Period in Morse code
The period (.) is dot dash dot dash dot dash in Morse code, said “di-dah-di-dah-di-dah”. It sounds like the letters AAA sent without gaps, and lasts 17 units, which is 1020 ms at 20 WPM.
Hear the period
At 15 WPM, . takes 1360 ms to send. Flash or vibrate it in the translator
Part of the ITU standard
The period is defined in ITU-R M.1677-1, the International Morse code standard, so any trained operator will copy it.
The period on a timing ruler
Characters that sound like the period
These are the characters most often copied by mistake for the period, and why.
Can you hear the difference?
Listen, then pick the one you heard.
The period in use
- The ITU text calls it the full stop. In everyday sending, operators rarely use it; a short pause or BT usually ends a sentence instead.
- It is one dash longer than the plus sign (.-.-.), so the two are easy to confuse when copying fast.
At a glance
- Morse code
- .-.-.-
- Sounds like
- di-dah-di-dah-di-dah
- Letters run together
- AAA
- Length
- 17 units
- ITU standard
- Yes
- Also called
- full stop
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.