Morse code alphabet
K in Morse Code
The letter K in Morse code is -.- — spoken "dah-di-dah". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does -.- mean in Morse code?
-.- is the letter K in International Morse code. The code is made of 1 dit (short) and 2 dahs (long), which is why it is read aloud as "dah-di-dah". It takes 9 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 540 milliseconds.
K is famous as a prosign: sent alone it means "over — go ahead and transmit". It reads the same forwards and backwards, and it is the middle of the "dah-dit-dah" family with C and Y.
How K 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 K drawn to scale:
How to remember K
Say the phrase KANG-a-ROO 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 K:
Words that start with K
K at a glance
| Morse code | -.- |
|---|---|
| Spoken | dah-di-dah |
| Symbols | 1 dit, 2 dahs |
| Length | 9 units · ≈540 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | Kilo |
| Frequency in English | ≈0.77% — #22 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 11 of 26 |
| Reversed | same code backwards (palindrome) |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write K in Morse code?
The letter K is written -.- — 1 dit and 2 dahs. Spoken aloud it is "dah-di-dah".
What does -.- mean in Morse code?
-.- is the letter K K in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dah dit dah", it stands for K.How long does K take to send?
K 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 K?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet K is "Kilo". Radio operators often say the word and then send -.- so the letter cannot be misheard.