Morse code alphabet
D in Morse Code
The letter D in Morse code is -.. — spoken "dah-di-dit". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does -.. mean in Morse code?
-.. is the letter D in International Morse code. The code is made of 2 dits (short) and 1 dah (long), which is why it is read aloud as "dah-di-dit". It takes 7 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 420 milliseconds.
D is the reverse of U (··−) and sits between N (−·) and B (−···) in the "dah plus dits" family. Because it is short and common, it appears in many prosigns and abbreviations such as "DE" (from).
How D 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 D drawn to scale:
How to remember D
Say the phrase DOG-did-it 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 D:
Words that start with D
D at a glance
| Morse code | -.. |
|---|---|
| Spoken | dah-di-dit |
| Symbols | 2 dits, 1 dah |
| Length | 7 units · ≈420 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | Delta |
| Frequency in English | ≈4.3% — #10 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 4 of 26 |
| Reversed | ..- = U |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write D in Morse code?
The letter D is written -.. — 2 dits and 1 dah. Spoken aloud it is "dah-di-dit".
What does -.. mean in Morse code?
-.. is the letter D D in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dah dit dit", it stands for D.How long does D take to send?
D lasts 7 time units (a dit is 1 unit, a dah is 3, with 1 unit between symbols). At 20 WPM that is about 420 ms; at a beginner speed of 12 WPM about 700 ms — plus a 3-unit pause before the next character.
What is the NATO phonetic word for D?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet D is "Delta". Radio operators often say the word and then send -.. so the letter cannot be misheard.