What is Q in Morse code?

Q is dash, dash, dot, dash (−−·−). It is one of the three longest letters, with J and Y, and one of the rarest in English, so you may hear it more often in radio procedure than in plain text.

How do you remember Q in Morse code?

Hear it as M (−−) followed by A (·−): two long beats, then a short-long pair. Learners who already know M and A usually find Q settles in quickly this way.

What are Q codes in Morse?

Q codes are three-letter groups that begin with Q, such as QTH for my position or QRS for send more slowly. Each one can be a question or an answer, so operators with different languages can still exchange routine information.

The Letter Q in Morse Code

Q is −−·−: one short di and 3 long dahs, dah-dah-di-dah. It lasts 13 units.

−−·−dah-dah-di-dah

Q drawn to time: 13 units, then a 3-unit gap before the next letter.

SpeedSlow · 8 WPMNormal · 18 WPMFast · 25 WPM

Facts about Q

Code: −−·− · dah-dah-di-dah
Elements: 4 — one dot, 3 dashes
Length: 13 units + 3 before the next letter
Time: 0.78 s at 20 WPM · 1.95 s at 8 WPM
Tree: T → M → G → Q · a leaf: no sign below it
Frequency: 0.12% of English letters, 25th of 26²
Koch order: 26th sign of the course
Spelling: Quebec
Same signal: Щ in Russian Morse · Ψ in Greek Morse · ネ in Wabun

§ 1Don’t confuse Q with

Qthis letterdah-dah-di-dah
Kone element shorterdah-di-dah
Gone element shorterdah-dah-dit
Oone element shorterdah-dah-dah
Xelement 2 differsdah-di-di-dah
Zlast element differsdah-dah-di-dit
Fmirror: every di and dah swappeddi-di-dah-dit
Yreversed: the same elements back to frontdah-di-dah-dah

Blue marks the elements that differ from Q.

§ 2How to remember Q

QUILL PENS at WORK (−−·−) — Q reversed is Y (−·−−): in Q the single dit comes third, in Y it comes second.

§ 3Words with Q

§ 4Questions about Q

What is Q in Morse code?: Q is dash, dash, dot, dash (−−·−). It is one of the three longest letters, with J and Y, and one of the rarest in English, so you may hear it more often in radio procedure than in plain text.
How do you remember Q in Morse code?: Hear it as M (−−) followed by A (·−): two long beats, then a short-long pair. Learners who already know M and A usually find Q settles in quickly this way.
What are Q codes in Morse?: Q codes are three-letter groups that begin with Q, such as QTH for my position or QRS for send more slowly. Each one can be a question or an answer, so operators with different languages can still exchange routine information.