N

The letter N is one of the core dash-led letters in the Morse alphabet. It is short, clear, and appears in a huge number of everyday words, which makes it a very important pattern to master early.

People often search for things like:

• What is the letter N in Morse code?
• How is the letter N represented in Morse?
• What letter is -. in Morse code?
• How do you separate letters in Morse code?
• How do you know when a letter ends in Morse code?

This page gives you a focused guide to the letter N: its exact pattern, timing rules, how it relates to similar letters, and simple drills to make it automatic in both decoding and sending.

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

Here is the core fact most learners are looking for:

The letter N in Morse code is:
N = -.

That means:
dash – dot

In sound form, you can think of it as:

daaah – dit

One long signal followed by a short one.
Whenever you hear a dash immediately followed by a dot, then a pause, you are likely listening to the letter N.

How to Write the Letter N in Morse Code

To send N correctly, you combine the simple pattern with the standard Morse timing rules.

Global timing rules:

• 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 N = -. this becomes:

1. Dash (3 units)
2. Short internal gap (1 unit)
3. Dot (1 unit)
4. Then a 3-unit pause before the next letter

This directly answers some of the classic rule questions:

• How long is each letter in Morse code?
  Each letter is as long as its dots and dashes plus the 1-unit internal gaps. N is compact: one dash, one dot, and one internal gap.
• How do you know when a letter ends in Morse code?
  Inside a letter, the gaps are very short (1 unit). When the silence stretches to around 3 units, that marks the end of the letter and the beginning of the next one. For N, you feel dash, tiny gap, dot, then a noticeably longer pause.
• How do you separate letters in Morse code?
  You separate letters by leaving that 3-unit gap between the end of one letter and the start of the next.

Why N Is an Important Morse Letter

N looks simple, but it is extremely powerful in real Morse use:

• It appears in countless common words: in, on, no, and, not, name, number, signal and many more.
• It teaches you to handle a pattern that starts with a dash and ends with a dot, which is different from a lot of dot-first letters.
• It helps you understand the relationship between “mirror” letters in Morse.

In fact, N and A are perfect opposites:

• A = .- (dot–dash)
• N = -. (dash–dot)

You can think of N as “A reversed”.

N also fits into a “dash family” with T, M, D, and B:

• T = –
• N = -.
• D = -..
• B = -…

Once you see it inside that family, it becomes much easier to remember.

How N Compares to Similar Morse Patterns

To keep N clear in your mind, compare it directly with nearby patterns:

• N = -.
• A = .-
• T = –
• D = -..
• M = —

Key differences:

• If you hear a single dash only, that is T.
• If you hear dash–dot and then a pause, that is N.
• If you hear dash–dot–dot, that is D.
• If you hear dash–dash, that is M.
• If the pattern is dot–dash instead of dash–dot, that is A, not N.

So when someone asks:

What letter is -. in Morse code?
The answer is: N.

You can remember it as “one dash, then one dot, then stop.”

Practical Examples Using the Letter N

Seeing and hearing N inside real words helps your brain make the pattern feel natural.

Examples:

• N as a single letter: -.
• IN:
  • I = ..
  • N = -.
    IN = .. -.
• NO:
  • N = -.
  • O = —
    NO = -. —
• NAME:
  • N = -.
  • A = .-
  • M = —
  • E = .
• AND:
  • A = .-
  • N = -.
  • D = -..

Every time you see or send these small, common words, you reinforce the idea that dash–dot is N.

Mini Training: Learn to Feel N ( -. )

Here are a few quick drills to make the letter N feel automatic.

1. Decode the pattern

Look at or listen to:

-.

Ask yourself:

What letter is this in Morse code?

Correct answer: N.

Repeat several times:

• Hear a long beep followed by a short beep → say “N” immediately.
• Visualise the letter N every time you imagine dash–dot with a pause after it.

2. Encode the letter

Now reverse it.

Think of the letter N and send:

dash – dot

You can tap it with your finger:

long tap, tiny gap, short tap.

This links the rhythm to your hand and your ear, not just your eyes.

3. Contrast N with A, T, and D

To avoid mixing N with similar letters, practise them as a small set:

• .- → A
• -. → N
  • → T
• -.. → D

Ask yourself each time:

Did it start with a dot or a dash?
Did I hear just a dash, dash–dot, or dash–dot–dot?

If it started with a dash and had exactly one dot after it, you are hearing N.