U in Morse Code
The letter U in Morse code is ..-: two dots followed by a dash, sounded “di-di-dah”. Read backwards it becomes D (-..), and swapping its dots and dashes gives G (--.). On the air, a lone U is CW shorthand for “you”.
What Does U Look Like in Morse Code?
U has 3 signals (2 dots and 1 dash) and takes 7 timing units to send. It is simply I (..) with a dash added, which makes it one of the easiest three-signal letters to learn. See it next to every other letter on the Morse code alphabet chart.
Words That Start With U in Morse Code
| Word | Morse code | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| UP | ..- .--. | U P |
| US | ..- ... | U S |
| USE | ..- ... . | U S E |
| UNIT | ..- -. .. - | U N I T |
| URGENT | ..- .-. --. . -. - | U R G E N T |
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 U
V
...- · one extra dot
A
.- · one dot, not two
F
..-. · adds a dot after the dash
U, V and F all start with dots, so count them before the dash. U has two dots and ends on the dash; F keeps going with one more dot. For a step-by-step method, read how to identify a letter from its Morse pattern.
How to Remember U in Morse Code
Say “u-ni-FORM”
Two quick syllables and one stretched one match ..- exactly: short, short, long.
Build it from I
I is ... Add a dash and you have U. Add a dot after that dash and you have F.
Mirror of D
D is -... U is the same three signals in reverse order, so learning one gives you the other.
How Long Does U Take to Send?
U is 7 units long (1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 3). 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 | 1680 ms |
| 10 WPM | 120 ms | 840 ms |
| 15 WPM | 80 ms | 560 ms |
| 20 WPM | 60 ms | 420 ms |
| 25 WPM | 48 ms | 336 ms |
U in Radio and Real-World Morse
U and UR mean “you” and “your”
CW operators save time with phonetic shorthand. U stands for “you” and UR for “your” or “you’re”, as in UR RST 599.
TU means thank you
T followed by U (- ..-) is the standard thank-you at the end of a contact. See thank you in Morse code.
Uniform in the NATO alphabet
When spelling by voice, U is “Uniform”. In Morse it is just ..-, with no word needed.
How Efficient Is U in Morse Code?
Alfred Vail gave common letters short codes after estimating how often each letter is used. Comparing U’s share of English text with the length of its code shows how well that plan worked for this letter.
| Measure | U |
|---|---|
| Share of letters in English text | 2.8% |
| Frequency rank (of 26 letters) | Joint 12th |
| Morse code length | 7 units |
| Other letters with the same length | D, H, M, R |
| American Morse (US landline telegraph) | ..- (same as International) |
| Accented Ü | ..-- (German, Turkish) |
U is joint twelfth in frequency with C but only takes 7 units, so it is far cheaper to send than C. Its pattern is D backwards.
Some languages add accented forms of U that are not in the English alphabet. Apart from É, these are national extensions rather than part of the ITU standard, so an English-only decoder may show them as unknown characters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is U in Morse code?
U is ..-: two dots and a dash, sounded “di-di-dah”.
How many units long is U in Morse code?
U is 7 units: 1 + 1 for the two dots, 3 for the dash and 1 unit for each of the two gaps.
What letter is U backwards in Morse code?
Reversed, ..- becomes -.., which is D.
What does U mean in ham radio Morse?
U is shorthand for “you”, and UR means “your” or “you’re”. TU means thank you.
How do I tell U from V in Morse code?
Count the dots before the dash. U has two (..-), V has three (...-).