How to play
- Press Start. You have 2 minutes 30 seconds, and the codes appear in a new order every game.
- One code is selected, and a larger copy sits next to the answer field. Dots are drawn as · and dashes as −. Type its letter or number: it counts as soon as you type it, and the next code you haven’t named is selected.
- Only the selected code counts. If you type a different letter, you’re told it isn’t that one and the field clears. Wrong answers cost nothing but time.
- Capitals don’t matter. On a phone, switch to the number keys for the ten numbers.
- Tap any code to switch to it. On a keyboard, Tab or Enter on an empty field moves to the next code and Shift+Tab to the previous one. Esc leaves the answer field.
- Pause whenever you like; the codes are hidden while the clock is stopped. If you close or reload the page mid-game, the game waits, paused, until you come back.
- When the time is up, every code is labeled with its letter or number. Then practice the ones you missed in an untimed round.
How to read the codes
Every letter and number in Morse code is a short pattern of dots and dashes. The most common letters in English got the shortest codes when the code was designed, so a single dot and a single dash are two of the most frequent letters, and rare letters take four symbols.
The ten numbers follow a rule: each has exactly five symbols. Counting up from one, dots replace dashes from the left, one more each time, until five dots; after that, dashes return from the left. Once you see the rule, you can work out every number without learning them one by one.
Some codes mirror each other: swap every dot for a dash and you get another letter. Pairs like that are easy to mix up, and worth practicing together.
Learning Morse code by sound
This quiz is about reading the code on screen, which helps you learn the patterns. Operators who send and receive Morse learn it by ear instead, as a rhythm for each letter, because counting dots is too slow at real speeds. Once the patterns are familiar, train your ear with the Koch method, and use the translator to hear any word.
- Morse Code Translator: text to Morse and back, with sound, light and a printable chart
- Morse Code Trainer: learn to copy Morse by ear with the Koch method, your progress saved
- Secret Morse Code Decoder for kids: decode animal names and beep your own name, in our Kids section
Questions
Which codes are in the quiz?
The 26 letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0 to 9, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union. Punctuation isn’t included.
Can I play with a screen reader?
Yes. Each code is read as words, such as “dot dash”, and the next code is announced after each answer, so you can keep typing without leaving the answer field.
Does the clock stop if I switch tabs?
No, use Pause for that. If you close or reload the page mid-game, the game is saved and waits, paused, until you come back.
Where are my scores kept?
Only in this browser. Nothing is sent anywhere, and clearing your browser’s site data removes them.
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