Reference plate · Letter 26 of 26
Z in Morse code
Z in Morse code is "--..": two dashes followed by two dots, spoken "dah-dah-di-dit". It is one of the 12 four-element letters, so it sits four steps from the root of the Morse code tree. The 7-day plan teaches Z on day 6. At 20 words per minute it takes 660 milliseconds to send.
dah-dah-di-dit
- Code
- −−··
- At 20 WPM
- 660ms
- Plan day
- 6
Z · dah-dah-di-dit
dash dash dot dot
Z at a glance
- Morse code
- --..
- Spoken
- dah-dah-di-dit
- Elements
- 4: two dashes and two dots
- At 20 WPM
- 660 ms
- At 5 WPM
- 2640 ms
- Morse tree
- 4 steps from the root, below G
- 7-day plan
- Day 6, with B, X, C, Y and Q
- Koch order
- 24 of 36
Where Z sits in the Morse code tree
The path through the Morse code tree to Z: from the root, a dash to T, a dash to M, a dot to G then a dot to Z.
In the Morse code tree a dot branches left and a dash branches right, so every character sits exactly where its own code leads. Z sits four steps from the root, directly below G. No letter hangs below Z: it is a leaf of the tree.
See the whole Morse code treeCharacters confused with Z
Z is easiest to mistake for B, L or Q. Practise them back to back until the difference is a sound rather than a count.
How to learn Z
7-day plan
The plan teaches Z on day 6, together with B, X, C, Y and Q. Learn it by its sound, "dah-dah-di-dit", at full speed rather than by counting its elements.
In the Koch method it is character 24 of 36.
Practise
Practice brings Z back just before you would forget it, in all three skills: copying it by ear, reading it, and sending it yourself.
Questions about Z in Morse code
- What is Z in Morse code?
- Z in Morse code is "--..", spoken dah-dah-di-dit. It is four elements long (dash dash dot dot) and takes 660 milliseconds to send at 20 words per minute. It sits four steps from the root of the Morse code tree.
- Which Morse code characters are confused with Z?
- Z (--..) is easy to confuse with B (-...), L (.-..) and Q (--.-), each of which differs from it by a single element. Practise them back to back until the difference is a sound rather than a count.
- How do you learn Z in Morse code?
- By its sound, not its shape: Z is spoken dah-dah-di-dit. Listen to it at full speed instead of counting its elements. MorseForge's 7-day plan teaches it on day 6, together with B, X, C, Y and Q.