Morse Code Punctuation: Symbols, Audio, Patterns and Examples
Learn Morse code punctuation with verified International Morse patterns. Play each symbol, copy its code, compare similar patterns, and see which marks are official or common extensions.
Morse Code Punctuation Chart
These marks are listed in the current ITU-R M.1677-1 International Morse Code recommendation. Use Play to hear a pattern or Copy to save the typed sequence.
Period / Full Stop
.-.-.-Dot dash repeated three times.
Comma
--..--Two dashes, two dots, two dashes.
Colon
---...Three dashes followed by three dots.
Question Mark
..--..Two dots, two dashes, two dots.
Apostrophe
.----.Dot, four dashes, dot.
Hyphen / Minus
-....-Dash, four dots, dash.
Slash / Fraction Bar
-..-.Dash, two dots, dash, dot.
Left Parenthesis
-.--.Dash, dot, two dashes, dot.
Right Parenthesis
-.--.-Left parenthesis pattern plus one dash.
Quotation Mark
.-..-.Used before and after quoted words.
Equals / Double Hyphen
-...-Dash, three dots, dash.
Plus / Addition Sign
.-.-.Alternating dot and dash, ending with a dot.
Multiplication Sign
-..-The same signal pattern used for X.
Commercial At
.--.-.The Morse character used for @.
Official Punctuation vs Common Morse Extensions
Many online charts mix ITU-defined characters with later conventions. That is why punctuation lists often disagree.
Verified in the current recommendation
The official table explicitly lists period, comma, colon, question mark, apostrophe, hyphen, slash, parentheses, quotation marks, equals, plus, multiplication sign, and @.
Often shown on modern charts
-.-.--Exclamation mark-.-.-.Semicolon..--.-Underscore...-..-Dollar sign.-...Ampersand on many chartsThese patterns are widely published, but they are not listed as those written punctuation characters in the current ITU-R M.1677-1 table.
The Most Useful Morse Code Punctuation to Learn First
You do not need every pattern on day one. Start with marks that appear most often in ordinary written messages.
..--..Questions
.-.-.-Sentence endings
--..--Sentence punctuation
-..-.Actual slash
.--.-.Email-style text
Question Mark, Period and Comma in Morse Code
These three marks are strong starting points because their six-signal patterns have memorable shapes.
..--..dot dot dash dash dot dot.-.-.-dot dash repeated three times--..--dash dash dot dot dash dashThe ITU also associates the question mark signal with a request for repetition when a transmission is not understood.
Slash in Morse Code vs Slash as a Word Separator
This distinction causes many beginner mistakes.
-..-.If the source text contains a real slash, such as A/B, the slash itself is encoded as -..-..
.... .. / - .... . .-. .Many web tools display / between words for readability. The slash is not transmitted as part of the message in that use.
In timed Morse, the word gap is seven dot units. See How to Write Morse Code for the full spacing guide.
Parentheses and Quotation Marks
Opening and closing parentheses use different patterns. Quotation marks use one pattern before and after quoted words.
-.--.Left parenthesis-.--.-Right parenthesis.-..-.Quotation markWorked Morse Code Punctuation Examples
These examples show punctuation inside complete written messages.
.... .. ..--..H + I + question mark
-.-- . ... .-.-.-Y + E + S + period
.... . .-.. .-.. --- --..-- / ... .- --The comma is encoded. The visible slash marks the word break.
.- -..-. -...The slash is an actual encoded character here.
Do Punctuation Marks Use Different Timing?
No. Punctuation uses the same timing rules as letters and numbers. Only the dot-and-dash sequence changes.
Punctuation, Prosigns and Procedural Signals Are Different
A punctuation mark represents a written character. A procedural signal can represent an operating instruction instead.
The ITU table separately lists signals such as understood, error, invitation to transmit, wait, end of work, and starting signal. Do not treat every procedural signal as a printable punctuation mark.
How to Practice Morse Code Punctuation
Learn punctuation after the basic alphabet. Add only a few marks at a time.
Learn three patterns
Start with question mark, period, and comma.
Listen to each one
Use the Play buttons and recognize the whole rhythm.
Use short sentences
Add one real punctuation mark to familiar words.
Decode it back
Check practice with the Morse Code Decoder.
Use the Morse Code Trainer for listening practice or the Morse Code Decoder to verify a typed sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Morse code have punctuation?
Yes. International Morse Code includes punctuation and miscellaneous signs such as period, comma, colon, question mark, apostrophe, hyphen, slash, parentheses, quotation marks, equals, plus, multiplication sign, and @.
What is a question mark in Morse code?
The question mark is ..--...
What is a period in Morse code?
A period or full stop is .-.-.-.
What is a comma in Morse code?
A comma is --..--.
What is a slash in Morse code?
The slash or fraction bar is -..-.. A slash shown between typed Morse words can also be a visual separator instead of an encoded slash.
What is the @ sign in Morse code?
The commercial at sign is .--.-..
Is the exclamation mark official International Morse Code?
The pattern -.-.-- is widely shown on modern charts, but the current ITU-R M.1677-1 punctuation table does not list an exclamation mark as a written character.
Is a semicolon in the current ITU Morse table?
No. Semicolon -.-.-. appears on many modern charts, but it is not listed as a written punctuation character in the current ITU-R M.1677-1 table.
Are punctuation patterns longer than letters?
Many are. Common letters use one to four signal elements, while several punctuation marks use five or six.
Where can I see letters, numbers and punctuation together?
Use the Morse Code Chart for a combined reference.
Official Reference
This page uses ITU-R M.1677-1 as the primary standard. The ITU currently lists it as In force (Main).