The Letter C in Morse Code
C is −·−·: 2 short dis and 2 long dahs, dah-di-dah-dit. It lasts 11 units.
−·−·dah-di-dah-ditFacts about C
- Code
−·−·· dah-di-dah-dit- Elements
- 4 — 2 dots, 2 dashes
- Length
- 11 units + 3 before the next letter
- Time
- 0.66 s at 20 WPM · 1.65 s at 8 WPM
- Tree
- T → N → K → C · a leaf: no sign below it
- Frequency
- 3.34% of English letters, 12th of 262
- Koch order
- 36th sign of the course
- Spelling
- Charlie
- Same signal
- Ц in Russian Morse · Θ in Greek Morse · ニ in Wabun
§ 1Don’t confuse C with
- Cthis letterdah-di-dah-dit
- Rone element shorterdi-dah-dit
- Done element shorterdah-di-dit
- Kone element shorterdah-di-dah
- Gone element shorterdah-dah-dit
- Ffirst element differsdi-di-dah-dit
- Belement 3 differsdah-di-di-dit
- Ylast element differsdah-di-dah-dah
- Ämirror: every di and dah swappeddi-dah-di-dah
Blue marks the elements that differ from C.
§ 2How to remember C
CAT-a-PULT-ed (−·−·) — C is N (−·) said twice with no gap, while K (−·−) stops one dit short of it.
§ 3Words with C
§ 4Questions about C
- How do you remember C in Morse code?
- Hear it as two equal halves, dah-di and dah-dit, the same small phrase twice. Once you know N, C costs almost nothing to learn, and its even, swinging beat is one of the easiest on the chart to pick out.
- What does CQ mean in Morse code?
- CQ is a general call to all stations, sent −·−· −−·− and usually repeated a few times. An operator who wants a contact sends CQ, then DE and their own call sign, and waits for anyone to answer.
- Does C mean yes in Morse code?
- Yes. In the ITU list of abbreviations (ITU-R M.1172) a lone C says the previous group is affirmative, and radio amateurs use it the same way in short exchanges.
- Was C different in American Morse?
- It was. The old American landline code sent C as two dots, a short space and one more dot (·· ·). The international code has no spaced letters, which is why C took its dah-dit form.