Morse code mnemonics

{{Short description|Systems to remember Morse characters}}

{{More citations needed|date=September 2015}}

Morse code mnemonics are systems to represent the sound of Morse characters in a way intended to be easy to remember. Since every one of these mnemonics requires a two-step mental translation between sound and character, none of these systems are useful for using manual Morse at practical speeds. Amateur radio clubs can provide resources to learn Morse code.

Cross-linguistic

= Visual mnemonic =

File:Morse Code Mnemonic chart from Girl Guides handbook 1916.jpg

Visual mnemonic charts have been devised over the ages. Baden-Powell included one in the Girl Guides handbook{{cite web|url=http://oldscoutbooks.com/girlguiding.pdf |title=Girl Guiding by Lord Baden-Powell|publisher=Pearson|date=1938|accessdate=2015-09-06|quote="Some people find it easier to remember the does [sic] and dashes by picturing them as forming the letters— thus:— (p61)"}} in 1918.

File:Morse_Crib_Sheet.png

Here is a more up-to-date version, ca. 1988:

File:Morsechart.bjk.svg

== Morse Map ==

File:Morse Code Map.png

This visual map of Dits an Dahs is arranged from top to bottom by character length (e.g. first layer is just one sound — a dit or a dah for E or T, the second layer contains letters formed by two sounds, the third layer by three sounds, etc.) Dits to the Left and Dahs to the right.

Other systems

Other visual mnemonic systems have been created for Morse code, mapping the elements of the Morse code characters onto pictures for easy memorization. For instance, "R" ({{morse|dot|dash|dot}}) might be represented as a "racecar" seen in a profile view, with the two wheels of the racecar being the dits and the body being the dah.

English

=Syllabic mnemonics=

Syllabic mnemonics are based on the principle of associating a word or phrase to each Morse code letter, with stressed syllables standing for a dah and unstressed ones for a dit. There is no well-known complete set of syllabic mnemonics for English, but various mnemonics do exist for individual letters.

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! Letter !! Morse Code !! Mnemonic{{cite web |title=Morse Code: A language of SOUND! |url=https://www.morsecodeclassnet.com/ch2-language-of-sound/ |website=Morse Code for the Radio Amateur |access-date=1 March 2024 |date=2022-10-15}}{{cite web |last =Metivier |first =Anthony |date=2023-10-07 |title=Morse Code Words: What they are and how to remember them |website=Magnetic Memory Method |publisher=Methodologies Pty |url=https://www.magneticmemorymethod.com/morse-code-words/ |access-date=1 March 2024}}

align=center| A{{morse|dot|dash}}say AHH
a-PU
align=center| B{{morse|dash|dot|dot|dot}}BAND rat-a-tat
BOB is the man
align=center| C{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dot}}CATCH it CATCH it
CO-ca CO-la
align=center| D{{morse|dash|dot|dot}}DAD did it
DRAC-u-la
align=center| E{{morse|dot}}eek
eye
align=center| F{{morse|dot|dot|dash|dot}}did i FAIL it?
fetch a FIRE-man
align=center| G{{morse|dash|dash|dot}}GOD LOVES it
GOOD GRAV-y
align=center| H{{morse|dot|dot|dot|dot}}ha ha ha ha
hip-pi-ty hop
align=center| I{{morse|dot|dot}}did it
i-an
align=center| J{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dash}}in JAWS JAWS JAWS
I WANT YOU, JONES
align=center| K{{morse|dash|dot|dash}}KAN-ga-ROO
KICK the CAN
align=center| L{{morse|dot|dash|dot|dot}}a LIGHT is lit
los AN-ge-les
align=center| M{{morse|dash|dash}}MA-MA
MAC-kie MES-ser
align=center| N{{morse|dash|dot}}NAME it
NIK-ki
align=center| O{{morse|dash|dash|dash}}HO HO HO
OH MY GOD
align=center| P{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dot}}is PA-PA in?
a PRAY-ING abe
align=center| Q{{morse|dash|dash|dot|dash}}PAY DAY to-DAY (quid)
GOD SAVE the QUEEN
align=center| R{{morse|dot|dash|dot}}a RABB-it
ro-TA-tion
align=center| S{{morse|dot|dot|dot}}ss-ss-ss
su-per-man
align=center| T{{morse|dash}}TALL
TIM
align=center| U{{morse|dot|dot|dash}}kiss a EWE
un-der-NEATH
u-ni-FORM
align=center| V{{morse|dot|dot|dot|dash}}vee-vee-vee VAH (the opening rhythm of Beethoven's 5th, or Beethoven's V'th)
vick-tor-y VEE
align=center| W{{morse|dot|dash|dash}}the WORLD WAR
the WHITE WHALE
align=center| X{{morse|dash|dot|dot|dash}}CROSS at the DOOR
XY-lo-phone RAP
align=center| Y{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dash}}WHY did I DIE?
YOU'RE a COOL DUDE
YAK a YOUNG YAK
align=center| Z{{morse|dash|dash|dot|dot}}ZSA ZSA did it
ZINC ZOO-keep-er

