T

The letter T is the simplest dash-only letter in the Morse alphabet. It is short, strong, and incredibly common, which makes it one of the first “anchor” sounds your ear should learn to recognise in real Morse.

People often search for things like:

• What is the letter T in Morse code?
• How is the letter T represented in Morse?
• What letter is – in Morse code?
• How long is the letter T in Morse code?
• How do you know when a letter ends in Morse code?
• How do you separate letters in Morse code?

This page gives you a focused guide to the letter T: 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 T in Morse Code?

Here is the core fact most learners are looking for:

The letter T in Morse code is:
T = –

That means:
a single dash

In sound form, you can think of it as:

daaah

One long signal, then a pause.

Whenever you hear just one dash followed by a gap long enough to mark the end of a letter, you are almost certainly listening to the letter T.

How to Write the Letter T in Morse Code

To send T correctly, you need to combine the simple dash 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 T = – this becomes:

1. Dash (3 units)
2. Then a 3-unit pause before the next letter

There are no internal gaps for T because it has only one element.

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. T is one of the simplest letters: just a single dash lasting 3 time units.
• How do you know when a letter ends in Morse code?
  Inside a letter, the gaps (if there are multiple elements) are 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 T, you feel one dash, then a noticeable 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. That longer pause is the “end of letter” signal.

Why T Is an Important Morse Letter

T looks almost too simple, but it is extremely important:

• It appears in countless common words: to, it, at, the, that, time, state, start, and many more.
• It helps you anchor dash timing in your ear, which you need to distinguish all the other dash-based letters.
• It forms the base of a whole “dash family” that includes N, M, and O.

You can think of T as the core dash letter:

• T = –
• N = -.
• M = —
• O = —

If you remember T first, you can imagine “building up” to longer dash patterns by adding more dashes.

T also contrasts directly with E:

• E = . (single dot)
• T = – (single dash)

They are perfect opposites in Morse length:

• E is the shortest possible signal (1 unit).
• T is the shortest dash (3 units), but still a single element.

How T Compares to Similar Morse Patterns

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

• T = –
• E = .
• M = —
• N = -.
• O = —

Key differences:

• If you hear a single short dot, that is E, not T.
• If you hear two dashes with a tiny gap between them, that is M.
• If you hear dash–dot, that is N.
• If you hear three dashes, that is O.
• T is simply one dash followed by a longer pause.

So when someone asks:

What letter is – in Morse code?
The answer is: T.

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

Practical Examples Using the Letter T

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

Examples:

• T as a single letter: –
• TO:
  • T = –
  • O = —
    TO = – —
• IT:
  • I = ..
  • T = –
    IT = .. –
• AT:
  • A = .-
  • T = –
    AT = .- –
• NOT:
  • N = -.
  • O = —
  • T = –
    NOT = -. — –
• TIME:
  • T = –
  • I = ..
  • M = —
  • E = .
    TIME = – .. — .

Every time you see or send these words, you reinforce that a single dash is T.

Mini Training: Learn to Feel T (-)

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

1. Decode the pattern

Look at or listen to:

Ask yourself:

What letter is this in Morse code?

Correct answer: T.

Repeat several times:

• Hear a single “daaah” → say “T” instantly.
• Visualise the letter T every time you imagine one long dash followed by a pause.

2. Encode the letter

Now reverse it.

Think of the letter T and send:

dash

You can tap it with your finger:

one long tap, then release and wait a noticeable moment.

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

3. Contrast T with E, M, and N

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

• . → E
  • → T
• — → M
• -. → N

Ask yourself each time:

Was the sound short or long?
Was there only one sound, or more than one?
If there was only one, was it a dot (quick) or a dash (long)?

If there was a single long dash followed by a pause, you are hearing T.