Morse code numbers
0 in Morse Code
The number 0 in Morse code is ----- — spoken "dah-dah-dah-dah-dah". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does ----- mean in Morse code?
----- is the number 0 in International Morse code. The code is made of 0 dits (short) and 5 dahs (long), which is why it is read aloud as "dah-dah-dah-dah-dah". It takes 19 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 1140 milliseconds.
Zero is five dahs — the longest code in everyday use and the slowest to send. Skilled operators often shorten it to a single long dah ("cut zero", the same as T) when the context makes it clear.
How 0 is timed
Morse timing is built from one unit — the length of a dit. A dah is three units, and there is one silent unit between the symbols of a letter. Here is 0 drawn to scale:
How to remember 0
Numbers are easier than they look because they follow a ladder. 0 is all five symbols are dahs. Say it to the rhythm "five long dahs" and it sticks. The full ladder is on the numbers 0–9 page.
Easy to confuse with
When you are learning by ear, these codes sound close to 0:
0 at a glance
| Morse code | ----- |
|---|---|
| Spoken | dah-dah-dah-dah-dah |
| Symbols | 0 dits, 5 dahs |
| Length | 19 units · ≈1140 ms at 20 WPM |
| Pattern | all five symbols are dahs |
| Reversed | same code backwards (palindrome) |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write 0 in Morse code?
The number 0 is written ----- — 0 dits and 5 dahs. Spoken aloud it is "dah-dah-dah-dah-dah".
What does ----- mean in Morse code?
----- is the number 0 0 in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dah dah dah dah dah", it stands for 0.How long does 0 take to send?
0 lasts 19 time units (a dit is 1 unit, a dah is 3, with 1 unit between symbols). At 20 WPM that is about 1140 ms; at a beginner speed of 12 WPM about 1900 ms — plus a 3-unit pause before the next character.
Why is 0 all five symbols are dahs?
Morse numbers follow a ladder: 1–5 start with that many dits and fill the rest with dahs; 6–9 start with dahs and fill with dits; 0 is five dahs. So 0 is all five symbols are dahs. See the numbers chart for the whole pattern.