Morse code alphabet
T in Morse Code
The letter T in Morse code is - — spoken "dah". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does - mean in Morse code?
- is the letter T in International Morse code. The code is made of 0 dits (short) and 1 dah (long), which is why it is read aloud as "dah". It takes 3 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 180 milliseconds.
T is a single dah — the second shortest code after E. T is also the second most common letter in English, which is exactly why Morse gave it the second shortest signal.
How T 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 T drawn to scale:
How to remember T
Say the phrase TALL 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 T:
Words that start with T
T at a glance
| Morse code | - |
|---|---|
| Spoken | dah |
| Symbols | 0 dits, 1 dah |
| Length | 3 units · ≈180 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | Tango |
| Frequency in English | ≈9.1% — #2 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 20 of 26 |
| Reversed | same code backwards (palindrome) |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write T in Morse code?
The letter T is written - — 0 dits and 1 dah. Spoken aloud it is "dah".
What does - mean in Morse code?
- is the letter T T in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dah", it stands for T.How long does T take to send?
T lasts 3 time units (a dit is 1 unit, a dah is 3, with 1 unit between symbols). At 20 WPM that is about 180 ms; at a beginner speed of 12 WPM about 300 ms — plus a 3-unit pause before the next character.
What is the NATO phonetic word for T?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet T is "Tango". Radio operators often say the word and then send - so the letter cannot be misheard.