W in Morse Code
W is .-- - di-dah-dah, 9 units, 540 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 - W is already in it.
How long W takes
W is 1 dot and 2 dashes. With the gaps that comes to 9 units, number 18 of 26 by length.
- 5 WPM: 2,160 ms
- 13 WPM: 831 ms
- 20 WPM: 540 ms
The arithmetic behind them is on the timing page.
What W gets confused with
6 characters sit one element away from W, more than most letters manage:
- A
.-- the last dash missing - J
.---- one more dash on the end - O
---- a dash in first place instead of a dot - P
.--.- one more dot on the end - R
.-.- a dot in third place instead of a dash - U
..-- a dot in second place instead of a dash
W in the tree
- Built from:
.= E and.-= A, then.-- - Carries on into: J and P (2 of the 26)
- Backwards:
--.= G - Koch position: 11 of 26
The tree shows the whole shape, the trainer teaches it by ear.
Why W has this code
W makes up about 2.4 per cent of English text, which is number 15 of 26 by frequency, against number 18 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 W
E, A, W, J: each one element longer than the last, and W sits in the middle. It is the dash counterpart of the dot ladder that runs E, I, S, H.
Frequently asked questions
-
What is W in Morse code?
.--- 1 dot and 2 dashes, spoken di-dah-dah. -
How long does W take to send?
9 units: 540 milliseconds at 20 words per minute, 2,160 at 5.
-
Which letters sound like W?
A, J, O, P, R and U - each one element away from
.--.