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! Character !! Morse Code !! Syllabic !! Mnemonic

align=center| .{{morse|dot|dash|dot|dash|dot|dash}}a STOP a STOP a STOPPeriods are also known as "full stops".
align=center|,{{morse|dash|dash|dot|dot|dash|dash}}COM-MA, it's a COM-MASelf-explanatory.
align=center| ?{{morse|dot|dot|dash|dash|dot|dot}}it's a QUES-TION, is it?Self-explanatory.
align=center| :{{morse|dash|dash|dash|dot|dot|dot}}HA-WAI-I stan-dard timeThe clocks in Hawaii are always on standard time, and don't turn an hour ahead in the summer. Colons are used in displaying time (like in "10:23").
align=center| /{{morse|dash|dot|dot|dash|dot}}SHAVE and a HAIR-cutThe rhythm from the musical routine. A barber is a slasher.
(NOTE: also Fraction Bar and Division Sign)
align=center| "{{morse|dot|dash|dot|dot|dash|dot}}six-TY-six nine-TY-nineQuotation marks resemble a 66 at the beginning of a quote, and a 99 at the end of a quote.
align=center| '{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dash|dash|dot}}and THIS STUFF GOES TO me!An apostrophe may be used to denote ownership of property.
align=center| ;{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dot|dash|dot}}A-list, B-list, C-listA semicolon may be used to group ordered lists in the same sentence.

= Word mnemonics =

== Independent words ==

This technique has you associate a word with each character.

For a letter in the alphabet, the associated word will usually begin with the same letter.

In that word, tall letters (those descending below the baseline or ascending above the mean line – b, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, p, q, t, or y) and capital letters represent dashes, while

short letters (aceimnorsuvwxz) represent dots. To recall the Morse code for a character, try to visualize the word.

class="wikitable"
Letter

! Mnemonic

! Morse Code{{cite web |last=Harder |first=Douglas W. |title=Learning Morse code |website=University of Waterloo |url=https://ece.uwaterloo.ca/~dwharder/Morse_code/ |access-date=2024-03-01}}

! Comments

A

| at

| {{morse|dot|dash}}

|

B

| bean

| {{morse|dash|dot|dot|dot}}

|

C

| Cate

| {{morse|dash|dot|dash|dot}}

| as in the name "Cate"

D

| dam

| {{morse|dash|dot|dot}}

| or "Dan" or many others

E

| e

| {{morse|dot}}

| just plain "e"

F

| cafe

| {{morse|dot|dot|dash|dot}}

|

G

| gym

| {{morse|dash|dash|dot}}

|

H

| ears

| {{morse|dot|dot|dot|dot}}

| as in "ears" are used to hear

I

| in

| {{morse|dot|dot}}

|

J

| edgy

| {{morse|dot|dash|dash|dash}}

| or alternatively, (j)"etty"

K

| kit

| {{morse|dash|dot|dash}}

|

L

| else

| {{morse|dot|dash|dot|dot}}

|

M

| M.A.

| {{morse|dash|dash}}

| Master of Arts degree; alternatively, the year 2000 in Roman numerals: "MM"

N

| No

| {{morse|dash|dot}}

| as in "Dr. No", the first James Bond movie

O

| Opp

| {{morse|dash|dash|dash}}

| as in the Opposing side; alternatively, OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) or Off!

P

| apps

| {{morse|dot|dash|dash|dot}}

| Something used on smart phones to practice Morse code

Q

| plaq

| {{morse|dash|dash|dot|dash}}

| The first four letters of "plaque", ending at "q"

R

| rye

| {{morse|dot|dash|dot}}

|

S

| sax

| {{morse|dot|dot|dot}}

|

T

| t

| {{morse|dash}}

| just plain "t", or "T" as in "Mr. T"

U

| ump

| {{morse|dot|dot|dash}}

| as in umpire

V

| veil

| {{morse|dot|dot|dot|dash}}

| or "veal"

W

| why

| {{morse|dot|dash|dash}}

|

X

| foxy

| {{morse|dash|dot|dot|dash}}

| as in being as clever as a fox

Y

| yell

| {{morse|dash|dot|dash|dash}}

|

Z

| Zhou

| {{morse|dash|dash|dot|dot}}

| Zhou dynasty of China; or alternatively "Whiz" as in the brand-name 'Cheez Whiz'

== Single sentence ==

This mnemonic uses the same mapping from tall and short letters to dashes and dots. Rather than each word starting with the letter it represents, each word is positioned in the 26-word-long sentence according to the position of the letter it represents in the alphabet.{{cite web |title=Morse1Sentence |last=Rouquier |first=Jean-Baptiste |website=GitHub |url=https://github.com/jrouquie/Morse1Sentence |access-date=2024-03-01 }}

