How to Say "Yes" in Morse Code?
Short answer: Yes in Morse Code is: -.-- . ...
That's Y (-.--), E (.), S (...) with a single space between letters. Because Morse is timing-based, you can send "YES" with beeps, flashlight blinks, phone vibration, tapping on a surface, or over radio—no special gear required.
Letter-by-Letter Breakdown
Y
-.-- (Dash-Dot-Dash-Dash)
E
. (Single Dot)
S
... (Three Dots)
Put together with a single space between letters: -.-- . ...
If you ever forget the pattern, remember it ends with the friendly, quick triple-dot S.
Timing Rules (The Key to Clarity)
Morse isn't just dots and dashes—it's proportions. Here is the proper timing:
| Dot | = 1 unit |
| Dash | = 3 units |
| Gap within letter | = 1 unit |
| Gap between letters | = 3 units |
The "YES" Rhythm:
To send Morse code YES cleanly: key -.-- → wait for a 3-unit gap → key . → wait for a 3-unit gap → key .... Keep the tempo steady; clarity beats speed.
How to Send It
Flashlight
Dots are quick blinks. Blink Y (-.--), pause, E (.), pause, S (...). Repeat so it's noticed.
Whistle/Horn
Short vs. sustained blasts give clear contrast. Send three full "YES" groups.
Tapping
Tap counts precisely (1 for dots, 3 for dashes). Keep the 3-unit letter gap crisp.
Radio / Key
Key at a comfortable speed. After "YES," continue with a longer message.
Need to verify a pattern you heard? Convert signals back to text with Morse Code to English.
2-Minute Practice Plan
Listen & Echo
Play the -.-- . ... audio at the top of the page once, then immediately echo it with taps.
Count It Out
Say "one" for dots; "one-two-three" for dashes; "one-two-three" of silence between letters.
Write, Then Send
Note Y | E | S on paper to remind yourself to pause between letters.
Self-Check
Record a quick clip and confirm your dashes are exactly triple the dot length.
Common Mistakes
Dashes too short
If dashes aren't triple-length, Y (-.--) blurs into K (-.-) or Q (--.-). Count the dash out loud.
Skipping letter gaps
Without the full 3-unit gap, E and S blur. Exaggerate the pause while learning.
Uneven tempo
Speeding up on the last letter is common; keep a metronomic rhythm throughout.
Accidental extra dots
Y ends with two dashes; don't clip the final dash into a dot.
When to Use "YES" in Morse
Acknowledgments
Confirm reception of instructions or coordinates with a fast, unambiguous reply.
Group signaling
In noisy or low-light conditions, a simple YES can coordinate teams across short distances.
Learning bridge
"YES" mixes dash-heavy Y with dot-heavy S—great for mastering contrast before longer words.
After this, try SOS in Morse Code or friendly starters like Hi in Morse Code.
Yes in Other Languages
| Language | Phrase | Morse Code |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish / Italian | SI | ... .. |
| French | OUI | --- ..- .. |
| German / Dutch / Swedish | JA | .--- .- |
| Portuguese | SIM | ... .. -- |
| Japanese | HAI | .... .- .. |
Note: Words are shown in simple Latin transcription for consistent International Morse mapping.
English