What does DE mean in Morse code?

DE means from: it comes just before the sending station’s call sign, as in CQ CQ DE and then the call. The ITU abbreviation list defines it this way, and amateurs keep the same use on the air.

What is the difference between D and B in Morse?

One dot. D is a dash and two dots (−··), B is a dash and three (−···). Both open with the same dah, so it is the tail you need to count, not the head.

Can D stand for 8 in Morse code?

In contest exchanges some operators send D for the figure 8 to save time; these short forms are called cut numbers. In ordinary text D is only a letter, so read it as 8 only where a number is expected.

The Letter D in Morse Code

D is −··: 2 short dis and one long dah, dah-di-dit. It lasts 7 units.

−··dah-di-dit

D drawn to time: 7 units, then a 3-unit gap before the next letter.

SpeedSlow · 8 WPMNormal · 18 WPMFast · 25 WPM

Facts about D

Code: −·· · dah-di-dit
Elements: 3 — 2 dots, one dash
Length: 7 units + 3 before the next letter
Time: 0.42 s at 20 WPM · 1.05 s at 8 WPM
Tree: T → N → D · below it: B, X
Frequency: 3.82% of English letters, 11th of 26²
Koch order: 38th sign of the course
Spelling: Delta
Same signal: Д in Russian Morse · Δ in Greek Morse · ホ in Wabun

§ 1Don’t confuse D with

Dthis letterdah-di-dit
Ione element shorterdi-dit
None element shorterdah-dit
Sfirst element differsdi-di-dit
Klast element differsdah-di-dah
Gelement 2 differsdah-dah-dit
Lone element longerdi-dah-di-dit
Bone element longerdah-di-di-dit
Xone element longerdah-di-di-dah
Cone element longerdah-di-dah-dit
Zone element longerdah-dah-di-dit
Wmirror: every di and dah swappeddi-dah-dah
Ureversed: the same elements back to frontdi-di-dah

Blue marks the elements that differ from D.

§ 2How to remember D

DOM-i-no (−··) — D mirrors W (·−−) and turns into U (··−) when reversed, so fix the dah at the front first.

§ 3Words with D

§ 4Questions about D

What does DE mean in Morse code?: DE means from: it comes just before the sending station’s call sign, as in CQ CQ DE and then the call. The ITU abbreviation list defines it this way, and amateurs keep the same use on the air.
What is the difference between D and B in Morse?: One dot. D is a dash and two dots (−··), B is a dash and three (−···). Both open with the same dah, so it is the tail you need to count, not the head.
Can D stand for 8 in Morse code?: In contest exchanges some operators send D for the figure 8 to save time; these short forms are called cut numbers. In ordinary text D is only a letter, so read it as 8 only where a number is expected.