Morse code mnemonics

Morse code mnemonics are systems to represent the sound of Morse characters in a way intended to be easy to remember. Since every one of these mnemonics requires a two-step mental translation between sound and character, none of these systems are useful for using manual Morse at practical speeds. Amateur radio clubs can provide resources to learn Morse code.

Cross-linguistic

Visual mnemonic

Baden-Powell's mnemonic chart from 1918

Visual mnemonic charts have been devised over the ages. Baden-Powell included one in the Girl Guides handbook[1] in 1918.

A contemporary Morse code chart

Here is a more up-to-date version, ca. 1988:

Other visual mnemonic systems have been created for Morse code, mapping the elements of the Morse code characters onto pictures for easy memorization. For instance, "R" (▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄) might be represented as a "racecar" seen in a profile view, with the two wheels of the racecar being the dits and the body being the dah.

English

Syllabic mnemonics

Syllabic mnemonics are based on the principle of associating a word or phrase to each Morse code letter, with stressed syllables standing for a dah and unstressed ones for a dit. There is no well-known complete set of syllabic mnemonics for English, but various mnemonics do exist for individual letters.

Letter	Morse Code	Mnemonic
A	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	al-FA, al-THOUGH, a-GAIN, a-JAR, or a-PART
B	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	BE a good boy, BOB is the man, or BOOT to the head
C	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	CO-ca CO-la, COC-a COL-a, CHAR-lie's AN-gels, COOK-ie CLICK-er, or CHAR-lie CHAR-lie
D	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	DOG (dad) did it, DOCK work-er, DAN-ger-ous, or DRAC-u-la
E	▄▄▄▄	eh?, or hey!
F	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Freddie FOX-trot, fetch a FIRE man, fe-ne-STRA-tion, Fi-tti-PAL-di, did i FAIL it?, get a HAIR-cut, for the FAIR-est, did she LIKE it, or did it HURT you
G	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	GREAT GATS-by, GOO-GLE ad, HOLE IN one!, GOO-GOL-plex (a 1 with a googol zeros), GOOD GRAV-y, or GOD LOVES it
H	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	hip-pi-ty hop, hitting the hip, or Hol-i-day Inn
I	▄▄▄▄▄▄	did it, dig-it, Bom-bay (India), Keke, or i-bid.
J	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	in JAWS JAWS JAWS, the JU-LIE JAY, he's J JONAH JAMESON, where-FORE ART THOU?, or I WANT YOU, JONES
K	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	KAN-dy KID (candy kid), KICK the CAN, POUND for POUND, or KAN-ga-ROO
L	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	a LIGHT is lit, to 'ELL with it!, he LOST his lid, Li-MA Pe-ru, li-BRA-ri-an, li-NO-le-um, a LA-dy bug, or Los AN-ge-les
M	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	MMMM-MMMM, MA-MA, LIKE MIKE, or MORE MILK!
N	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	NI-gel, NA-vy, NA-zi, NOO-gie, AU-tumn, or NU-dist
O	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	O-RE-O, ONE OF US, HO HO HO, SUN-NY DAY, or OH! MY! GOD!
P	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	a PIZ-ZA pie, pa-RADE PA-nel, of DOC-TOR good, did POP POP it, or a POO-PY smell
Q	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	PAY-DAY to-DAY, QUEUE OV-er HERE, HERE COMES the BRIDE (queen), QUEEN’s WED-ding DAY GOD SAVE the QUEEN, or QUEEN NEEDS a STEED
R	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	ro-TA-tion, re-FLEC-tor, ro-MER-o, a RABB-it, or Br'er RABB-it
S	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	sí-sí-sí, sk-sk-sk, or Ne-va-da
T	▄▄▄▄▄▄	THRUST or TALL
U	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	gid-dy UP, u-ni-FORM, un-der-NEATH un-der WHERE?!, or kiss a EWE jing-le-BELLS
V	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Beet-ho-ven's FIFTH (V'th) vic-tor-y VEE, or vee-vee-vee VA
W	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	the WORLD WAR, with WHITE WHALE, or mo WA WA
X	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	X marks the SPOT, CROSS at the DOOR, ON-ly the BONES, or EX-tra ex-PENSE
Y	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	WHY did I DIE?, JACK and CO-KE, ON a PO-NY, YEL-low YO-YO, or YOU'RE a COOL DUDE
Z	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	ZSA ZSA did it, SHA-KA Zu-lu, or ZINC ZOO-keep-er

Character	Morse Code	Syllabic	Mnemonic
.	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	a STOP a STOP a STOP	Periods are also known as "full stops".
,	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	COM-MA, it's a COM-MA	Self-explanatory.
?	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	it's a QUES-TION, is it?	Self-explanatory.
:	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	HA-WA-II stan-dard time	The clocks in Hawaii are always on standard time, and don't turn an hour ahead in the summer. Colons are used in displaying time (like in "10:23").
/	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	SHAVE and a HAIR-cut	The rhythm from the musical routine. see Shave and a Haircut. (NOTE: also Fraction Bar and Division Sign)
"	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	six-TY-six nine-TY-nine	Quotation marks resemble a 66 at the beginning of a quote, and a 99 at the end of a quote.
'	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	and THIS STUFF GOES TO me!	An apostrophe may be used to denote ownership of property.
;	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	A-list, B-list, C-list	A semicolon may be used to group ordered lists in the same sentence.

Slavic languages

In the Czech language, the mnemonic device to remember Morse codes lies in remembering words that begin with each appropriate letter and has so called long vowel (i.e. á é í ó ú ý) for every dash and short vowel (a e i o u y) for every dot. Additionally, some other theme-related sets of words have been thought out as Czech folklore.

