W in Morse Code
The letter W in Morse code is .--: a dot followed by two dashes, sounded “di-dah-dah”. Read backwards it becomes G (--.), and swapping dots and dashes gives D (-..). W also opens many United States amateur call signs.
What Does W Look Like in Morse Code?
W has 3 signals (1 dot and 2 dashes) and takes 9 timing units to send. It is A (.-) with a second dash added, and adding a third dash turns it into J. See it next to every other letter on the Morse code alphabet chart.
Words That Start With W in Morse Code
| Word | Morse code | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| WE | .-- . | W E |
| WORD | .-- --- .-. -.. | W O R D |
| WIND | .-- .. -. -.. | W I N D |
| WAVE | .-- .- ...- . | W A V E |
| WATER | .-- .- - . .-. | W A T E R |
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 W
A
.- · one dash, not two
J
.--- · three dashes
P
.--. · adds a dot at the end
A, W and J form a ladder: one dot, then one, two or three dashes. P is W with a closing dot. For a step-by-step method, read how to identify a letter from its Morse pattern.
How to Remember W in Morse Code
Say “a WHITE WHALE”
A short “a” then two long words gives .--: short, long, long.
Climb the ladder
A .-, W .--, J .---. Each step adds one dash.
Mirror of G
G is --.. W is the same three signals reversed.
How Long Does W Take to Send?
W is 9 units long (1 + 1 + 3 + 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 | 2160 ms |
| 10 WPM | 120 ms | 1080 ms |
| 15 WPM | 80 ms | 720 ms |
| 20 WPM | 60 ms | 540 ms |
| 25 WPM | 48 ms | 432 ms |
W in Radio and Real-World Morse
W in call signs
The ITU gives the United States the prefixes A (AA to AL), K, N and W, so W1AW and similar call signs start with .--.
WX means weather
CW operators send WX for weather, as in WX SUNNY, to keep contacts short.
Whiskey in the NATO alphabet
By voice, W is “Whiskey”. In Morse it is just .--.
How Efficient Is W in Morse Code?
Alfred Vail gave common letters short codes after estimating how often each letter is used. Comparing W’s share of English text with the length of its code shows how well that plan worked for this letter.
| Measure | W |
|---|---|
| Share of letters in English text | 2.4% |
| Frequency rank (of 26 letters) | Joint 14th |
| Morse code length | 9 units |
| Other letters with the same length | B, F, G, K, L, V |
| American Morse (US landline telegraph) | .-- (same as International) |
W is joint fourteenth in frequency with M, but its dot-dash-dash pattern takes 9 units, two more than M. It is the reverse of G.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is W in Morse code?
W is .--: one dot and two dashes, sounded “di-dah-dah”.
How many units long is W in Morse code?
W is 9 units: one dot (1), two dashes (6) and two gaps (2).
What letter is W backwards in Morse code?
Reversed, .-- becomes --., which is G.
What does WX mean in Morse code?
WX is the standard CW abbreviation for weather.
How do I tell W from J in Morse code?
Count the dashes after the dot: W has two (.--), J has three (.---).