·−− ···· ·− −
"What" in Morse code is ·−− ···· ·− −.
Leave a short gap between letters. In writing, the letters are separated by a space. 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. "What" takes 33 units, about 2.0 seconds at a speed of 20 words per minute.
Meaning: Morse code for "What" (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
Letter by letter: W is ·−−, H is ····, A is ·− and T is −.
How do you pronounce it?
di-dah-dah di-di-di-dit di-dah dah
What mistakes should you avoid?
Keep the gaps between letters. Without them, W ·−− can be read as E and M · −−, which changes the message.
Did you know?
- Alfred Vail, who worked with Samuel Morse, gave the shortest signals to the most common letters. That is why E, the most frequent letter in English, is a single dot.
- In the United States, amateur radio licences stopped requiring a Morse code test in 2007, yet many operators still use it on the air.
