Morse code alphabet
X in Morse Code
The letter X in Morse code is -..- — spoken "dah-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 X in International Morse code. The code is made of 2 dits (short) and 2 dahs (long), which is why it is read aloud as "dah-di-di-dah". It takes 11 time units to send — at a standard 20 words per minute that is roughly 660 milliseconds.
X is symmetric — a dah on each end with two dits inside. It is one of the rarest letters in English, so it got a four-symbol code. "XYL" and "XYZ" are classic ham abbreviations.
How X 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 X drawn to scale:
How to remember X
Say the phrase X-marks-the-SPOT 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 X:
Words that start with X
X at a glance
| Morse code | -..- |
|---|---|
| Spoken | dah-di-di-dah |
| Symbols | 2 dits, 2 dahs |
| Length | 11 units · ≈660 ms at 20 WPM |
| NATO phonetic | X-ray |
| Frequency in English | ≈0.15% — #24 of 26 letters |
| Position in alphabet | 24 of 26 |
| Reversed | same code backwards (palindrome) |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write X in Morse code?
The letter X is written -..- — 2 dits and 2 dahs. Spoken aloud it is "dah-di-di-dah".
What does -..- mean in Morse code?
-..- is the letter X X in International Morse code. If you see or hear "dah dit dit dah", it stands for X.How long does X take to send?
X lasts 11 time units (a dit is 1 unit, a dah is 3, with 1 unit between symbols). At 20 WPM that is about 660 ms; at a beginner speed of 12 WPM about 1100 ms — plus a 3-unit pause before the next character.
What is the NATO phonetic word for X?
In the NATO phonetic alphabet X is "X-ray". Radio operators often say the word and then send -..- so the letter cannot be misheard.