D in Morse Code
D is -.. - dah-di-dit, 7 units, 420 milliseconds at 20 words per minute.
At this speed the screen flashes more than three times per second. If you are sensitive to flashing light, set the speed to 7 WPM or lower.
Advanced settings
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Press play in the box above - D is already in it.
How long D takes
D is 2 dots and 1 dash. With the gaps that comes to 7 units, number 7 of 26 by length.
- 5 WPM: 1,680 ms
- 13 WPM: 646 ms
- 20 WPM: 420 ms
The arithmetic behind them is on the timing page.
What D gets confused with
6 characters sit one element away from D, more than most letters manage:
- B
-...- one more dot on the end - G
--.- a dash in second place instead of a dot - K
-.-- a dash in third place instead of a dot - N
-.- the last dot missing - S
...- a dot in first place instead of a dash - X
-..-- one more dash on the end
D in the tree
- Built from:
-= T and-.= N, then-.. - Carries on into: B and X (2 of the 26)
- Backwards:
..-= U - Koch position: 23 of 26
The tree shows the whole shape, the trainer teaches it by ear.
Why D has this code
D makes up about 4.3 per cent of English text, which is number 10 of 26 by frequency, against number 7 by length. Close enough that the code is doing its job for this letter.
The lengths were set by counting, not by theory - the alphabet page has that story.
Worth knowing about D
DE is the prosign for "this is". It stands in front of the callsign in almost every transmission on the air - CQ CQ DE, and then who is calling.
Frequently asked questions
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What is D in Morse code?
-..- 2 dots and 1 dash, spoken dah-di-dit. -
How long does D take to send?
7 units: 420 milliseconds at 20 words per minute, 1,680 at 5.
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Which letters sound like D?
B, G, K, N, S and X - each one element away from
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