K in Morse Code — Symbol, Sound & What It Means on Radio
The letter K in Morse code is −·− — a dash, a dot, then another dash, sent as "dah-dit-dah." Sent on its own, it also carries a special meaning on real radio channels. Hear it and try it below.
K in Morse Code — Try It
−·−
K
The Letter That Reads the Same Both Ways
K is built from a dash, a dot, and another dash — heavy, light, heavy. Because the pattern is a mirror of itself, it has a balanced, almost musical rhythm that's easy to lock onto once you've heard it a few times, unlike letters where the signals run in a less predictable order.
Beyond spelling, K also does double duty as a radio prosign: sent by itself with no letters around it, K signals "go ahead" or "over," telling the other operator it's their turn to reply — a shortcut that saves spelling out the whole word every time, much like L anchors "I L Y" as shorthand rather than a full phrase.
Common Words That Feature K
K shows up in one of the most famous two-letter words in any language, plus a few other short, useful ones.
| Word | Morse Code |
|---|---|
| OK | −−− −·− |
| KEY | −·− · −·−− |
| ASK | ·− ··· −·− |
"OK" is worth practicing first — it's short, globally recognized, and a genuinely useful message to be able to flash or tap if you ever need to signal that you're safe.
Slip-Ups Worth Avoiding Early On
- Flipping the order so the dot comes first, which turns K into its mirror image, R (·−·).
- Adding a trailing dot, which extends K into C (−·−·) instead.
- Sending a second dash at the end rather than stopping after one, which produces Y (−·−−).
- Letting the middle dot run long enough that it starts to sound like a third dash.
Putting K to Work in a Real Word
A quick way to test whether the dah-dit-dah rhythm has stuck is to send a short word that leads with it. "KIND" pairs K with three other common letters:
−·− ·· −· −··
Type any word like this into the Morse code translator to hear it played back and compare it against your own tapped or flashed attempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Morse code for the letter K?
- −·− — a dash, a dot, then another dash, spoken as dah-dit-dah.
- Why does K feel symmetrical?
- It's a dash on both ends with one dot in the middle, so the pattern mirrors itself.
- What does K mean sent alone on the radio?
- A prosign meaning "go ahead" or "over" — signaling it's the other operator's turn to reply.
- Which letters get confused with K?
- R (·−·) is K reversed, C (−·−·) adds a trailing dot, and Y (−·−−) ends in two dashes instead of one.
- Is K a good letter for beginners?
- Yes — its short, symmetrical rhythm is quick to learn, and its radio meaning is a fun bonus.