{{blockquote|my love life has a vibe, the same as edgy pop star DJ «Dr BBQ» adds — glad she won't cut away all good gold lyre!}}

Slavic languages

In Czech, the mnemonic device to remember letters in Morse code lies in remembering words or short phrases that begin with each appropriate letter and have a long vowel (i.e. á é í ó ú ý) for every dash and a short vowel (a e i o u y) for every dot. Additionally, some other sets of words with a particular theme have been thought up in Czech folklore, such as the following alcohol-themed set:

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! Letter !! Morse Code !! Czech word !! Translation !! Alternative (folklore) !! Translation

align=center| A{{morse|dot|dash}}akátacaciaabsťákwithdrawal symptoms
align=center| B{{morse|dash|dot|dot|dot}}blýska·vi·celightning stormblít až do·mavomit until at home
align=center| C{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dot}}cílovciaiming sightscíl je čepthe target is the taproom
align=center| D{{morse|dash|dot|dot}}dálni·cehighwaydám jed·noI'll have one (beer)
align=center| E{{morse|dot}}erbcoat of armsexone-sip-drinking
align=center| F{{morse|dot|dot|dash|dot}}Fi·linyPhilippinesFer·net šethe Fernet's pungent
align=center| G{{morse|dash|dash|dot}}Grón·ská zemthe land of Greenlandgrón·ský rumrum of Greenland
align=center| H{{morse|dot|dot|dot|dot}}ho·lu·bi·cedove (female)hru·ško·vi·cePear brandy
align=center| Ch{{morse|dash|dash|dash|dash}}chléb nám dává(he) gives us breadchvát·ám k pí·pámI rush to the faucets
align=center| I{{morse|dot|dot}}ib·isIbisI·ronIron (window cleaning agent with alcohol content)
align=center| J{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dash}}jasmín bí·lýwhite JasmineJabčák bí·lýWhite Apple brandy
align=center| K{{morse|dash|dot|dash}}královstvíkingdombl vínpot of wines
align=center| L{{morse|dot|dash|dot|dot}}led hokejice hockeylikérečeklittle liquor
align=center| M{{morse|dash|dash}}má·váwavingmží z-pípit's sprinkling out of faucets
align=center| N{{morse|dash|dot}} rodnationvykhabit
align=center| O{{morse|dash|dash|dash}}ó náš pánoh, our lordó můj líhoh, my alcohol
align=center| P{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dot}}papír·nícipaper-makerspivní tácekbeer coaster
align=center| Q{{morse|dash|dash|dot|dash}}kví·lí orkánwailing hurricanekví·límránI wail drunken
align=center| R{{morse|dot|dash|dot}}rašekimpručeklittle rum
align=center| S{{morse|dot|dot|dot}}se·ke·raaxesud je tuthe barrel's here
align=center| T{{morse|dash}}tóntonetea
align=center| U{{morse|dot|dot|dash}}u·čeeruditeuch·lastánfully loaded
align=center| V{{morse|dot|dot|dot|dash}}vy·vo·lethe chosen onevod·ka finskáFinnish vodka
align=center| W{{morse|dot|dash|dash}}waltrův vůzWalter's carriagewhiskou ploutto float through Whiskey
align=center| X{{morse|dash|dot|dot|dash}}no·kratésXenocratesk sýru burčáknew half-fermented wine with cheese
align=center| Y{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dash}}Ýgar má·váYgar is wavingý, jsem zlá·mánee, I'm a mess
align=center| Z{{morse|dash|dash|dot|dot}}Zrád·ná že·naperfidious womanzlí·skám se hnedI get smashed quickly

In Polish, which does not distinguish long and short vowels, Morse mnemonics are also words or short phrases that begin with each appropriate letter, but dash is coded as a syllable containing an "o" (or "ó"), while a syllable containing another vowel codes for dot. For some letters, multiple mnemonics are in use; the table shows one example.

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! Letter !! Morse Code !! Polish word !! Translation

