Morse code alphabet
W in Morse Code
The letter W in Morse code is .-- — spoken "di-dah-dah". Press play to hear it, flash it as light, or copy the code.
What does .-- mean in Morse code?
.-- is the letter W in International Morse code. The code is made of 1 dit (short) and 2 dahs (long), which is why it is read aloud as "di-dah-dah". It takes 9 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 540 milliseconds.
W is the reverse of G (−−·). Its "dit-dah-dah" rhythm is one of the most rolling sounds in the code. Slang: "W" in ham shorthand means "word" or "watt".
How W 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 W drawn to scale:
How to remember W
Say the phrase the WORLD WAR 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 W:
Words that start with W
W at a glance
| Morse code | .-- |
|---|---|
| Spoken | di-dah-dah |
| Symbols | 1 dit, 2 dahs |
| Length | 9 units · ≈540 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | Whiskey |
| Frequency in English | ≈2.4% — #15 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 23 of 26 |
| Reversed | --. = G |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write W in Morse code?
The letter W is written .-- — 1 dit and 2 dahs. Spoken aloud it is "di-dah-dah".
What does .-- mean in Morse code?
.-- is the letter W W in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dit dah dah", it stands for W.How long does W take to send?
W 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 W?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet W is "Whiskey". Radio operators often say the word and then send .-- so the letter cannot be misheard.