What is Z in Morse code?

Z is two dashes followed by two dots (−−··). It is the rarest letter in English text, so plan to practise it on purpose; you will seldom meet it by chance in ordinary messages.

How do I tell Z from 7 in Morse code?

Count the dots after the two dashes: Z has two, the figure 7 has three. Every figure in Morse is five elements long, which is a useful check when you hesitate.

Was Z different in American Morse?

Yes. The American landline code sent Z as ··· ·, three dots, a space and one more dot. In international code that would read as S followed by E.

The Letter Z in Morse Code

Z is −−··: 2 short dis and 2 long dahs, dah-dah-di-dit. It lasts 11 units.

−−··dah-dah-di-dit

Z drawn to time: 11 units, then a 3-unit gap before the next letter.

SpeedSlow · 8 WPMNormal · 18 WPMFast · 25 WPM

Facts about Z

Code: −−·· · dah-dah-di-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 → M → G → Z · below it: 7
Frequency: 0.09% of English letters, 26th of 26²
Koch order: 16th sign of the course
Spelling: Zulu
Same signal: З in Russian Morse · Ζ in Greek Morse · フ in Wabun

§ 1Don’t confuse Z with

Zthis letterdah-dah-di-dit
Done element shorterdah-di-dit
Gone element shorterdah-dah-dit
Lfirst element differsdi-dah-di-dit
Belement 2 differsdah-di-di-dit
Qlast element differsdah-dah-di-dah
7one element longerdah-dah-di-di-dit
8one element longerdah-dah-dah-di-dit
Ümirror: every di and dah swappeddi-di-dah-dah

Blue marks the elements that differ from Z.

§ 2How to remember Z

ZIG ZAG-ging on (−−··) — Z is G (−−·) with one more dit, and one more again gives the figure 7 (−−···).

§ 3Words with Z

§ 4Questions about Z

What is Z in Morse code?: Z is two dashes followed by two dots (−−··). It is the rarest letter in English text, so plan to practise it on purpose; you will seldom meet it by chance in ordinary messages.
How do I tell Z from 7 in Morse code?: Count the dots after the two dashes: Z has two, the figure 7 has three. Every figure in Morse is five elements long, which is a useful check when you hesitate.
Was Z different in American Morse?: Yes. The American landline code sent Z as ··· ·, three dots, a space and one more dot. In international code that would read as S followed by E.