Morse code numbers
3 in Morse Code
The number 3 in Morse code is ...-- — spoken "di-di-di-dah-dah". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does ...-- mean in Morse code?
...-- is the number 3 in International Morse code. The code is made of 3 dits (short) and 2 dahs (long), which is why it is read aloud as "di-di-di-dah-dah". It takes 13 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 780 milliseconds.
Three dits, then two dahs — the digit that begins like the letter S. Its cut-number shorthand is V (···−), dropping the final dah.
How 3 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 3 drawn to scale:
How to remember 3
Numbers are easier than they look because they follow a ladder. 3 is 3 dits followed by 2 dahs. Say it to the rhythm "three dits, two 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 3:
3 at a glance
| Morse code | ...-- |
|---|---|
| Spoken | di-di-di-dah-dah |
| Symbols | 3 dits, 2 dahs |
| Length | 13 units · ≈780 ms at 20 WPM |
| Pattern | 3 dits followed by 2 dahs |
| Reversed | --... = 7 |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write 3 in Morse code?
The number 3 is written ...-- — 3 dits and 2 dahs. Spoken aloud it is "di-di-di-dah-dah".
What does ...-- mean in Morse code?
...-- is the number 3 3 in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dit dit dit dah dah", it stands for 3.How long does 3 take to send?
3 lasts 13 time units (a dit is 1 unit, a dah is 3, with 1 unit between symbols). At 20 WPM that is about 780 ms; at a beginner speed of 12 WPM about 1300 ms — plus a 3-unit pause before the next character.
Why is 3 3 dits followed by 2 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 3 is 3 dits followed by 2 dahs. See the numbers chart for the whole pattern.