P in Morse Code: ·−−·
The letter P in Morse code is ·−−·, spoken as "di-DAH-DAH-dit": one short, two long, then one short. That is 2 dots and 2 dashes, with a dash held three times as long as a dot. To remember it, think the-BIG-BAD-wolf (stress lands on the two middle syllables).
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 P 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 |
| Dash | − | 3 | 180 ms |
| Gap | (silence) | 1 | 60 ms |
| Dot | · | 1 | 60 ms |
| Total for P | 11 | 660 ms | |
How to signal P
- Tap it: one short, two long, then one 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, two long, then one short. Use quick blinks for dots and slow, deliberate eye closes for dashes, keeping the rhythm steady.
- Flash it: one short, two long, then one short. Short flashes for dots; for dashes, hold the light on about three times longer. Any flashlight or phone screen works.
How to remember P
Say the-BIG-BAD-wolf (stress lands on the two middle syllables) in rhythm with the code and the pattern sticks: "di-DAH-DAH-dit".
Words that start with P: Papa ·−−· ·− ·−−· ·−, path ·−−· ·− − ····, pearl ·−−· · ·− ·−· ·−··, piano ·−−· ·· ·− −· −−−. The first is P's NATO phonetic name, which operators use to spell aloud.
P is a palindrome: dot-dash-dash-dot reads and sounds exactly the same backwards. Only a handful of codes share that symmetry, including R, K, and X.