What is B in Morse code?

B is one dash followed by three dots (−···). It is D (−··) with one more dot, so the part to count is the run of dits after the opening dah.

How can I tell B from 6 in Morse code?

Count the dots: B has three after its dash, the figure 6 has four (−····). The difference is a single short element, so play the two back to back a few times until the longer tail stands out.

What does BT mean in Morse code?

BT is B and T run together (−···−), a break between parts of a message. The ITU table gives the same pattern to the double hyphen, so in written copy it often appears as an equals sign.

The Letter B in Morse Code

B is −···: 3 short dis and one long dah, dah-di-di-dit. It lasts 9 units.

−···dah-di-di-dit

B drawn to time: 9 units, then a 3-unit gap before the next letter.

SpeedSlow · 8 WPMNormal · 18 WPMFast · 25 WPM

Facts about B

Code: −··· · dah-di-di-dit
Elements: 4 — 3 dots, one dash
Length: 9 units + 3 before the next letter
Time: 0.54 s at 20 WPM · 1.35 s at 8 WPM
Tree: T → N → D → B · below it: 6
Frequency: 1.48% of English letters, 20th of 26²
Koch order: 32nd sign of the course
Spelling: Bravo
Same signal: Б in Russian Morse · Β in Greek Morse · ハ in Wabun

§ 1Don’t confuse B with

Bthis letterdah-di-di-dit
Sone element shorterdi-di-dit
Done element shorterdah-di-dit
Hfirst element differsdi-di-di-dit
Xlast element differsdah-di-di-dah
Celement 3 differsdah-di-dah-dit
Zelement 2 differsdah-dah-di-dit
6one element longerdah-di-di-di-dit
7one element longerdah-dah-di-di-dit
Jmirror: every di and dah swappeddi-dah-dah-dah
Vreversed: the same elements back to frontdi-di-di-dah

Blue marks the elements that differ from B.

§ 2How to remember B

BEN-e-fit-ed (−···) — B read backwards is V (···−): B opens with its dah, V saves it for the end.

§ 3Words with B

§ 4Questions about B

What is B in Morse code?: B is one dash followed by three dots (−···). It is D (−··) with one more dot, so the part to count is the run of dits after the opening dah.
How can I tell B from 6 in Morse code?: Count the dots: B has three after its dash, the figure 6 has four (−····). The difference is a single short element, so play the two back to back a few times until the longer tail stands out.
What does BT mean in Morse code?: BT is B and T run together (−···−), a break between parts of a message. The ITU table gives the same pattern to the double hyphen, so in written copy it often appears as an equals sign.