Goodbye in Morse Code
“Goodbye” in Morse code is --. --- --- -.. -... -.-- .. Play it, copy it, or use the short sign-offs radio operators actually send: GB, CUL, 73 and the SK prosign.
What Does Goodbye Look Like in Morse Code?
G O O D B Y E
GOODBYE is one word, so it is seven letters separated by short letter gaps and no word gap. It uses 21 signals: 8 dots and 13 dashes. The double O (--- ---) in the middle is the easiest part to recognise by ear.
Letter-by-Letter Breakdown
| Letter | Morse | Typed | Signals | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | – – · | --. | 1 dot, 2 dashes | dah-dah-dit |
| O | – – – | --- | 3 dashes | dah-dah-dah |
| O | – – – | --- | 3 dashes | dah-dah-dah |
| D | – · · | -.. | 2 dots, 1 dash | dah-di-dit |
| B | – · · · | -... | 3 dots, 1 dash | dah-di-di-dit |
| Y | – · – – | -.-- | 1 dot, 3 dashes | dah-di-dah-dah |
| E | · | . | 1 dot | dit |
Notice that G, O and D all open with a dash, so the first half of the word is dash-heavy. Look up any single letter on the Morse code alphabet chart.
Short Ways to Say Goodbye in Morse Code
GB
--. -... · CW shorthand for “goodbye”
CUL
-.-. ..- .-.. · “see you later”
73
--... ...-- · “best regards”, the standard sign-off
SK
...-.- · prosign: end of contact, sent as one character
Operators rarely spell out GOODBYE. A typical ending is TU 73 SK: thank you, best regards, end of contact. SK is sent without a letter gap, which is why it is written as one pattern. See the Morse code prosigns guide for more.
How to Send Goodbye Without Speaking
Tap it
Tap --. -... (GB) on a table or someone’s hand: a long press is a dash, a quick tap a dot. The tapping and blinking guide covers timing.
Flash it
Use the Morse code light to flash GOODBYE or 73 with your phone screen or torch.
Write it
For cards or engravings, write the full word with a space between letters and keep the dots and dashes the same height.
How Long Does Goodbye Take to Send?
“Goodbye” is 79 units long: every dot is 1 unit, every dash 3, with 1 unit inside a letter, 3 between letters. The Morse code timing guide explains how WPM sets the unit length.
| Speed | One unit | Time to send |
|---|---|---|
| 5 WPM | 240 ms | 19.0 s |
| 10 WPM | 120 ms | 9.5 s |
| 15 WPM | 80 ms | 6.3 s |
| 20 WPM | 60 ms | 4.7 s |
| 25 WPM | 48 ms | 3.8 s |
Famous Goodbyes in Morse Code
73 on the air
Almost every amateur radio contact ends with 73. It is short, friendly and understood worldwide, which is why GOODBYE is rarely spelled out.
France, 31 January 1997
French maritime radio ended its Morse distress watch with the message “Calling all. This is our last cry before our eternal silence.”
Ham radio’s silent key
“Silent Key”, from the SK prosign, is how radio amateurs refer to an operator who has died: their final goodbye.
Goodbye 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 Portuguese “Adeus” at 37 units and the longest is German “Auf Wiedersehen” at 111 units, more than twice as long. English takes 79 units.
| Language | Word | Morse code | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Goodbye | --. --- --- -.. -... -.-- . | 79 |
| Spanish | Adiós (sent as ADIOS) | .- -.. .. --- ... | 43 |
| French | Au revoir | .- ..- / .-. . ...- --- .. .-. | 75 |
| German | Auf Wiedersehen | .- ..- ..-. / .-- .. . -.. . .-. ... . .... . -. | 111 |
| Italian | Arrivederci | .- .-. .-. .. ...- . -.. . .-. -.-. .. | 91 |
| Portuguese | Adeus | .- -.. . ..- ... | 37 |
Accents are left off here. International Morse only defines É among accented letters, so most operators send á, ñ or ã as the plain letter. Some countries use their own extra codes for these letters, but they are not part of the ITU standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is goodbye in Morse code?
Goodbye is --. --- --- -.. -... -.-- .: G, O, O, D, B, Y and E, each separated by a short letter gap.
What is the short way to say goodbye in Morse code?
GB (--. -...) is the CW abbreviation for goodbye. Most operators sign off with 73 (best regards) followed by SK.
What does 73 mean in Morse code?
73 (--... ...--) means “best regards”. It is the most common way to end a Morse or radio contact.
What does SK mean in Morse code?
SK (...-.-) is a prosign meaning end of contact. It is sent as one continuous character, not as S then K.
How long does goodbye take to send in Morse code?
GOODBYE is 79 units. At 20 WPM one unit is 60 ms, so it takes about 4.7 seconds.