Morse code numbers

2 in Morse Code

The number 2 in Morse code is ..--- — spoken "di-di-dah-dah-dah". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.

15 WPM

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What does ..--- mean in Morse code?

..--- is the number 2 in International Morse code. The code is made of 2 dits (short) and 3 dahs (long), which is why it is read aloud as "di-di-dah-dah-dah". It takes 15 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 900 milliseconds.

Two dits up front, then three dahs. Its cut-number form is U (··−). Because it starts exactly like U, it is a common mishearing when numbers and letters are mixed, such as in call signs.

How 2 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 2 drawn to scale:

111131313
Numbers show units: dit = 1, dah = 3, gap inside the letter = 1. Total: 15 units, then a 3-unit pause before the next letter (7 between words).

How to remember 2

Numbers are easier than they look because they follow a ladder. 2 is 2 dits followed by 3 dahs. Say it to the rhythm "two dits, then three 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 2:

2 at a glance

Morse code..---
Spokendi-di-dah-dah-dah
Symbols2 dits, 3 dahs
Length15 units · ≈900 ms at 20 WPM
Pattern2 dits followed by 3 dahs
Reversed---.. = 8

Frequently asked questions

How do you write 2 in Morse code?

The number 2 is written ..--- — 2 dits and 3 dahs. Spoken aloud it is "di-di-dah-dah-dah".

What does ..--- mean in Morse code?
..--- is the number 2 2 in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dit dit dah dah dah", it stands for 2.
How long does 2 take to send?

2 lasts 15 time units (a dit is 1 unit, a dah is 3, with 1 unit between symbols). At 20 WPM that is about 900 ms; at a beginner speed of 12 WPM about 1500 ms — plus a 3-unit pause before the next character.

Why is 2 2 dits followed by 3 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 2 is 2 dits followed by 3 dahs. See the numbers chart for the whole pattern.

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