ITU-R M.1677-1 · Punctuation

Equals sign in Morse code

Written “=”, in the ITU standard

The equals sign (=) in Morse code is -...-, said dah-di-di-di-dah: a dash, three dots and a dash. The ITU standard calls it the double hyphen. On the air it is heard far more often as BT, the break that separates the parts of a message, much like starting a new paragraph. It is the letter B with one more dash.

-...- (dash dot dot dot dash)

“dah-di-di-di-dah”dash dot dot dot dash

5 elements · 3 dots, 2 dashes · 13 units

The equals sign at a glance

Morse code: -...-
Said as: dah-di-di-di-dah
Elements: 5
Length: 13 units
At 18 WPM: 867 ms
Koch order: 17 of 41Then F
ITU standard: Yes
Sounds like: BTLetters run together
Also a procedural signal: BTthe break between parts of a message
Also called: Double hyphen

The double hyphen in the ITU list

ITU-R M.1677-1 lists -...- as the double hyphen and gives = as its written sign. Despite the name it is one five-element signal, not two hyphens: two hyphens would be -....- -....-, twelve elements and far longer.

Hear it

--
-....- -....-

BT: the break

Part II of the standard sends the double hyphen between the parts of a telegram, to separate:

the preamble from the service indications, and those indications from each other
the service indications from the address
the station of destination from the text
the text from the signature

Radio amateurs call it BT and send it as one signal, with no gap between B and T, to start a new section or paragraph of what they are sending.

Saying it and hearing it

Say it dah-di-di-di-dah: one long, three quick shorts, one long, about 0.87 seconds at 18 WPM. The two dashes frame the dots, which makes it easy to pick out.

The letter B, -..., is the equals sign without its final dash.
The digit 6, -...., starts the same and ends on a dot instead.
With a normal letter gap, -... - is two letters, B and T.

Hear it

B
-...
6
-....
BT
-... -

Characters to compare

Close to the equals sign in sound, so the likeliest mix-ups.

Which one did you hear?

Listen, then pick or type the one you heard.

Try the equals sign in a word

translatemorsecode.com/morse-code-punctuation/equals/Live

Type a word..---.-.-...----...-....-

Farnsworth spacingLetters at full speed, longer gaps between them. Best for learning.

Open in the translator

Tap the equals sign yourself

translatemorsecode.com/morse-code-punctuation/equals/Live

Press for a dot, hold for a dash. Space works too.

Send: -...-
Yours: Nothing yet

Questions about Equals sign.

How do I send 2+2=4 in Morse code?

Send each character with a normal letter gap: ..--- .-.-. ..--- -...- ....-, 79 units in all. The plus and equals signs both double as prosigns, so the figures around them show the receiver that a sum is meant.

What does BT mean in Morse code?

BT means break: start a new section of the message. It is the same signal as the equals sign, and decoder software may print it as an equals sign.

What is V in Morse code?

V is ...-, three dots and a dash. Drop the opening dash of the equals sign and V is what remains.

What letter is one dot in Morse code?

E is one dot. The equals sign has three dots in a row in its middle, which on their own would be S.

All punctuation marks

Sources

Last checked November 2026