Merry Christmas in Morse Code
“Merry Christmas” in Morse code is -- . .-. .-. -.-- / -.-. .... .-. .. ... - -- .- .... Radio operators often shorten it to MERRY XMAS. Play it, copy it for a card, or flash it on a tree light.
What Does Merry Christmas Look Like in Morse Code?
M E R R Y / C H R I S T M A S
Merry Christmas has 14 letters and 37 signals (23 dots and 14 dashes). It takes about 10.5 seconds to send at 15 words per minute. Add a name or a second line in the Morse code translator.
Letter-by-Letter Breakdown
| Letter | Morse | Typed | Signals | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | – – | -- | 2 dashes | dah-dah |
| E | · | . | 1 dot | dit |
| R | · – · | .-. | 2 dots, 1 dash | di-dah-dit |
| Y | – · – – | -.-- | 1 dot, 3 dashes | dah-di-dah-dah |
| C | – · – · | -.-. | 2 dots, 2 dashes | dah-di-dah-dit |
| H | · · · · | .... | 4 dots | di-di-di-dit |
| I | · · | .. | 2 dots | di-dit |
| S | · · · | ... | 3 dots | di-di-dit |
| T | – | - | 1 dash | dah |
| A | · – | .- | 1 dot, 1 dash | di-dah |
R appears three times in the phrase and S and M twice each, so learning these 10 letters covers it all. Each one has its own page, for example M in Morse code and C in Morse code.
Short Holiday Greetings in Morse Code
“XMAS” (Christmas)
-..- -- .- ... · 4 letters instead of 9
“HNY” (happy new year)
.... -. -.-- · a common sign-off in late December
“ES” (and)
. ... · joins greetings: MERRY XMAS ES HNY
“HO HO HO”
.... --- / .... --- / .... --- · a playful line for cards
A typical holiday message on the air is MERRY XMAS ES HNY, meaning merry Christmas and happy new year. ES is standard shorthand for “and”. More shortcuts are on the Morse code abbreviations page.
How to Send Merry Christmas Without Speaking
On a light
Flash the message from a window or a string of lights. The Morse code light tool flashes it on a screen at any speed so you can practise the timing first.
By tapping
Tap MERRY XMAS on a table or a shoulder as a quiet greeting. Our guide to tapping and blinking Morse code explains the gaps.
As sound
Beep or whistle the phrase, or record it as a short audio clip for a video card.
In writing
Write the dots and dashes inside a card with the translation hidden on the back, so the reader decodes it first.
How Long Does Merry Christmas Take to Send?
Merry Christmas takes 131 units: 47 for MERRY, 77 for CHRISTMAS, and a 7-unit gap between the words. MERRY XMAS is shorter, at 91 units. The Morse code timing guide explains how units are counted.
| Speed | One unit | Time to send |
|---|---|---|
| 5 WPM | 240 ms | 31.4 s |
| 10 WPM | 120 ms | 15.7 s |
| 15 WPM | 80 ms | 10.5 s |
| 20 WPM | 60 ms | 7.9 s |
| 25 WPM | 48 ms | 6.3 s |
Ways to Use Merry Christmas in Morse Code
Cards and gift tags
Write the code on the front and the translation inside. It works well on handmade cards and brown paper tags.
Ornaments and decorations
Thread two bead colours onto an ornament or garland to spell MERRY XMAS. The Morse code bead formatting guide keeps the spacing readable.
Advent and family puzzles
Hide a decoded clue each day in December. Ideas for children are in our Morse code activities for kids.
Ham radio greetings
Many operators exchange MERRY XMAS ES HNY over the air, and the ARRL runs Straight Key Night on New Year’s Day for operators using classic Morse keys. See Morse code in ham radio.
Merry Christmas 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 Italian “Buon Natale” at 91 units and the longest is German “Frohe Weihnachten” at 141 units. English takes 131 units.
| Language | Word | Morse code | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Merry Christmas | -- . .-. .-. -.-- / -.-. .... .-. .. ... - -- .- ... | 131 |
| Spanish | Feliz Navidad | ..-. . .-.. .. --.. / -. .- ...- .. -.. .- -.. | 111 |
| French | Joyeux Noël (sent as JOYEUX NOEL) | .--- --- -.-- . ..- -..- / -. --- . .-.. | 113 |
| German | Frohe Weihnachten | ..-. .-. --- .... . / .-- . .. .... -. .- -.-. .... - . -. | 141 |
| Italian | Buon Natale | -... ..- --- -. / -. .- - .- .-.. . | 91 |
| Portuguese | Feliz Natal | ..-. . .-.. .. --.. / -. .- - .- .-.. | 91 |
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
How do you say merry Christmas in Morse code?
“Merry Christmas” in Morse code is -- . .-. .-. -.-- / -.-. .... .-. .. ... - -- .- .... Send MERRY, leave a word gap, then send CHRISTMAS.
How do you write Xmas in Morse code?
“Xmas” in Morse code is -..- -- .- ...: X, M, A and S. Radio operators often send MERRY XMAS instead of the full word.
How do you say happy new year in Morse code?
“Happy new year” in Morse code is .... .- .--. .--. -.-- / -. . .-- / -.-- . .- .-.. The short form HNY is .... -. -.--.
What does ES mean in Morse code?
ES means “and”. It is sent as . ... and is used to join greetings, as in MERRY XMAS ES HNY.
How many dots and dashes are in merry Christmas?
Merry Christmas has 37 signals: 23 dots and 14 dashes across 14 letters.
How long does merry Christmas take to send in Morse code?
Merry Christmas is 131 timing units long, about 10.5 seconds at 15 words per minute or 7.9 seconds at 20 words per minute.