B in Morse Code: −···
The letter B in Morse code is −···, spoken as "DAH-di-di-dit": one long, then three short. That is 3 dots and 1 dash, with a dash held three times as long as a dot. To remember it, think BOLD-ly did it (one stressed beat, three quick ones).
Timing: how long each part lasts
Morse timing is built from one unit, the length of a dot. A dash is 3 units, and the silence between the elements of a single character is 1 unit. At 20 words per minute, one unit is 60 ms, so B breaks down like this:
| Element | Signal | Length (units) | At 20 WPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dash | − | 3 | 180 ms |
| Gap | (silence) | 1 | 60 ms |
| Dot | · | 1 | 60 ms |
| Gap | (silence) | 1 | 60 ms |
| Dot | · | 1 | 60 ms |
| Gap | (silence) | 1 | 60 ms |
| Dot | · | 1 | 60 ms |
| Total for B | 9 | 540 ms | |
How to signal B
- Tap it: one long, then three short. A short is a quick tap; a long is a heavier tap, or a quick tap followed by a slight hold, about three times as long.
- Blink it: one long, then three short. Use quick blinks for dots and slow, deliberate eye closes for dashes, keeping the rhythm steady.
- Flash it: one long, then three short. Short flashes for dots; for dashes, hold the light on about three times longer. Any flashlight or phone screen works.
How to remember B
Say BOLD-ly did it (one stressed beat, three quick ones) in rhythm with the code and the pattern sticks: "DAH-di-di-dit".
Words that start with B: Bravo −··· ·−· ·− ···− −−−, beacon −··· · ·− −·−· −−− −·, bridge −··· ·−· ·· −·· −−· ·, button −··· ··− − − −−− −·. The first is B's NATO phonetic name, which operators use to spell aloud.
Send B and T together with no gap between them and you get the prosign BT, the standard 'new paragraph' break that operators drop between thoughts.