−− · ·−· ·−· −·−− / −·−· ···· ·−· ·· ··· − −− ·− ···
"Merry Christmas" in Morse code is −− · ·−· ·−· −·−− / −·−· ···· ·−· ·· ··· − −− ·− ···.
Leave a short gap between letters and a longer gap between words. In writing, letters are separated by a space and words by a slash. At standard timing a dot lasts one unit, a dash three units, the gap inside a letter one unit, the gap between letters three units and the gap between words seven. "Merry Christmas" takes 131 units, about 7.9 seconds at a speed of 20 words per minute.
Meaning: Morse code for "Merry Christmas" (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
Letter by letter: M is −−, E is ·, R is ·−·, Y is −·−−, C is −·−·, H is ····, I is ··, S is ···, T is − and A is ·−.
How do you pronounce it?
dah-dah dit di-dah-dit di-dah-dit dah-di-dah-dah / dah-di-dah-dit di-di-di-dit di-dah-dit di-dit di-di-dit dah dah-dah di-dah di-di-dit
What mistakes should you avoid?
Keep the gaps between letters. Without them, M −− can be read as T and T − −, which changes the message.
Did you know?
- Ships stopped relying on Morse code for distress calls in 1999, when the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System took over.
- The code used today is International Morse Code, based on a version Friedrich Gerke made for German telegraph lines in 1848. It differs from the original American code in many letters.
