LOVE is one of the best “sticky” Morse words to practice because it’s meaningful, easy to remember, and forces clean letter spacing. It’s not a procedural signal — it’s a normal word spelled letter-by-letter — which makes it perfect for learning how real Morse writing works across multiple characters.
People often search for things like:
What is LOVE in Morse code?
How do you write LOVE in Morse code?
What is the Morse code for L?
What is the Morse code for V?
How do you send “love” in CW?
This page gives you the exact LOVE pattern, what it means, how timing works, and how to practice it so it copies cleanly.
LOVE in Morse code: the exact pattern
LOVE = .-.. — …- .
That’s:
L, then O, then V, then E
Breakdown by letter:
L = .-..
That’s: dot, dash, dot, dot
O = —
That’s: dash, dash, dash
V = …-
That’s: dot, dot, dot, dash
E = .
That’s: dot
Written clearly as a word:
.-.. — …- .
What LOVE means (in plain English)
LOVE means:
Affection / positive sentiment / “love.”
Think of it as:
“I care.” / “sending love.” / “respect.”
In practice, it’s often used in training messages, friendly sign-offs, or practice transmissions where you want a memorable word that’s still built from core letters.
LOVE vs procedural sign-offs (don’t mix these)
LOVE is not a sign-off signal.
LOVE = a normal word (spelled letter-by-letter)
AR = end of message block
SK = end of contact (final sign-off)
You can send LOVE in a message, but if you’re ending the contact, SK is still the proper final marker.
Timing rules for LOVE (this is the whole game)
Morse timing uses units:
Dot = 1 unit
Dash = 3 units
Gap between elements inside one character = 1 unit
Gap between characters (letters) = 3 units
Gap between words = 7 units
LOVE is a normal word, so you must separate each letter with a standard character gap:
L (.-..) [3 units] O (—) [3 units] V (…-) [3 units] E (.)
So LOVE should feel like:
L → pause → O → pause → V → pause → E
O is long, and V has a “three dots then dash” shape — those are the two places people get sloppy.
Common LOVE mistakes (avoid these)
Blending letters together
If you compress letter spacing, LOVE becomes an unreadable stream. Keep 3 units between letters.
Clipping O (—)
Each dash must be full length (3 units). If you rush O, it stops being O.
Turning V (…-) into S (…)
V is three dots then a dash. If your dash is too short, it turns into S, and the whole word becomes confusing.
Over-pausing before E
E is a single dot at the end. If you pause too long before it, it can sound like the word ended at V. Keep the letter gap normal.
How to use LOVE (simple examples)
Example 1: Simple friendly message
LOVE
Meaning:
“Love.”
Example 2: In a short sentence
SEND LOVE
Meaning:
A positive message using a real word gap between SEND and LOVE.
Example 3: Friendly close (still end properly)
LOVE AR
73 SK
Meaning:
End the message block cleanly, then do a final sign-off properly.
Practice drills (fast and effective)
Drill 1: L clarity drill
Send L ten times:
.-..
Goal:
dash is 3 units, last two dots crisp and not rushed.
Drill 2: O stability drill
Send O ten times:
Goal:
three clean dashes, consistent length.
Drill 3: V vs S confusion check
Alternate:
S (…) then V (…-)
Goal:
V ends with a clear dash; S never does.
Drill 4: Full word discipline
Send:
LOVE (pause) LOVE (pause) LOVE
Goal:
clean 3-unit letter gaps and stable shapes for O and V.