N in Morse Code
N is -. - dah-dit, 5 units, 300 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
-.
Press play in the box above - N is already in it.
How long N takes
N is 1 dot and 1 dash. With the gaps that comes to 5 units, number 5 of 26 by length.
- 5 WPM: 1,200 ms
- 13 WPM: 462 ms
- 20 WPM: 300 ms
The arithmetic behind them is on the timing page.
What N gets confused with
5 characters sit one element away from N, more than most letters manage:
- D
-..- one more dot on the end - I
..- a dot in first place instead of a dash - K
-.-- one more dash on the end - M
--- a dash in second place instead of a dot - T
-- the last dot missing
N in the tree
- Built from:
-= T, then-. - Carries on into: B, C, D, K, X and Y (6 of the 26)
- Backwards:
.-= A - Koch position: 13 of 26
The tree shows the whole shape, the trainer teaches it by ear.
Why N has this code
N makes up about 6.7 per cent of English text, which is number 6 of 26 by frequency, against number 5 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 N
In contest exchanges N is sent instead of the digit 9. The practice is called cut numbers, and it exists because a report of 599 sent in full costs three times the airtime of 5NN.
Frequently asked questions
-
What is N in Morse code?
-.- 1 dot and 1 dash, spoken dah-dit. -
How long does N take to send?
5 units: 300 milliseconds at 20 words per minute, 1,200 at 5.
-
Which letters sound like N?
D, I, K, M and T - each one element away from
-..