If you want to move beyond the basic dots and dashes and actually feel how Morse letters behave, the letter C is a very useful milestone. It looks more complex than A or B, but once you lock its rhythm into your head, it becomes one of the easiest patterns to spot in real Morse.
People search for things like:
- What is the letter C in Morse code?
- How do you write C in Morse code?
- What letter is -.-. in Morse?
- How do you know when a letter ends in Morse code?
This page is your focused hub for everything related to the letter C in Morse: its pattern, timing, differences from similar letters, and simple drills to make it automatic.
Quick Answer: What Is the Letter C in Morse Code?
Let’s start with the core fact.
The letter C in Morse code is:
C = -.-.
That is:
- dash
- dot
- dash
- dot
In sound form, you can think of it as:
daaah – dit – daaah – dit
It is a clear alternating pattern: long, short, long, short. Once you recognise that back-and-forth rhythm, your brain will start picking C out of a Morse stream very quickly.
How to Write the Letter C in Morse Code
To send the letter C correctly, you need both the pattern and the timing. The global Morse timing rules are:
- Dot = 1 time unit
- Dash = 3 time units
- Gap between dots and dashes inside the same letter = 1 unit
- Gap between letters = 3 units
- Gap between words = 7 units
For C = -.-. this becomes:
- Dash (3 units)
- Short gap inside the letter (1 unit)
- Dot (1 unit)
- Short gap (1 unit)
- Dash (3 units)
- Short gap (1 unit)
- Dot (1 unit)
- Then a 3-unit pause before the next letter
So the total feel of C is: long – short – long – short in one continuous flow, then a slightly longer pause before the next letter begins.
This timing also answers some of the “rules” type questions:
- How long is each letter in Morse code?
Each letter is as long as the combination of its dots (1 unit) and dashes (3 units) plus the internal 1-unit gaps. C is on the longer side because it contains two dashes and two dots. - How do you know when a letter ends in Morse code?
Inside a letter, the gaps between signals are short (1 unit). When you feel a longer pause of about 3 units, that marks the end of the letter and the start of the next one. - How do you separate letters in Morse code?
You separate letters by leaving that 3-unit gap before sending the next pattern.
Why C Is a Key Pattern Letter
The letter C is not just random complexity. It teaches you two important skills:
- Alternation – switching between dash and dot repeatedly.
- Pattern recognition under symmetry – C looks very similar to other Morse symbols, so training C helps you avoid mix-ups.
C is especially useful because:
- It appears in many common words (code, call, copy, contact, etc.).
- It forces you to handle a dash–dot–dash–dot sequence in a single letter, which is a big upgrade from simple patterns like A (.-) or T (-).
- It makes you more comfortable with letters that start with a dash and then mix dashes and dots.
How C Compares to Similar Morse Patterns
A lot of confusion in Morse comes from patterns that look almost the same. C is a classic example.
Important comparisons:
- C = -.-.
- K = -.-
- R = .-.
- P = .–.
The biggest trap is usually between C and K:
- C ends with a dot → -.-.
- K ends with a dash → -.-
So if you hear dash–dot–dash and it stops, that is K.
If you hear dash–dot–dash followed by a short dit at the end, that is C.
A simple memory hook:
C is like K, but it softens at the end with a final dot.
So when someone asks:
What letter is this in Morse code: -.-. ?
The answer is: C.
Practical Examples Using the Letter C
Let’s put the letter C into some simple words so your brain links sound, pattern, and meaning.
Examples:
- C as a single letter: -.-.
- CO:
- C = -.-.
- O = —
So CO = -.-. —
- CODE:
- C = -.-.
- O = —
- D = -..
- E = .
So CODE = -.-. — -.. .
- CALL:
- C = -.-.
- A = .-
- L = .-..
- L = .-..
The more you see C inside real words, the more automatic it becomes to detect -.-. when you listen to Morse.
Mini Training: Learn to Feel C ( -.-. )
Here are a few lightweight drills to help you lock the letter C into your long-term memory.
1. Decode the pattern
Look at or listen to this pattern:
-.-.
Ask yourself every time:
What letter is this in Morse code?
Correct answer: C.
Repeat it several times in a row:
- See -.-. and say “C”.
- Imagine the sound: daaah dit daaah dit.
2. Encode the letter
Now reverse it. Think of the letter C and produce:
-.-.
You can tap it on a desk:
Long tap (dash), short pause, short tap (dot), short pause, long tap (dash), short pause, short tap (dot).
This builds muscle memory and timing, not just visual memory.
3. Contrast with K and R
To make sure you are not confusing C with similar patterns, mix them in small decode exercises:
- -.- → K
- -.-. → C
- .-. → R
By deliberately training on these three, you will quickly reach the point where your brain separates them without effort.