HI, .... .., is also six dots, split four and two by a letter gap. Among radio operators HI is shorthand for a laugh. The hi page covers both meanings.
Hear it
- HI.... ..
How to tap, flash and write 6
Tap it:
one long press and four quick taps. At 18 words per minute the whole 6 lasts 11 units, about 733 ms.
Flash it:
as light it takes longer, because on this site light never flashes faster than 7 words per minute, so 6 takes about 1.9 seconds.
Write it:
a hyphen and four periods with no spaces inside. Check it in the translator if in doubt.
Characters to compare
Close to 6 in sound, so the likeliest mix-ups.
- 6 in reverse: 4, dot dot dot dot dash
- 6 minus its last dot: B, dash dot dot dot
- 6 plus a dash: Hyphen, dash dot dot dot dot dash
- 6 with dots and dashes swapped: 1, dot dash dash dash dash
- 6 with its 1st dash as a dot: 5, dot dot dot dot dot
- 6 with its 2nd dot as a dash: 7, dash dash dot dot dot
Which one did you hear?
Listen, then pick or type the one you heard.
Try 6 in a word
Tap 6 yourself
Press for a dot, hold for a dash. Space works too.
- Send
- -....
- Yours
- Nothing yet
Questions about 6.
What are the Morse code letters and numbers?
International Morse code gives each of the 26 letters and the 10 digits its own pattern. The digits are all five elements long; the letters have one to four. See the numbers chart for the digits.
What is six dots in Morse code?
Nothing in today's International Morse. Six dots were the digit 6 in the older American (Railroad) code. The International 6 is one dash and four dots.
What is hi in Morse code?
Hi is .... .., H then I. Radio operators also use HI for a laugh.
Is 6 written the same in Morse code in every language?
Yes. The digits belong to International Morse code, which is used across languages, so 6 is the same dash and four dots whatever language the message is in.
How long does 6 take to send?
11 units. At 18 words per minute that is about 733 ms: one dash of 200 ms, four dots of about 67 ms and four short gaps.