K in Morse Code: -.-

History of Letter K in Morse Code

The letter K in Morse code is -.- — dash, dot, dash. It is a three-signal letter with a perfectly symmetrical structure: one long tone, one short tap, one long tone. K was codified in the International Morse standard adopted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1865, which brought a single unified alphabet to telegraph networks spanning Europe, the Americas, and beyond.

The -.- pattern is one of the most balanced and pleasing in the entire alphabet — its outer dashes bracket the inner dot like a pair of bookends. Experienced operators describe K's sound as a firm knock, a tap, then another firm knock: a satisfying three-beat rhythm that sits naturally under the fingers at any keying speed. Its symmetry also makes it one of the most resistant to timing errors — unlike front-heavy or back-heavy patterns, -.- is easy to centre rhythmically.

K holds extraordinary cultural weight in amateur radio: it doubles as the prosign K, meaning "over" or "go ahead." Every CW contact ends its transmissions with K, making -.- one of the most transmitted patterns in the entire history of amateur radio — not just as a letter, but as a fundamental operating signal.

Morse Code Alphabet Chart — Letter K in Context

Every letter in International Morse Code uses between one and four signals. K (-.-) is a three-signal letter with perfect dash-dot-dash symmetry. See where it sits among the full alphabet:

K (-.-) and R (.-.) are structural cousins — both are three-signal letters containing one dot and two dashes, but arranged in opposite order. K brackets its dot between two dashes; R brackets its dash between two dots. Practising -.- and .-. back-to-back trains your ear on a satisfying inside-out contrast, and the symmetry of both patterns makes them easier to retain together than in isolation.

Tips for Memorising Letter K in Morse Code

Dash-dot-dash — K is one of the most symmetrical and satisfying patterns in Morse code. Here are four techniques to make -.- completely automatic:

• The "DAH-dit-DAH" chant: Say "DAH-dit-DAH" with equal weight on the outer beats and a light, quick tap in the middle. The outer-heavy, inner-light structure is acoustically distinctive. Chant it with your eyes closed until you can reproduce the rhythm instantly — most learners lock in K within minutes because its symmetry is so natural to the human sense of rhythm.
• End every transmission with it: K is the prosign for "go ahead." From your very first practice session, append -.- to the end of every simulated transmission. The habit is operationally correct and provides repetition in a meaningful context — you will send K hundreds of times in a single evening without it ever feeling like a drill.
• Mirror it with R (.-.): R is dot-dash-dot and K is dash-dot-dash. Send .-. then -.- in a loop. The inside-out contrast — dot on the outside vs dash on the outside — makes both patterns click simultaneously. This is one of the most acoustically satisfying mirror-pair drills in the three-signal tier.
• Visualise the bracket: Picture -.- as a pair of square brackets [ ] surrounding the dot: the dashes are the walls, the dot is the content inside. Whenever you hear K, picture those brackets snapping shut. This spatial metaphor anchors the pattern in visual memory and reinforces the sense that K always opens and closes with the same heavy signal.

Practice: What Is the Morse Code for K?

Select the correct Morse code for K:

How to Remember Letter K in Morse Code

Related Morse Code Letters

Other letters often learned alongside K: