Morse code alphabet
F in Morse Code
The letter F in Morse code is ..-. — spoken "di-di-dah-dit". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does ..-. mean in Morse code?
..-. is the letter F in International Morse code. The code is made of 3 dits (short) and 1 dah (long), which is why it is read aloud as "di-di-dah-dit". It takes 9 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 540 milliseconds.
F is often confused with L (·−··) because both contain a single dah among three dits; the only difference is where the dah falls. Listening for "where is the long one?" solves it.
How F 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 F drawn to scale:
How to remember F
Say the phrase get-a-HAIR-cut 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 F:
Words that start with F
F at a glance
| Morse code | ..-. |
|---|---|
| Spoken | di-di-dah-dit |
| Symbols | 3 dits, 1 dah |
| Length | 9 units · ≈540 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | Foxtrot |
| Frequency in English | ≈2.2% — #16 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 6 of 26 |
| Reversed | .-.. = L |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write F in Morse code?
The letter F is written ..-. — 3 dits and 1 dah. Spoken aloud it is "di-di-dah-dit".
What does ..-. mean in Morse code?
..-. is the letter F F in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dit dit dah dit", it stands for F.How long does F take to send?
F 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 F?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet F is "Foxtrot". Radio operators often say the word and then send ..-. so the letter cannot be misheard.