Morse code alphabet
B in Morse Code
The letter B in Morse code is -... — spoken "dah-di-di-dit". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does -... mean in Morse code?
-... is the letter B in International Morse code. The code is made of 3 dits (short) and 1 dah (long), which is why it is read aloud as "dah-di-di-dit". It takes 9 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 540 milliseconds.
B is one of four letters that begin with a dah followed by dits (B, D, N, and 6). If you hear the dah and then three dits, it is B; two dits make D, one dit makes N.
How B 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 B drawn to scale:
How to remember B
Say the phrase BOB-is-the-man 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 B:
Words that start with B
B at a glance
| Morse code | -... |
|---|---|
| Spoken | dah-di-di-dit |
| Symbols | 3 dits, 1 dah |
| Length | 9 units · ≈540 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | Bravo |
| Frequency in English | ≈1.5% — #20 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 2 of 26 |
| Reversed | ...- = V |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write B in Morse code?
The letter B is written -... — 3 dits and 1 dah. Spoken aloud it is "dah-di-di-dit".
What does -... mean in Morse code?
-... is the letter B B in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dah dit dit dit", it stands for B.How long does B take to send?
B lasts 9 time units (a dit is 1 unit, a dah is 3, with 1 unit between symbols). At 20 WPM that is about 540 ms; at a beginner speed of 12 WPM about 900 ms — plus a 3-unit pause before the next character.
What is the NATO phonetic word for B?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet B is "Bravo". Radio operators often say the word and then send -... so the letter cannot be misheard.