Morse code alphabet
U in Morse Code
The letter U in Morse code is ..- — spoken "di-di-dah". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does ..- mean in Morse code?
..- is the letter U 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-di-dah". It takes 7 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 420 milliseconds.
U is the reverse of D (−··) and is commonly sent in the ham abbreviation "U" for "you". It also starts the error-free ending of many numbers: 2 (··−−−) begins like U.
How U 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 U drawn to scale:
How to remember U
Say the phrase you-and-ME 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 U:
Words that start with U
U at a glance
| Morse code | ..- |
|---|---|
| Spoken | di-di-dah |
| Symbols | 2 dits, 1 dah |
| Length | 7 units · ≈420 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | Uniform |
| Frequency in English | ≈2.8% — #13 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 21 of 26 |
| Reversed | -.. = D |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write U in Morse code?
The letter U is written ..- — 2 dits and 1 dah. Spoken aloud it is "di-di-dah".
What does ..- mean in Morse code?
..- is the letter U U in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dit dit dah", it stands for U.How long does U take to send?
U 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 U?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet U is "Uniform". Radio operators often say the word and then send ..- so the letter cannot be misheard.