Morse code punctuation and symbols
Punctuation in Morse code is longer than letters, usually six elements, and only some of it is standard. Here is every symbol, split into what the ITU defines and what it does not.
Punctuation in the ITU standard
ITU-R M.1677-1 defines these 13 marks. Any trained operator will copy them.
| Symbol | Name | Morse code | Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Period | Period | dot dash dot dash dot dash | |
| Comma | Comma | dash dash dot dot dash dash | |
| Colon | Colon | dash dash dash dot dot dot | |
| Question mark | Question mark | dot dot dash dash dot dot | |
| Apostrophe | Apostrophe | dot dash dash dash dash dot | |
| Hyphen | Hyphen | dash dot dot dot dot dash | |
| Slash | Slash | dash dot dot dash dot | |
| Open bracket | Open bracket | dash dot dash dash dot | |
| Close bracket | Close bracket | dash dot dash dash dot dash | |
| Quotation mark | Quotation mark | dot dash dot dot dash dot | |
| Equals sign | Equals sign | dash dot dot dot dash | |
| Plus sign | Plus sign | dot dash dot dash dot | |
| At sign | At sign | dot dash dash dot dash dot |
Symbols outside the standard
Charts and software often include these, but the ITU does not define them, so spell them out when it matters. Several popular Morse sites list them as standard. They are not.
| Symbol | Name | Morse code | Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exclamation mark | Exclamation mark | dash dot dash dot dash dash | |
| Ampersand | Ampersand | dot dash dot dot dot | |
| Semicolon | Semicolon | dash dot dash dot dash dot | |
| Underscore | Underscore | dot dot dash dash dot dash | |
| Dollar sign | Dollar sign | dot dot dot dash dot dot dash |
Punctuation that doubles as a signal
Some punctuation shares its code with a procedural signal. In conversation the signal meaning is far more common, so read these from context.
- Open bracket (() -.--. is also KN, “go ahead, only the station I am working”.
- Equals sign (=) -...- is also BT, the break between parts of a message.
- Plus sign (+) .-.-. is also AR, “end of message”.
- Ampersand (&) .-... is also AS, the ITU “wait” signal.
Looking for letters or numbers? See the full Morse code alphabet.
Source: ITU-R M.1677-1, International Morse code (International Telecommunication Union, 2009).