C in Morse Code
The letter C in Morse code is -.-.: dash, dot, dash, dot, sounded “dah-di-dah-dit”. Its even, alternating rhythm makes it one of the most recognisable letters by ear, and radio operators hear it constantly in CQ.
What Does C Look Like in Morse Code?
C has 4 signals (2 dots and 2 dashes) and takes 11 timing units to send. Because the dashes and dots alternate, C has a bouncing rhythm that stands out from letters built on runs of dots. See it next to every other letter on the Morse code alphabet chart.
Words That Start With C in Morse Code
| Word | Morse code | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| CAT | -.-. .- - | C A T |
| CAN | -.-. .- -. | C A N |
| CODE | -.-. --- -.. . | C O D E |
| CALL | -.-. .- .-.. .-.. | C A L L |
| COME | -.-. --- -- . | C O M E |
Each word starts with -.-.. A space separates the letters. Type any other word into the Morse code translator to hear it.
Letters Easily Confused With C
K (C without the last dot)
-.- · dash dot dash
Y (last dot becomes a dash)
-.-- · dash dot dash dash
N N (two letters)
-. -. · same signals with a letter gap
R (dot dash dot)
.-. · starts with a dot, not a dash
C, K and Y all start with dash dot dash, so the ending decides the letter. Spacing matters too: -.-. is C, but -. -. with a gap is two Ns. For a step-by-step method, read how to identify a letter from its Morse pattern.
How to Remember C in Morse Code
Say it out loud
“Dah-di-dah-dit” alternates long and short twice. Many learners hear it as a bouncing, see-saw rhythm.
Listen to the ending
After dash dot dash, a dot means C, a dash means Y, and nothing means K.
Hear it in CQ
CQ (-.-. --.-) is the most common call on the air, so anyone listening to ham radio Morse hears C hundreds of times.
Drill it
Practise C against K and Y in the Morse code practice quiz.
How Long Does C Take to Send?
C is 11 units long: 3 for each of the two dashes, 1 for each of the two dots, and 1 for each of the three gaps inside the letter. A dot is 1 unit and a dash is 3. The Morse code timing guide explains how speed changes the length of a unit.
| Speed | One unit | Time to send |
|---|---|---|
| 5 WPM | 240 ms | 2640 ms |
| 10 WPM | 120 ms | 1320 ms |
| 15 WPM | 80 ms | 880 ms |
| 20 WPM | 60 ms | 660 ms |
| 25 WPM | 48 ms | 528 ms |
C in Radio and Real-World Morse
CQ: calling any station
CQ (-.-. --.-) means “calling any station”. Operators send CQ CQ CQ followed by their call sign. More on the Morse code abbreviations page.
C means yes
On the air a single C stands for yes or correct, which is quicker than sending the full word. See yes in Morse code.
CW: continuous wave
Radio operators call Morse code CW, short for continuous wave, the type of signal used to send it. Morse code in ham radio explains more.
Charlie in the NATO alphabet
On voice radio, C is spoken as “Charlie”. Morse code vs the NATO alphabet compares the two.
How Efficient Is C in Morse Code?
Alfred Vail gave common letters short codes after estimating how often each letter is used. Comparing C’s share of English text with the length of its code shows how well that plan worked for this letter.
| Measure | C |
|---|---|
| Share of letters in English text | 2.8% |
| Frequency rank (of 26 letters) | Joint 12th |
| Morse code length | 11 units |
| Other letters with the same length | O, P, X, Z |
| American Morse (US landline telegraph) | .. . (two dots, a gap, then one dot) |
| Accented Ç | -.-.. (French, Portuguese, Turkish) |
C is joint twelfth in English frequency with U, yet it takes 11 units, one of the longer letters. In American Morse, C was two dots, a gap and one more dot, a spaced pattern that International Morse dropped because the gaps were easy to misread on radio.
Some languages add accented forms of C that are not in the English alphabet. Apart from É, these are national extensions rather than part of the ITU standard, so an English-only decoder may show them as unknown characters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is C in Morse code?
C in Morse code is -.-.: dash, dot, dash, dot.
How do you say C in Morse code out loud?
C is spoken “dah-di-dah-dit”, alternating a long and a short sound twice.
What letter is dash dot dash dot in Morse code?
Dash dot dash dot (-.-.) is the letter C. Dash dot dash (-.-) is K and dash dot dash dash (-.--) is Y.
What does CQ mean in Morse code?
CQ means “calling any station”. It is sent as -.-. --.- by an operator who wants to start a contact with anyone listening.
Why does C mean yes in Morse code?
In radio shorthand a single C is used for yes, correct or affirmative because it is faster than sending YES. It is an operator convention rather than part of the alphabet itself.