Morse code abbreviations are short forms such as CQ (calling any station), 73 (best regards) and TNX (thanks) that save time when sending by hand. Q-codes are three-letter signals that start with Q, such as QTH (my location) and QRZ? (who is calling me?). Prosigns such as AR and SK are sent as one run with no gaps.
Three kinds of shortcut
People mix these up, so it helps to separate them:
- Abbreviations are ordinary letters with agreed meanings, like TNX for thanks. They are sent letter by letter with normal gaps.
- Q-codes are three-letter codes that begin with Q. They were made for Morse (radiotelegraph) and are also spoken by radio amateurs as shorthand. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) defines the series in its Radio Regulations, and the amateur set is adapted from it.
- Prosigns are procedural signals sent as one unbroken run, such as AR and SK. Although they are written as two letters, there is no gap between the letters when they are sent.
You can type any of them into the Morse code translator. For prosigns, write them in angle brackets, like <AR>, so they are sent as one run.
Common Morse code abbreviations
| Phrase | Morse code | Play |
|---|---|---|
| CQ | -.-. --.- | |
| DE | -.. . | |
| K | -.- | |
| TNX | - -. -..- | |
| PSE | .--. ... . | |
| AGN | .- --. -. | |
| 73 | --... ...-- | |
| 88 | ---.. ---.. |
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CQ | Calling any station. It is sent as the ordinary letters C and Q, not as a prosign |
| DE | "From" or "this is", placed before the sender's call sign |
| K | Go ahead: any station may transmit |
| TNX or TKS | Thanks |
| PSE | Please |
| AGN | Again |
| BK | Break, or back |
| R | Message received. It is the origin of "Roger" |
| UR | Your |
| ES | And |
| HR | Here |
| HW | How, as in "how do you copy me?" |
| WX | Weather |
| DX | Long distance, or a distant or rare station |
| FB | "Fine business", ham jargon for very good |
| OM, YL, XYL | Old man (any male operator), young lady (any female operator) and a wife |
| GM, GA, GE, GN | Good morning, good afternoon, good evening and good night |
| GL | Good luck |
| CUL | See you later |
| HI | Laughter, often sent twice as HI HI |
| RST | Signal report for readability, strength and tone. A report of 599 is the best you can give |
Some of these have more than one meaning. GA can mean "good afternoon" or "go ahead", and GN can mean "good night" or "gone". Context tells the operator which one is meant.
73 and 88
Two numbers have become sign-offs. 73 means best regards and 88 means love and kisses. They come from the old numbered shorthand used on telegraph lines, and operators still send them at the end of a chat. Hear them in the table above by pressing the play button.
The most useful Q-codes
Each Q-code can be a statement or, with a question mark added, a question. QRZ? asks "who is calling me?", while the statement form tells someone who is. Here are the ones you will see most.
| Code | As a question | As a statement |
|---|---|---|
| QRL | Are you busy? | I am busy, so please do not interfere |
| QRM | Do you have interference? | I have interference |
| QRN | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static |
| QRO | Shall I increase power? | Increase power |
| QRP | Shall I decrease power? | Decrease power. Hams also use QRP to mean running low power |
| QRQ | Shall I send faster? | Send faster |
| QRS | Shall I send more slowly? | Send more slowly |
| QRT | Shall I stop sending? | Stop sending |
| QRV | Are you ready? | I am ready |
| QRX | Shall I stand by? | Please stand by |
| QRZ | Who is calling me? | You are being called by a named station |
| QSB | Are my signals fading? | Your signals are fading |
| QSL | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I acknowledge receipt |
| QSO | Can you communicate with a named station? | I can communicate with that station |
| QSY | Shall I change to another frequency? | Change to another frequency |
| QTH | What is your position? | My position is... |
In practice, QSL is the one most people have heard of, because radio amateurs mail "QSL cards" to confirm a contact, and QTH is how operators say where they are.
Prosigns you will hear a lot
| Phrase | Morse code | Play |
|---|---|---|
| AR | .- .-. | |
| SK | ... -.- | |
| BT | -... - | |
| KN | -.- -. | |
| AS | .- ... |
| Prosign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AR | End of message |
| SK | End of contact. It can also mean Silent Key, a deceased amateur |
| BT | Break, or start of a new section |
| KN | Go ahead, but only the station that was named should reply |
| AS | Wait |
KN shares its code with the open bracket, which is why it is sometimes called an unofficial prosign. The full list with timing is on the Morse code alphabet page.
A sample exchange you can decode
Here is a short, made-up exchange between two imaginary stations, AB1CD and EF2GH. It uses only abbreviations from this page.
- AB1CD: CQ CQ CQ DE AB1CD AB1CD K
- EF2GH: AB1CD DE EF2GH EF2GH K
- AB1CD: EF2GH DE AB1CD TNX FOR CALL UR RST 599 QTH LONDON HW? KN
- EF2GH: AB1CD DE EF2GH TNX UR RST 599 73 SK
Paste any line into the translator to hear it at your own speed, then try typing the Morse code back into the translator to check that it reads the same.
Frequently asked questions
What does CQ mean in Morse code?
CQ is a general call to any station. An operator sends CQ, often three times, followed by DE and their own call sign, to say that they would like a contact with anyone who is listening. It is sent as the ordinary letters C and Q, so it is not counted as a prosign.
What do 73 and 88 mean in Morse code?
73 means best regards and 88 means love and kisses. Both are friendly sign-offs from the days of telegraph shorthand, and radio operators still use them today. 73 is the usual way to end a polite chat, and 88 is the more affectionate one.
What is the difference between a Q-code and an abbreviation?
A Q-code is a three-letter signal that starts with Q and has a fixed meaning, such as QTH for position. An abbreviation is any other short form, such as TNX for thanks. Q-codes can be questions or statements, and the question mark changes the meaning.
Do I need to know Q-codes to learn Morse code?
No. You can learn the alphabet and numbers first, and add abbreviations later if you plan to use amateur radio. Most beginners meet CQ, DE, K, 73 and a few Q-codes naturally. The learning plan covers the letters and numbers you need before any shortcuts.
Sources: Q code (Wikipedia), Morse code abbreviations (Wikipedia), Prosigns for Morse code (Wikipedia), Abbreviations used on CW (W3DF).