R in Morse Code
The letter R is the eighteenth letter of the English alphabet. R in Morse code is sent as .-.: a short signal, a long signal, then a short signal again.
R in Morse code: pattern and timing
- Dots: 2
- Dashes: 1
- Total length: 7 time units (two dots of 1 unit, one dash of 3 units, and two gaps of 1 unit each)
R has a “bounce” rhythm: short, long, short. The long signal sits in the middle, so the letter starts and ends on the same short sound.
How to hear R
R is “dit-dah-dit”. Listen for a short tap, a clearly longer tap, and a short tap again. If the message gives three equal taps, it is S, not R.
Letters that sound similar
R is easy to confuse with letters whose pattern differs from it by one signal:
- A (.-): R without its last short tap
- N (-.): R without its first short tap
- S (…): the middle tap is short instead of long
- W (.–): the last tap is long instead of short
- I (..): R without its long signal
- L (.-..): R with one extra short tap at the end
- F (..-.): R with one extra short tap at the start
- P (.–.) and C (-.-.): one extra signal in the middle or at the start
- G (–.): the first tap is long instead of short
The quickest test is the middle signal. R has one long tap between two short taps. If the middle tap is short, it is S. If the sound has an extra tap, check the letters with one more signal.
Words that use R
- RUN: .-. ..- -.
- RIGHT: .-. .. –. …. –
- ROAD: .-. — .- -..
- READY: .-. . .- -.. -.–
Letters are separated by a single space, and words by a slash (/). Test any of these words in the Morse code to text decoder.
Practice
Practice R next to A and S with the Morse code practice tools. The middle long tap is the detail to focus on. For the full chart, see the Morse code alphabet page.
How long R lasts at 20 WPM
At 20 words per minute, one time unit lasts about 60 milliseconds. R is 7 units long, so the whole letter takes about 420 milliseconds: two short taps around one long tap. R in Morse code is easy to recognize once you hear that bounce, and it is a common letter in amateur radio messages.
More words that use R
- RADIO: .-. .- -.. .. —
- RECEIVE: .-. . -.-. . .. …- .
R in Morse code appears at the start of many words, and it is easy to hear when the middle tap is long. Practice these with RUN, RIGHT, ROAD, and READY so the bounce rhythm becomes automatic.
Practice drill for R
Send R in Morse code five times in a row at 15 WPM, then send RADIO and RECEIVE. Listen for the short, long, short pattern each time. If the middle tap is short, you are hearing S. If the sound has only one tap after the long one, you are probably hearing N. The Morse code practice tools are a good place to repeat this drill.
The timing rules for every letter follow the International Telecommunication Union recommendation ITU-R M.1677-1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is R in Morse code?
R in Morse code is .-. (dot, dash, dot).
How long is R in Morse code?
R in Morse code lasts 7 time units in total, including the gaps inside the letter.
Which letters sound like R?
A (.-) and N (-.) are closest, because each is R with one signal removed. S (…) is closest in sound, because it differs only in the middle tap.