Alphabet · A–Z

K in Morse code

Standard Morse code for K. Copy it, hear it, or practice with real examples.

-.-

3 signals (1 dot, 2 dashes)Dots are short • dashes are longLetters use spaces • words use “/”

Practice in translator →

Memory mnemonic

KOOOO-ka-KAAAA

Say it aloud with the stresses shown. The phrase carries the same dit/dah rhythm as the Morse for K. Once the rhythm sticks the dots and dashes follow.

Many teachers use their own phrases. The words don't matter, only that the chosen phrase carries the same dit/dah rhythm.

About K in Morse code

Pattern: -.-
Length: 9 Morse units
Spoken as: Kilo (KEY loh)
In English text: 0.77% of letters — the 22nd most common
Sent backwards: reads the same both ways
Dots ↔ dashes: .-. is R

K takes 9 units to send. 11 letters are shorter and 6 others are the same length. Alfred Vail reportedly counted the type in a printer's case and gave the shortest codes to the letters used most, so frequency and length roughly track each other: K is the 22nd most common letter and has the 12th-shortest code.

How long K takes to send

Speed	Unit length	K takes
5 WPM	240 ms	2.2 s
13 WPM	92 ms	0.83 s
20 WPM	60 ms	0.54 s
25 WPM	48 ms	0.43 s

Standard PARIS timing: one unit is 1200 ÷ WPM milliseconds; a dot is 1 unit, a dash 3, and the gap inside a character 1. Add 3 units between letters and 7 between words.

Easily confused with

These are one dot or dash away from K. Mishearing a single element — or clipping one off the end — turns K into one of them, so they are worth drilling side by side.