L in Morse Code: ·−··
The letter L in Morse code is ·−··, spoken as "di-DAH-di-dit": one short, one long, then two short. That is 3 dots and 1 dash, with a dash held three times as long as a dot. To remember it, think to-HELL-with-it (only the second syllable is stressed).
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 L breaks down like this:
| Element | Signal | Length (units) | At 20 WPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dot | · | 1 | 60 ms |
| Gap | (silence) | 1 | 60 ms |
| Dash | − | 3 | 180 ms |
| Gap | (silence) | 1 | 60 ms |
| Dot | · | 1 | 60 ms |
| Gap | (silence) | 1 | 60 ms |
| Dot | · | 1 | 60 ms |
| Total for L | 9 | 540 ms | |
How to signal L
- Tap it: one short, one long, then two 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 short, one long, then two short. Use quick blinks for dots and slow, deliberate eye closes for dashes, keeping the rhythm steady.
- Flash it: one short, one long, then two short. Short flashes for dots; for dashes, hold the light on about three times longer. Any flashlight or phone screen works.
How to remember L
Say to-HELL-with-it (only the second syllable is stressed) in rhythm with the code and the pattern sticks: "di-DAH-di-dit".
Words that start with L: Lima ·−·· ·· −− ·−, lamp ·−·· ·− −− ·−−·, ladder ·−·· ·− −·· −·· · ·−·, lake ·−·· ·− −·− ·. The first is L's NATO phonetic name, which operators use to spell aloud.
In the original American Morse code used by railroads, L was a single extra-long dash. The international code replaced it with today's four-element pattern.