Morse code alphabet
R in Morse Code
The letter R in Morse code is .-. — spoken "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 R in International Morse code. The code is made of 2 dits (short) and 1 dah (long), which is why it is read aloud as "di-dah-dit". It takes 7 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 420 milliseconds.
R is symmetric (·−·) and is used on its own as a prosign meaning "received / roger". It is the third of the common "dit-dah" letters after A and W, and frequently confused with L.
How R 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 R drawn to scale:
How to remember R
Say the phrase ro-TA-tion 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 R:
Words that start with R
R at a glance
| Morse code | .-. |
|---|---|
| Spoken | di-dah-dit |
| Symbols | 2 dits, 1 dah |
| Length | 7 units · ≈420 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | Romeo |
| Frequency in English | ≈6% — #9 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 18 of 26 |
| Reversed | same code backwards (palindrome) |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write R in Morse code?
The letter R is written .-. — 2 dits and 1 dah. Spoken aloud it is "di-dah-dit".
What does .-. mean in Morse code?
.-. is the letter R R in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dit dah dit", it stands for R.How long does R take to send?
R 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 R?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet R is "Romeo". Radio operators often say the word and then send .-. so the letter cannot be misheard.