P in Morse Code
The letter P in Morse code is .--.: dot, dash, dash, dot, sounded “di-dah-dah-dit”. It reads the same forwards and backwards, with two long sounds wrapped between two short ones.
What Does P Look Like in Morse Code?
P has 4 signals (2 dots and 2 dashes) and takes 11 timing units to send. Because P is a palindrome, it has no mirror letter. Its opposite, with every signal swapped, is X. See it next to every other letter on the Morse code alphabet chart.
Words That Start With P in Morse Code
| Word | Morse code | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| PLAY | .--. .-.. .- -.-- | P L A Y |
| PARK | .--. .- .-. -.- | P A R K |
| PEN | .--. . -. | P E N |
| POST | .--. --- ... - | P O S T |
| PUZZLE | .--. ..- --.. --.. .-.. . | P U Z Z L 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 P
X (the opposite of P)
-..- · dash dot dot dash
J (last dot becomes a dash)
.--- · dot dash dash dash
W (P without the last dot)
.-- · dot dash dash
A N (two letters)
.- -. · same signals with a letter gap
W, P and J all begin with dot dash dash. A final dot makes P, a final dash makes J, and nothing more makes W. Spacing also matters: .--. is P, but .- -. is the word AN. For a step-by-step method, read how to identify a letter from its Morse pattern.
How to Remember P in Morse Code
Say it out loud
“Di-dah-dah-dit” starts and ends short with two long sounds in the middle, like a bracket around the dashes.
Build it from W
W is .--. Add a dot at the end and you have P.
Pair it with X
X is P with every dot and dash swapped. Learning opposites side by side helps both stick.
Drill it
Hear P against W, J and X in the Morse code practice quiz.
How Long Does P Take to Send?
P is 11 units long: 1 for each of the two dots, 3 for each of the two dashes, 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 |
P in Radio and Real-World Morse
PSE: please
PSE (.--. ... .) is the standard shorthand for please, as in PSE QSL. See Morse code abbreviations.
PWR: power
PWR (.--. .-- .-.) is used when operators tell each other how much transmitter power they are running.
The @ sign
The at sign (.--.-.) begins with the same pattern as P. It was added to the international standard in 2004. See the Morse code punctuation and symbols chart.
Papa in the NATO alphabet
On voice radio, P is spoken “Papa”. Morse code vs the NATO alphabet explains the difference.
How Efficient Is P in Morse Code?
Alfred Vail gave common letters short codes after estimating how often each letter is used. Comparing P’s share of English text with the length of its code shows how well that plan worked for this letter.
| Measure | P |
|---|---|
| Share of letters in English text | 1.9% |
| Frequency rank (of 26 letters) | 19th |
| Morse code length | 11 units |
| Other letters with the same length | C, O, X, Z |
| American Morse (US landline telegraph) | ..... (the same as the International number 5) |
P is the nineteenth most common letter and takes 11 units. In American Morse, P was five dots, the same pattern International Morse now uses for the number 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is P in Morse code?
P in Morse code is .--.: dot, dash, dash, dot.
How do you say P in Morse code out loud?
P is spoken “di-dah-dah-dit”: short, long, long, short.
What letter is dot dash dash dot in Morse code?
Dot dash dash dot (.--.) is the letter P. Dot dash dash dash (.---) is J.
What is the difference between P and X in Morse code?
They are opposites. P is .--. and X is -..-: every dot becomes a dash and every dash a dot.
What does PSE mean in Morse code?
PSE means please. It is sent as .--. ... . and is common in radio requests.