No in Morse Code
“No” in Morse code is -. ---: N (dash dot) and O (three dashes). It is one of the shortest words you can send. Play it, copy it, or learn to tap and flash it below.
What Does No Look Like in Morse Code?
No is written -. ---, with one space between the two letters. It has 5 signals (1 dot and 4 dashes) and takes 19 timing units to send, about 1.5 seconds at 15 words per minute. Try any other reply in the Morse code translator.
Letter-by-Letter Breakdown
| Letter | Morse | Typed | Signals | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | – · | -. | 1 dot, 1 dash | dah-dit |
| O | – – – | --- | 3 dashes | dah-dah-dah |
N is the mirror of A: A is .- and N is -.. O is three dashes, the same O that sits in the middle of SOS. Every letter is on the Morse code alphabet chart.
Ways to Say No in Morse Code
“NO” (full word)
-. --- · clear to anyone who knows the alphabet
“N” (radio shorthand)
-. · means no or negative
“NOPE” (casual)
-. --- .--. . · informal, 4 letters
“NIL” (nothing)
-. .. .-.. · means “nothing to send”, not no
On the air a single N usually means no, just as C means yes. NIL is different: it tells the other station you have nothing for them. See the Morse code abbreviations and Q-codes for more radio shorthand.
How to Send No Without Speaking
By tapping
Tap long-short for N, pause, then long-long-long for O. Hold each long tap about three times as long as a short one. Our guide to tapping and blinking Morse code explains the spacing.
By blinking
Use a slow, held blink for a dash and a quick blink for the dot. No needs only five blinks, so it is easy to repeat if the other person missed it.
With a flashlight
Flash long-short, pause, long-long-long. Because no is mostly dashes, keep the long flashes steady and clearly longer than the short one.
As sound
Hum or whistle “dah-dit, dah-dah-dah”. A knock works too, but long and short knocks are hard to tell apart, so use a buzzer or whistle when you can.
How Long Does No Take to Send?
No takes 19 units: 5 for N, 11 for O, plus one 3-unit gap between the letters. One unit is the length of a dot. The Morse code timing guide shows how dot length changes with speed.
| Speed | One unit | Time to send |
|---|---|---|
| 5 WPM | 240 ms | 4.6 s |
| 10 WPM | 120 ms | 2.3 s |
| 15 WPM | 80 ms | 1.5 s |
| 20 WPM | 60 ms | 1.1 s |
| 25 WPM | 48 ms | 0.9 s |
Where People Use No in Morse Code
Yes and no games
Kids and classrooms practice Morse with yes and no questions, because both words are short and easy to tell apart by ear.
Escape rooms and puzzles
Puzzles often ask a question with a blinking light and expect a Morse yes or no in return, so knowing -. --- saves time.
Ham radio
Operators answer with N for no during a contact. Morse code in ham radio explains how a CW exchange works.
Silent signaling
Where talking is not possible, a few taps or flashes can answer a question. For emergencies, the signal to know is still SOS.
No in Morse Code in Other Languages
Morse code sends letters, not words, so the same message can be much shorter or longer depending on the language. In this table the shortest is Dutch “Nee” at 13 units and the longest is French “Non” at 27 units, more than twice as long. English takes 19 units.
| Language | Word | Morse code | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | No | -. --- | 19 |
| Spanish | No | -. --- | 19 |
| French | Non | -. --- -. | 27 |
| German | Nein | -. . .. -. | 23 |
| Italian | No | -. --- | 19 |
| Dutch | Nee | -. . . | 13 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say no in Morse code?
“No” in Morse code is -. ---. Send N as dash dot and O as three dashes, with a short pause between the two letters.
How many dots and dashes are in no in Morse code?
No has 5 signals: 1 dot and 4 dashes. N has 1 dash and 1 dot, and O has 3 dashes.
What does N mean in Morse code?
The letter N is -.. In radio shorthand a single N is used to mean no or negative, the opposite of C for yes.
Is no the reverse of on in Morse code?
Yes. “On” in Morse code is --- -., the same two letters as no in the opposite order. Only the letter gap tells them apart.
How do you tap no in Morse code?
Tap long-short for N, pause, then three long taps for O. Make each long tap about three times as long as the short one.
What is yes in Morse code?
“Yes” in Morse code is -.-- . ...: Y, E and S. See yes in Morse code for the full breakdown.