How do you send SOS in Morse code?

Send ···−−−··· as one continuous signal, without the usual pauses between letters. Written with a bar over the letters, SOS is a single procedure signal rather than three letters, and it is reserved for real distress.

Does SOS stand for save our souls?

No. The pattern was chosen because it is easy to send and hard to mistake; phrases such as save our souls were fitted to it later. It has been the international distress signal since the 1906 Berlin radiotelegraph convention.

How can I tell S from H in Morse code?

S has three dots and H has four. At speed both become a quick rattle, so many learners hear S as a short triplet and H as two even pairs.

The Letter S in Morse Code

S is ···: 3 short dis and no long dah, di-di-dit. It lasts 5 units.

···di-di-dit

S drawn to time: 5 units, then a 3-unit gap before the next letter.

SpeedSlow · 8 WPMNormal · 18 WPMFast · 25 WPM

Facts about S

Code: ··· · di-di-dit
Elements: 3 — 3 dots, no dash
Length: 5 units + 3 before the next letter
Time: 0.3 s at 20 WPM · 0.75 s at 8 WPM
Tree: E → I → S · below it: H, V
Frequency: 6.51% of English letters, 7th of 26²
Koch order: 6th sign of the course
Spelling: Sierra
Same signal: С in Russian Morse · Σ in Greek Morse · ラ in Wabun

§ 1Don’t confuse S with

Sthis letterdi-di-dit
Ione element shorterdi-dit
Ulast element differsdi-di-dah
Relement 2 differsdi-dah-dit
Dfirst element differsdah-di-dit
Hone element longerdi-di-di-dit
Vone element longerdi-di-di-dah
Fone element longerdi-di-dah-dit
Lone element longerdi-dah-di-dit
Bone element longerdah-di-di-dit
Omirror: every di and dah swappeddah-dah-dah

Blue marks the elements that differ from S.

§ 2How to remember S

sip-sip-sip (···) — S mirrors O (−−−): the same three beats kept short, the way SOS opens and closes.

§ 3Words with S

§ 4Questions about S

How do you send SOS in Morse code?: Send ···−−−··· as one continuous signal, without the usual pauses between letters. Written with a bar over the letters, SOS is a single procedure signal rather than three letters, and it is reserved for real distress.
Does SOS stand for save our souls?: No. The pattern was chosen because it is easy to send and hard to mistake; phrases such as save our souls were fitted to it later. It has been the international distress signal since the 1906 Berlin radiotelegraph convention.
How can I tell S from H in Morse code?: S has three dots and H has four. At speed both become a quick rattle, so many learners hear S as a short triplet and H as two even pairs.