Hyphen in Morse code
The hyphen (-) is dash dot dot dot dot dash in Morse code, said “dah-di-di-di-di-dah”. It sounds like the letters DU sent without gaps, and lasts 15 units, which is 900 ms at 20 WPM.
Hear the hyphen
At 15 WPM, - takes 1200 ms to send. Flash or vibrate it in the translator
Part of the ITU standard
The hyphen is defined in ITU-R M.1677-1, the International Morse code standard, so any trained operator will copy it.
The hyphen on a timing ruler
Characters that sound like the hyphen
These are the characters most often copied by mistake for the hyphen, and why.
Can you hear the difference?
Listen, then pick the one you heard.
The hyphen in use
- The same signal serves as hyphen, dash and the subtraction sign.
At a glance
- Morse code
- -....-
- Sounds like
- dah-di-di-di-di-dah
- Letters run together
- DU
- Length
- 15 units
- ITU standard
- Yes
- Also called
- dash, minus sign
Sources: ITU-R M.1677-1, the International Morse code standard (International Telecommunication Union, 2009). Symbols outside the standard follow common practice in charts and software.