OK is one of the most “real life” Morse words you can learn because it signals smooth flow. In CW-style exchanges, OK often means “acknowledged,” “understood,” or “that works.” It’s the word you send when you want to confirm receipt and keep moving without drama.
People often search for things like:
What is OK in Morse code?
How do you write OK in Morse code?
What is the Morse code for O?
What is the Morse code for K?
How do you say “okay” in CW?
This page gives you the exact OK pattern, what it means, how timing works, and how to practice it so you send it cleanly and it decodes correctly.
OK in Morse code: the exact pattern
OK = — -.-
That’s:
O, then K
Breakdown by letter:
O = —
That’s: dash, dash, dash
K = -.-
That’s: dash, dot, dash
Written clearly as a word:
— -.-
What OK means (in plain English)
OK means:
Acknowledged / understood / acceptable.
Think of it as:
“Got it.” / “Copy.” / “All good.”
In practice, OK is a compact way to confirm you understood something and you’re aligned. It’s not always “I agree with your opinion,” it’s more like “I’m with you, proceed.”
OK vs YES (don’t mix these)
OK and YES overlap in everyday speech, but in clean communication they have different vibes:
YES = agreement / affirmative answer to a question
OK = acknowledgment / understanding / acceptance of the plan
If someone asks “Are you ready?” → YES fits.
If someone says “Send the report now.” → OK fits (you understood and you’ll do it).
Timing rules for OK (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
OK is a normal word, so you must separate the letters with a standard character gap:
O (—) [3 units gap] K (-.-)
So OK should feel like:
O (three clean dashes) → pause (3 units) → K (dash dot dash)
Because O is long, the risk is that you rush it. Don’t.
Common OK mistakes (avoid these)
Clipping the O (—)
Each dash is 3 units. If you shorten them, O becomes sloppy and may be misheard.
Running O into K
If you don’t leave a clear 3-unit character gap after O, K can blur into the end of O and break readability.
Making K sound like T or M-ish mush
K is -.- (dash dot dash). The dot in the middle must be clearly 1 unit, with clean 1-unit internal gaps.
Accidentally sending “KO”
KO = -.- — (reversed order). This is a classic brain-slip when people speed up too early.
How to use OK (simple examples)
Example 1: Confirming you understood
SEND AGAIN SLOW
OK
Meaning:
“Understood.”
Example 2: Accepting a plan
MEET AT 2100
OK
Meaning:
“That works.”
Example 3: Acknowledging information
INFO RECEIVED
OK
Meaning:
“Copied.”
Practice drills (fast and effective)
Drill 1: O stability drill
Send:
O O O O O
Focus on:
three full dashes, consistent length.
Drill 2: K precision drill
Send:
K K K K K
Focus on:
dash-dot-dash shape stays crisp; dot stays short.
Drill 3: OK spacing lock
Send:
OK (pause) OK (pause) OK
Focus on:
clear 3-unit gap between O and K.