Morse code alphabet
A in Morse Code
The letter A in Morse code is .- — spoken "di-dah". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does .- mean in Morse code?
.- is the letter A in International Morse code. The code is made of 1 dit (short) and 1 dah (long), which is why it is read aloud as "di-dah". It takes 5 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 300 milliseconds.
A is the first of the "mirror pairs" in Morse: reverse it and you get N (−·). The pair A/N is one of the most common confusions for beginners, so they are usually taught together.
How A 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 A drawn to scale:
How to remember A
Say the phrase a-PART to the rhythm of the code — the stressed syllables are the dahs, the rest are dits. Hear it a few times with the player above and the phrase will come back by itself.
Easy to confuse with
When you are learning by ear, these codes sound close to A:
Words that start with A
A at a glance
| Morse code | .- |
|---|---|
| Spoken | di-dah |
| Symbols | 1 dit, 1 dah |
| Length | 5 units · ≈300 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | Alfa |
| Frequency in English | ≈8.2% — #3 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 1 of 26 |
| Reversed | -. = N |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write A in Morse code?
The letter A is written .- — 1 dit and 1 dah. Spoken aloud it is "di-dah".
What does .- mean in Morse code?
.- is the letter A A in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dit dah", it stands for A.How long does A take to send?
A lasts 5 time units (a dit is 1 unit, a dah is 3, with 1 unit between symbols). At 20 WPM that is about 300 ms; at a beginner speed of 12 WPM about 500 ms — plus a 3-unit pause before the next character.
What is the NATO phonetic word for A?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet A is "Alfa". Radio operators often say the word and then send .- so the letter cannot be misheard.