Sorry in Morse Code
“Sorry” in Morse code is ... --- .-. .-. -.--. Play it, copy it, and learn SRI, the radio shorthand for sorry, plus the eight-dot error signal operators send after a mistake.
What Does Sorry Look Like in Morse Code?
SORRY opens with S and O, the same two letters as SOS, then a double R (.-. .-.) and Y. It has 16 signals: 8 dots and 8 dashes.
Letter-by-Letter Breakdown
| Letter | Morse | Typed | Signals | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | · · · | ... | 3 dots | di-di-dit |
| O | – – – | --- | 3 dashes | dah-dah-dah |
| R | · – · | .-. | 2 dots, 1 dash | di-dah-dit |
| R | · – · | .-. | 2 dots, 1 dash | di-dah-dit |
| Y | – · – – | -.-- | 1 dot, 3 dashes | dah-di-dah-dah |
Keep a clear letter gap between the two Rs. Run together, .-..-. is no longer two letters: it is the ITU code for a quotation mark.
Short Ways to Say Sorry in Morse Code
SRI
... .-. .. · CW shorthand for “sorry”
Error
........ · eight dots: “I made a mistake”
SRI OM
... .-. .. / --- -- · “sorry, old man”, friendly on air
I AM SORRY
.. / .- -- / ... --- .-. .-. -.-- · full sentence
On the air, SRI is the usual apology, for example SRI QRM (sorry, interference). When an operator sends a wrong character, the ITU error signal of eight dots tells the listener to disregard the last word, which is then sent again correctly. See the Morse code abbreviations guide.
How to Say Sorry Without Speaking
Tap it
Tap ... .-. .. (SRI) on a table or hand. It is shorter than SORRY and easy to remember.
Flash it
Use the Morse code light to flash SORRY from across a room or window.
Write it
Put the pattern in a note or card and let the other person decode it with the translator.
How Long Does Sorry Take to Send?
“Sorry” is 55 units long: every dot is 1 unit, every dash 3, with 1 unit inside a letter and 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 | 13.2 s |
| 10 WPM | 120 ms | 6.6 s |
| 15 WPM | 80 ms | 4.4 s |
| 20 WPM | 60 ms | 3.3 s |
| 25 WPM | 48 ms | 2.6 s |
Sorry in Radio and Real-World Morse
The error signal
ITU-R M.1677-1 defines the error signal as eight dots. Operators send it, then repeat the last word correctly.
SRI in contacts
A typical use is SRI LATE or SRI QRM, a quick apology for a delay or for interference on the frequency.
Not the same as SOS
SORRY starts with S and O, but SOS is one prosign, ...---..., sent without letter gaps. SORRY always keeps its gaps.
Sorry 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 “Scusa” at 45 units and the longest is German “Entschuldigung” at 127 units, more than twice as long. English takes 55 units.
| Language | Word | Morse code | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Sorry | ... --- .-. .-. -.-- | 55 |
| Spanish | Lo siento | .-.. --- / ... .. . -. - --- | 73 |
| French | Pardon | .--. .- .-. -.. --- -. | 61 |
| German | Entschuldigung | . -. - ... -.-. .... ..- .-.. -.. .. --. ..- -. --. | 127 |
| Italian | Scusa | ... -.-. ..- ... .- | 45 |
| Portuguese | Desculpa | -.. . ... -.-. ..- .-.. .--. .- | 77 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sorry in Morse code?
Sorry is ... --- .-. .-. -.--.
What does SRI mean in Morse code?
SRI (... .-. ..) is the standard CW abbreviation for “sorry”.
How do you say “I made a mistake” in Morse code?
Send the error signal, eight dots (........), then send the last word again correctly.
How do you say I am sorry in Morse code?
I am sorry is .. / .- -- / ... --- .-. .-. -.--.
How long does sorry take to send in Morse code?
SORRY is 55 units. At 20 WPM one unit is 60 ms, so it takes about 3.3 seconds.