Yes in Morse code

Q: What does C mean in Morse code?

Sent on its own as a reply, C (-.-.) means yes, or affirmative. ITU Recommendation M.1172 lists it that way and adds a second use: it can mark the group sent before it as affirmative. One letter does the work that YES needs three for.

Q: How do you say no in Morse code?

Send NO: N (-.) followed by O (---). The ITU abbreviation list defines NO as no, negative, and pairs it with C for yes. Sent right after certain Q codes, NO gives that code a negative sense, the way C gives it an affirmative one.

Yes in Morse code is -.-- . ..., the letters Y, E and S. Spell it that way for a tap, a flash of light or a bracelet. In a radio exchange, though, operators have a shorter answer: one letter, C (-.-.), which the ITU lists as yes.

YES

Letter by letter

Every letter of the phrase, with its code and how it sounds. Tap a letter to learn it.

“Yes” at a glance

Letters: 3
Dots and dashes: 5 · 3
Length: 25 units
At 20 WPM: 1.5 s
At 5 WPM: 6.0 s
Collection: On the air

C for yes, NO for no

The ITU's list of abbreviations for maritime radio, Recommendation M.1172, gives C two readings: plain yes, or "the significance of the previous group should be read in the affirmative". Its opposite is not a single letter but the word NO, defined there as no, negative. Keyed, that is N (-.) and then O (---).

The same document puts the pair to work on Q codes. Send C or NO straight after certain Q code abbreviations and the code takes on an affirmative or a negative sense. On voice radio the two are spoken as Charlie and no.

Hear it

N
-.
O
---

R means received, not yes

A lone R is easy to mistake for agreement. It means received as transmitted, and it is where roger comes from, but it says nothing about the answer. If the other station asked a question, send C or spell the word.

Yes and no on a ship's flags

The International Code of Signals uses the same letters. Flag C, Charlie, means affirmative and flag N means negative. Flown together, no and yes at once, N and C are a distress signal. Some of these signals can also be sounded in Morse on a ship's whistle.

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Frequently asked questions

Sent on its own as a reply, C (-.-.) means yes, or affirmative. ITU Recommendation M.1172 lists it that way and adds a second use: it can mark the group sent before it as affirmative. One letter does the work that YES needs three for.

Send NO: N (-.) followed by O (---). The ITU abbreviation list defines NO as no, negative, and pairs it with C for yes. Sent right after certain Q codes, NO gives that code a negative sense, the way C gives it an affirmative one.

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