E

The letter E is the simplest possible Morse character – a single, short signal.
Because of that, it plays a huge role in real-world Morse: it is fast to send, easy to recognise, and appears constantly in messages, words, and abbreviations.

People often search for things like:

• What is the letter E in Morse code?
• In Morse code, what letter represents a single dot?
• How do you write E in Morse code?
• How do you know when a letter ends in Morse?

This page is your focused hub for the letter E: its pattern, timing, why it matters so much, and how to train it properly.

Quick Answer: What Is the Letter E in Morse Code?

The letter E in Morse code is:

E = .

Just one dot.
No dash, no extra signals.

When people ask:

In Morse code, what letter represents a single dot?
The correct answer is: E.

That is why E is often the very first letter taught in Morse training.

How to Write the Letter E in Morse Code

Even though E is just a single dot, it still follows the same timing rules as the entire Morse system.

The global 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 E = . this means:

1. You send one short signal (1 unit).
2. Then you leave a pause of 3 units before the next letter.

There are no internal gaps for E because it is only a single element.

This timing also connects to common questions:

• How long is each letter in Morse code?
  Letters are as long as their dots and dashes plus internal gaps. E is the shortest possible letter: just one dot.
• How do you know when a letter ends in Morse code?
  Inside a letter, internal gaps are 1 unit. When you feel a longer pause of 3 units, the letter has ended. For E, you feel dot → then straight into that longer pause.
• How do you separate letters in Morse code?
  You leave a 3-unit pause, even after the shortest letter like E.

Why E Is So Important in Morse

E is not just “the easy one”. It is foundational for several reasons:

• It appears in a huge number of English words, so you hear it constantly in real Morse communication.
• It trains your ear to detect the shortest possible signal.
• It acts as a building block for other patterns. For example:
  • A = .- (E plus a dash after a short internal gap)
  • I = .. (two E-length signals with a short internal gap)

If your brain can instantly recognise E, everything else in Morse becomes easier, because you always know what “short” feels like.

How E Compares to Similar Morse Patterns

To avoid confusion, it helps to compare E with other short letters:

• E = .
• I = ..
• S = …
• T = –

A simple way to view them:

• Single dot → E
• Two dots → I
• Three dots → S
• Single dash → T

So when you see or hear only one short signal, that is E, not I or S.

Another common confusion happens between E and the beginning of more complex letters, for example:

• A = .-
• R = .-.

Here, E is basically the “front” of those patterns. The difference is that A and R continue after a short internal gap, while E is followed by the longer 3-unit pause between letters.

Practical Examples Using the Letter E

Let’s put E into some real words to make the pattern feel natural:

• E alone: .
• BE:
  • B = -…
  • E = .
    So BE = -… .
• ME:
  • M = —
  • E = .
    So ME = — .
• CODE:
  • C = -.-.
  • O = —
  • D = -..
  • E = .
    So CODE = -.-. — -.. .

When listening to Morse, start noticing how often a single short dot appears at the end of words – that is frequently the letter E.

Mini Training: Learn to Feel E ( . )

Use these small drills to make E fully automatic.

1. Decode the single dot

Look at or listen to:

.

Ask yourself:

What letter is this in Morse code?

Answer: E.

Repeat several times:

• Hear one short beep → say “E” instantly.
• Visualise the letter E every time you see or imagine a single dot.

2. Encode the letter

Now reverse it.

Think of the letter E and send:

One short tap. That is all.

You can tap it on your desk, on your leg, or even on a key:

Short tap → longer pause before anything else.

This trains the feeling of “minimal signal”.

3. Contrast with I, S, and T

To avoid mixing E with other short patterns, practise small sets:

• . → E
• .. → I
• … → S
  • → T

Ask yourself:

How many short signals did I hear before the pause?
If it was exactly one, it was E.