No in Morse code is -. ---: N is dash-dot and O is three dashes. It is one of the shortest words you can send, with only five signals and a single pause.
No letter by letter
| Letter | Morse code | Said aloud |
|---|---|---|
| N | -. | dah-dit |
| O | --- | dah-dah-dah |
The sound is a short rise and fall, "dah-dit", followed by three long notes. At 20 words per minute it takes just over a second. At 5 words per minute it takes between four and five seconds.
The pause is everything
"No" shows why spacing matters. The letters N and O together are the five marks -.---. Spaced after the second mark, -. ---, they read NO. Without any space the same marks are not a letter at all, and a different split gives different words: -.-- - is YT and -.- -- is KM.
So the rhythm matters more than the marks. Hold a dash for three dots, leave three dots of silence between N and O, and a listener hears "no". If you paste the code into the decoder with no space, it lists the possible readings so you can see this for yourself.
How to say no in Morse code
- Sound or light: one long beep, one short, a pause, then three long beeps.
- Tapping: try the tapper and watch NO appear.
- Blinking: a long blink, a quick blink, a pause, then three long blinks. Together with yes, this gives a person who cannot speak a simple way to answer questions. See how to blink Morse code.
Other ways to say no
| Phrase | Morse code | Play |
|---|---|---|
| No | -. --- | |
| No thanks | -. --- / - .... .- -. -.- ... | |
| Not now | -. --- - / -. --- .-- | |
| No way | -. --- / .-- .- -.-- | |
| Never | -. . ...- . .-. | |
| Negative | -. . --. .- - .. ...- . | |
| No problem | -. --- / .--. .-. --- -... .-.. . -- | |
| Not yet | -. --- - / -.-- . - | |
| Stop | ... - --- .--. |
On the radio the plain word NO is normal. At sea there is a one-letter version: in the International Code of Signals a lone N, -., means “negative”, and a lone C means “affirmative”. Ships can send them by flag, signalling lamp or whistle.
Frequently asked questions
What is no in Morse code?
-. --- (N then O).
How do you say no in Morse code?
Aloud: "dah-dit, dah-dah-dah". To signal it, send a long and a short beep, pause, then three long beeps.
What is the Morse code for no?
The Morse code for no is the letters N and O: -. ---
Is there a single signal for no in Morse code?
Not in everyday use. In the International Code of Signals used at sea, a lone N (-.) means “negative”, but on land and in amateur radio the word is simply spelled N-O.
How long does it take to send no?
About a second at 20 words per minute and about 5 seconds at 5 words per minute.