align=center| A{{morse|dot|dash}}azotnitrogen
align=center| B{{morse|dash|dot|dot|dot}}botanikabotany
align=center| C{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dot}}co mi zrobiszwhat will you do to me
align=center| D{{morse|dash|dot|dot}}dolinavalley
align=center| E{{morse|dot}}EłkEłk
align=center| F{{morse|dot|dot|dash|dot}}filantropiaphilanthropy
align=center| G{{morse|dash|dash|dot}}gospodainn/tavern
align=center| H{{morse|dot|dot|dot|dot}}halabardahalberd
align=center| Ch{{morse|dash|dash|dash|dash}}chlorowodórhydrogen chloride
align=center| I{{morse|dot|dot}}igłaneedle
align=center| J{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dash}}jednokonnoon/with one horse
align=center| K{{morse|dash|dot|dash}}kolanoknee
align=center| L{{morse|dot|dash|dot|dot}}LeonidasLeonidas
align=center| Ł{{morse|dot|dash|dot|dot|dash}}[no mnemonic]
align=center| M{{morse|dash|dash}}motormotor
align=center| N{{morse|dash|dot}}nogaleg
align=center| O{{morse|dash|dash|dash}}OpocznoOpoczno
align=center| P{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dot}}PeloponezPeloponnese
align=center| R{{morse|dot|dash|dot}}retortaretort
align=center| S{{morse|dot|dot|dot}}SaharaSahara
align=center| T{{morse|dash}}tortrack/rail line
align=center| U{{morse|dot|dot|dash}}UrsynówUrsynów
align=center| W{{morse|dot|dash|dash}}winoroślgrapevine (plant)
align=center| Y{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dash}}York, Hull, Oxfordthree British university towns
align=center| Z{{morse|dash|dash|dot|dot}}ZłotoryjaZłotoryja

Hebrew

Invented in 1922 by Zalman Cohen, a communication soldier in the Haganah organization. The hiriq (/i/ vowel) represents a dot and the patah or qamatz (/a/ vowel) represent a dash.

class="wikitable" border="1"
LetterMorse CodeWord

! Letter

Morse CodeWord
א{{morse|dash|dot}}אִמָּא

| ל

{{morse|dot|dot|dash|dot}}לִבַּבְתִּנִי
ב{{morse|dot|dot|dot|dash}}בַּשְּׁלִי לִי מִיץ

| מ

{{morse|dash|dash}}מַפָּ"ם
ג{{morse|dot|dash|dash}}גַּנָּבִים

| נ

{{morse|dot|dash}}נָעִים
ד{{morse|dot|dot|dash}}דָלִיתִי

| ס

{{morse|dot|dash|dot|dash}}סָבִי אָבִי
ה{{morse|dash|dash|dash}}הֲגָנָה

| ע

{{morse|dash|dash|dash|dot}}עִיר הַנַּמָּל
ו{{morse|dot}}וִי

| פ

{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dot}}פִּיל קַנָּדִי
ז{{morse|dot|dot|dash|dash}}זַמָּר לִירִי

| צ

{{morse|dash|dash|dot}}צִיטָטָה
ח{{morse|dot|dot|dot|dot}}חִכִּיתִי לִי

| ק

{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dash}}קַטָּרִינָה
ט{{morse|dash|dot|dot}}טִיףּ טִפָּה

| ר

{{morse|dot|dash|dot}}רִנָתִי
י{{morse|dot|dot}}יִידִישׁ

| ש

{{morse|dot|dot|dot}}שִׁירִי לִי
כ{{morse|dash|dot|dash}}כַּבִּירָה

| ת

{{morse|dash}}תָּו

Indonesian

In Indonesia, one mnemonic commonly taught in Scouting is remembering words that begin with each appropriate letter and substituting the o vowel for every dash and other vowels (a, i, u, and e) for every dot.

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! Letter !! Morse Code !! Word

align=center| A{{morse|dot|dash}}alok
align=center| B{{morse|dash|dot|dot|dot}}bocah kecil
align=center| C{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dot}}coca-cola
align=center| D{{morse|dash|dot|dot}}doremi
align=center| E{{morse|dot}}eh
align=center| F{{morse|dot|dot|dash|dot}}fanta loe
align=center| G{{morse|dash|dash|dot}}gotongin
align=center| H{{morse|dot|dot|dot|dot}}hayamwuruk
align=center| I{{morse|dot|dot}}ipin
align=center| J{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dash}}jago loro
align=center| K{{morse|dash|dot|dash}}komando
align=center| L{{morse|dot|dash|dot|dot}}lego dia
align=center| M{{morse|dash|dash}}motor
align=center| N{{morse|dash|dot}}nomer
align=center| O{{morse|dash|dash|dash}}om toto
align=center| P{{morse|dot|dash|dash|dot}}pertolongan
align=center| Q{{morse|dash|dash|dot|dash}}qomokaro
align=center| R{{morse|dot|dash|dot}}rasome
align=center| S{{morse|dot|dot|dot}}samlekum
align=center| T{{morse|dash}}tol
align=center| U{{morse|dot|dot|dash}}upin-o
align=center| V{{morse|dot|dot|dot|dash}}versi gayo
align=center| W{{morse|dot|dash|dash}}wahyoo
align=center| X{{morse|dash|dot|dot|dash}}xosendero
align=center| Y{{morse|dash|dot|dash|dash}}yosimono
align=center| Z{{morse|dash|dash|dot|dot}}zoro-aster

{{Morse code}}

References