Morse Code Characters
This page lists the standard ITU Morse code characters, prosigns, and Q-codes used in amateur radio CW operation. For further information on CW please see the CW Page
Morse Code Characters
The following table lists the standard ITU Morse code for letters, numerals, and common punctuation. Dots are shown as · and dashes as −.
| Letters | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Char | Code | Char | Code | Char | Code |
| A | · − | J | · − − − | S | · · · |
| B | − · · · | K | − · − | T | − |
| C | − · − · | L | · − · · | U | · · − |
| D | − · · | M | − − | V | · · · − |
| E | · | N | − · | W | · − − |
| F | · · − · | O | − − − | X | − · · − |
| G | − − · | P | · − − · | Y | − · − − |
| H | · · · · | Q | − − · − | Z | − − · · |
| I | · · | R | · − · | ||
| Numerals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Char | Code | Char | Code |
| 0 | − − − − − | 5 | · · · · · |
| 1 | · − − − − | 6 | − · · · · |
| 2 | · · − − − | 7 | − − · · · |
| 3 | · · · − − | 8 | − − − · · |
| 4 | · · · · − | 9 | − − − − · |
| Common Punctuation & Special Characters | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Character | Code | Character | Code |
| . (full stop) | · − · − · − | / (stroke) | − · · − · |
| , (comma) | − − · · − − | = (equals / BT) | − · · · − |
| ? (question mark) | · · − − · · | + (plus / AR) | · − · − · |
| @ (at sign) | · − − · − · | ( (open bracket) | − · − − · |
| ' (apostrophe) | · − − − − · | ) (close bracket) | − · − − · − |
Prosigns
Prosigns (procedural signals) are special Morse code sequences used to manage the flow of a CW contact. They are sent as a single unbroken character (no inter-character gap). Q-codes are three-letter abbreviations used as shorthand for common phrases.
| Prosign | Code | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| AR | · − · − · | End of message | Sent at the end of a transmission before handing back. Equivalent to "over." |
| SK | · · · − · − | End of contact | Sent at the very end of a QSO to indicate the contact is complete. Equivalent to "clear" or "out." |
| BT | − · · · − | Break / separator | Used to separate sections of a message, similar to a paragraph break. |
| KN | − · − − · | Go ahead (specific station only) | Invites only the called station to reply. More selective than K. |
| K | − · − | Go ahead (any station) | General invitation to reply; any station may respond. |
| CQ | − · − · − − · − | Calling any station | The standard general call used to invite any station to make contact. |
| AS | · − · · · | Wait / stand by | Asks the other station to pause briefly. |
For a full list of Q-codes please see the Q Code Wikipedia Page
Common Q-Codes
Q codes are a standardized, three-letter code system starting with "Q" used in CW (to shorten messages, increase speed, and overcome language barriers. They allow operators to express complex phrases with three letters, serving as efficient shorthand for routine questions and statements.
| Q-Code | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| QRS | Please send more slowly | Essential for beginners — never hesitate to send QRS! |
| QRN | Atmospheric noise (static) | "QRN here" means there is significant static interference. |
| QRM | Man-made interference | "QRM" indicates interference from other stations or electrical sources. |
| QSB | Signal fading | "QSB" means the signal strength is varying. |
| QTH | Location | "My QTH is Melbourne" — used to give your location. |
| QSL | Acknowledged / confirmed | "QSL" means "I confirm" or "understood." Also refers to confirmation cards. |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | Used when you hear a call but didn't catch the callsign. |
| QNI | Reporting in to the net | Used to check into an organized amateur radio traffic net |