Slash in Morse code
Written “/”, in the ITU standard
The slash (/) in Morse code is -..-., said dah-di-di-dah-dit, and it sounds like D and N run together. The ITU standard calls it the fraction bar or division sign, so it writes fractions such as 3/4. On amateur radio it is heard most in call signs, where a suffix after the slash, such as /P for portable, says how a station is operating.
-..-. (dash dot dot dash dot)
“dah-di-di-dah-dit”dash dot dot dash dot
5 elements · 3 dots, 2 dashes · 13 units
Hear it at your speed (WPM)
867 ms at 18 WPM
The slash at a glance
- Morse code
- -..-.
- Said as
- dah-di-di-dah-dit
- Elements
- 5
- Length
- 13 units
- At 18 WPM
- 867 ms
- Koch order
- 25 of 41Then Q
- ITU standard
- Yes
- Sounds like
- DNLetters run together
- Also called
- Fraction bar
Fraction bar or division sign
ITU-R M.1677-1 lists -..-. as the fraction bar or division sign. The standard also builds the percent sign from it, sending % as 0/0, and for a whole number with a fraction it adds a hyphen, so one and three quarters goes as 1-3/4.
/P, /M and /MM in call signs
Amateur operators away from their licensed station add a suffix after a slash:
/P:
portable, away from the licensed address
/M:
mobile, in a vehicle
/MM:
maritime mobile, at sea
W1AW/P, the call in this page's practice box, is the call sign followed by two characters, the slash and P, -..-. .--., with normal letter gaps.
Hear it
- /P-..-. .--.
The slash between words is not this signal
Written Morse often puts a slash between words, as this site's Morse code translator does: HI YOU appears as .... .. / -.-- --- ..-, with the slash marking a 7-unit word gap. Nothing is sent for that slash; it is silence. The slash character itself is the five-element signal on this page.
Hear it
- HI YOU.... .. / -.-- --- ..-
X plus a dot
The ITU sends the multiplication sign as the letter X, -..-; add one dot and you have the slash, so × and ÷ are a single element apart. Heard as letters, it is D, -.., flowing into N, -., which is why charts write it DN. It takes 13 units, about 0.87 seconds at 18 WPM.
Hear it
- X-..-
- D-..
- N-.
Characters to compare
Close to the slash in sound, so the likeliest mix-ups.
- Slash minus its last dot: X, dash dot dot dash
- Slash with its 3rd dot as a dash: Open bracket, dash dot dash dash dot
- Slash with its 4th dash as a dot: 6, dash dot dot dot dot
- The other division sign: Colon, dash dash dash dot dot dot
- Used with fractions: Hyphen, dash dot dot dot dot dash
- The first half: D, dash dot dot
Which one did you hear?
Listen, then pick or type the one you heard.
Try the slash in a word
Tap the slash yourself
Press for a dot, hold for a dash. Space works too.
- Send
- -..-.
- Yours
- Nothing yet
Questions about Slash.
Do you need slashes in Morse code?
Only in writing. A slash between words in written Morse marks the word gap and is never sent. You send the slash signal only when the text itself contains a slash, as in a fraction or a call sign suffix.
How do I send /P after a call sign?
Send the call sign as usual, then the slash and P as two characters with a normal letter gap between them. Nothing about the call sign itself changes.
Is the slash a division sign in Morse code?
Yes. ITU-R M.1677-1 names it the fraction bar or division sign. It names the colon a division sign too, so either can stand for ÷.