Letter	Morse Code	Czech word	Translation	Alternative (folklore)	Translation
A	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	akát	acacia	absťák	abstinence symptoms
B	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	blýskavice	lightning storm	blít až doma	vomit until at home
C	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	cílovníci	aiming sights	cíl je výčep	the target is the taproom
D	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	dálnice	highway	dám jedno	I'll have one (beer)
E	▄▄▄▄	erb	coat of arms	ex	one-sip-drinking
F	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Filipíny	Philippines	Fernet píše	the Fernet's pungent
G	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Grónská zem	the land of Greenland	grónský rum	rum of Greenland
H	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	holubice	dove (female)	hruškovice	Pear brandy
Ch	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	chléb nám dává	(he) gives us bread	chvátám k pípám	I rush to the faucets
I	▄▄▄▄▄▄	ibis	Ibis	Iron	Iron (window cleaning agent with alcohol content)
J	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	jasmín bílý	white Jasmine	Jabčák bílý	White Apple brandy
K	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	království	kingdom	kýbl vín	pot of wines
L	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	lední hokej	ice hockey	likéreček	little liquor
M	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	mává	waving	mží z píp	it's sprinkling out of faucets
N	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	národ	nation	návyk	habit
O	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	ó náš pán	oh, our lord	ó můj líh	oh, my alcohol
P	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	papírníci	paper-makers	pivní tácek	beer underpad
Q	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	kvílí orkán	wailing hurricane	kvílím ožrán	I wail drunked
R	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	rarášek	imp	rumíček	little rum
S	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	sekera	axe	sud je tu	the barrel's here
T	▄▄▄▄▄▄	tón	tone	té	tea
U	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	učený	erudite	uchlastán	fully loaded
V	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	vyvolený	the chosen one	vodka finská	Finnish vodka
W	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	waltrův vůz	Walter's carriage	whiskou plout	to float through Whiskey
X	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Xénokratés	Xenocrates	k sýru burčák	new half-fermented wine with cheese
Y	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Ýgar mává	Ygar is waving	ý, jsem zlámán	ee, I'm a mess
Z	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Zrádná žena	perfidious woman	zlískám se hned	I get stoned quickly

In Polish language, which does not distinguish long and short vowels, Morse mnemonics are also words or short phrases that begin with each appropriate letter, but dash is coded as a syllable containing an "o" (or "ó"), while a syllable containing another vowel codes for dot. For some letters, multiple mnemonics are in use; the table shows one example.

Letter	Morse Code	Polish word	Translation
A	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	azot	nitrogen
B	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	botanika	botany
C	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	co mi zrobisz	what will you do to me
D	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	dolina	valley
E	▄▄▄▄	Ełk	Ełk
F	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	filantropia	philanthropy
G	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	gospoda	inn/tavern
H	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	halabarda	halberd
Ch	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	chlorowodór	hydrogen chloride
I	▄▄▄▄▄▄	igła	needle
J	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	jednokonno	on/with one horse
K	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	kolano	knee
L	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Leonidas	Leonidas
Ł	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	no mnemonic
M	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	motor	motor
N	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	noga	leg
O	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Opoczno	Opoczno
P	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Peloponez	Peloponnese
R	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	retorta	retort
S	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Sahara	Sahara
T	▄▄▄▄▄▄	tor	track/rail line
U	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Ursynów	Ursynów
W	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	winorośl	grapevine (plant)
Y	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	York, Hull, Oxford	three British university towns
Z	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	Złotoryja	Złotoryja

Hebrew

Invented in 1922 by Zalman Cohen, a communication soldier in the Haganah organization.

אות	קוד	קיצור	אות	קוד	קיצור
א	· −	אִמָּא	ל	· − · ·	לִבַּבְתִּנִי
ב	− · · ·	בַּשְּׁלִי לִי מִיץ	מ	− −	מַפָּ"ם
ג	− − ·	גַּנָּבִים	נ	− ·	נָעִים
ד	− · ·	דָלִיתִי	ס	− · − ·	סָבִי אָבִי
ה	− − −	הֲגָנָה	ע	· − − −	עִיר הַנַּמָּל
ו	·	וִי	פ	· − − ·	פִּיל קַנָּדִי
ז	− − · ·	זַמָּר לִירִי	צ	· − −	צִיטָטָה
ח	· · · ·	חִכִּיתִי לִי	ק	− − · −	קַטָּרִינָה
ט	· · −	טִיףּ טִפָּה	ר	· − ·	רִנָתִי
י	· ·	יִידִישׁ	ש	· · ·	שִׁירִי לִי
כ	− · −	כַּבִּירָה	ת	−	תָּו

Indonesia

In Indonesia, one mnemonic commonly taught in scouting method to remember Morse codes lies in remembering words that begin with each appropriate letter and substituting the o vowel for every dash and other vowels (a, i, u, and e) for every dot.

Letter	Morse Code	Word
A	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	alok
B	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	bocah kecil
C	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	coca-cola
D	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	doremi
E	▄▄▄▄	eh
F	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	fanta loe
G	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	gotongin
H	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	hayamwuruk
I	▄▄▄▄▄▄	ipin
J	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	jago loro
K	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	komando
L	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	lego dia
M	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	motor
N	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	nomer
O	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	om toto
P	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	pertolongan
Q	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	qomokaro
R	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	rasome
S	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	samlekum
T	▄▄▄▄▄▄	tol
U	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	upin-o
V	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	versi gayo
W	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	wahyoo
X	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	xosendero
Y	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	yosimono
Z	▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄	zoro-aster

References

1. "Girl Guiding by Lord Baden-Powell" (PDF). Pearson. 1938. Retrieved 2015-09-06. Some people find it easier to remember the does [sic] and dashes by picturing them as forming the letters— thus:— (p61)