B in Morse Code
The letter B in Morse code is -...: one dash followed by three dots, sounded “dah-di-di-dit”. It belongs to a family of dash-then-dots letters that are easy to tell apart once you count the dots.
What Does B Look Like in Morse Code?
B has 4 signals (3 dots and 1 dash) and takes 9 timing units to send. B is used less often than vowels and common consonants, so it was given a longer four-signal code. See it next to every other letter on the Morse code alphabet chart.
Words That Start With B in Morse Code
| Word | Morse code | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| BE | -... . | B E |
| BIG | -... .. --. | B I G |
| BOX | -... --- -..- | B O X |
| BUT | -... ..- - | B U T |
| BYE | -... -.-- . | B Y 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 B
V (the mirror of B)
...- · three dots then a dash
D (one dot fewer)
-.. · dash dot dot
6 (one dot more)
-.... · dash and four dots
T (B without the dots)
- · a single dash
T, N, D, B and 6 form a ladder: each one is a dash followed by zero to four dots. Count the dots after the dash and you know the character. For a step-by-step method, read how to identify a letter from its Morse pattern.
How to Remember B in Morse Code
Say it out loud
“Dah-di-di-dit” has a falling rhythm: one long sound, then three quick ones. Learn that rhythm rather than the symbols.
Count the dots
B is a dash and three dots. Two dots is D, four dots is the number 6. Listening for the count is the fastest way to separate them.
Flip it to get V
Reverse B and you get V (...-). Learning mirror pairs halves what you need to memorise.
Drill it
Hear B mixed with D and 6 in the Morse code practice quiz until you can name it without counting.
How Long Does B Take to Send?
B is 9 units long: 3 for the dash, 1 for each of the three 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 | 2160 ms |
| 10 WPM | 120 ms | 1080 ms |
| 15 WPM | 80 ms | 720 ms |
| 20 WPM | 60 ms | 540 ms |
| 25 WPM | 48 ms | 432 ms |
B in Radio and Real-World Morse
BT: new section
B and T sent together without a gap make the prosign BT (-...-), used to separate parts of a message. It is also the code for the equals sign. See Morse code prosigns.
BK: back to you
BK (-... -.-) is shorthand for break, used to hand the conversation straight back to the other station. More shorthand is in Morse code abbreviations.
Bravo in the NATO alphabet
On voice radio, B is spoken as “Bravo”. Morse code vs the NATO alphabet compares the two systems.
B in common words
B starts short words like BE, BUT and BYE. Practise them in the Morse code translator to hear B in context.
How Efficient Is B in Morse Code?
Alfred Vail gave common letters short codes after estimating how often each letter is used. Comparing B’s share of English text with the length of its code shows how well that plan worked for this letter.
| Measure | B |
|---|---|
| Share of letters in English text | 1.5% |
| Frequency rank (of 26 letters) | 20th |
| Morse code length | 9 units |
| Other letters with the same length | F, G, K, L, V, W |
| American Morse (US landline telegraph) | -... (same as International) |
B is the twentieth most common letter and takes 9 units. Its dash followed by three dots is the reverse of V.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is B in Morse code?
B in Morse code is -..., one dash followed by three dots.
How do you say B in Morse code out loud?
B is spoken “dah-di-di-dit”: one long sound followed by three short ones.
What letter is dash dot dot dot in Morse code?
Dash dot dot dot (-...) is the letter B. Dash dot dot (-..) is D and dash followed by four dots (-....) is the number 6.
What is the difference between B and V in Morse code?
They are mirror images. B is a dash then three dots (-...) and V is three dots then a dash (...-).
What does BT mean in Morse code?
BT is a prosign that marks a break between parts of a message. It is sent as -...-, the same pattern as the equals sign.