SOS is the most famous Morse code signal on the planet — and for good reason. It’s short, unmistakable when sent correctly, and universally recognized as a distress call. It’s not a “word” in Morse the way people think; it’s a signal pattern designed to cut through noise and be hard to misread.
People often search for things like:
- What is SOS in Morse code?
- How do you write SOS in Morse code?
- What does … — … mean?
- Is SOS still used today?
- How do you separate signals in Morse code?
This page gives you the exact SOS pattern, what it means, how timing works, and how to practice it so you don’t accidentally send garbage spacing.
SOS in Morse code: the exact pattern
SOS = … — …
That’s:
S = …
O = —
S = …
So as a full signal you’ll often see it written as:
…—…
But when you send it, spacing is everything.
What SOS means (in plain English)
SOS means:
“I am in distress. I need urgent help.”
It’s the classic emergency signal, especially associated with maritime and survival scenarios. If you’re sending SOS, the message is: help now.
Important: SOS is a distress signal, not a casual attention grab. Don’t use it as a joke or for “testing.”
Timing rules for SOS (this is where most people mess up)
Morse timing uses units:
- Dot = 1 unit
- Dash = 3 units
- Gap between dots/dashes inside a letter = 1 unit
- Gap between letters = 3 units
- Gap between words = 7 units
To send SOS correctly as letters:
S (…)
(letter gap 3 units)
O (—)
(letter gap 3 units)
S (…)
That makes it very readable as “S O S.”
Why you also see …—…
In emergency practice, SOS is often sent as one continuous distress signal (no letter gaps), because it creates a super distinct rhythm that cuts through bad conditions.
So you’ll see two styles:
- Letter-separated SOS
… — …
(with clear 3-unit letter gaps) - Continuous SOS signal
…—…
(no 3-unit letter gaps, only normal 1-unit gaps between elements)
Both are recognized. The main rule is: be consistent and keep dot/dash timing correct.
Common SOS mistakes (avoid these)
- Dashes that are too short
If your O (—) dashes aren’t full length, SOS loses its signature “heavy middle.” - No spacing control
If you smash everything together randomly, it can sound like a messy burst. Either send clean letter gaps, or send a clean continuous pattern — not half-and-half. - You send it once and stop
In real distress signaling, repetition matters. Send SOS repeatedly with clear breaks.
How to practice SOS (fast drills)
Drill 1: Perfect S and O
Send:
S ( … ) ten times
O ( — ) ten times
Focus on consistent rhythm.
Drill 2: Letter-separated SOS
Send:
… (pause 3) — (pause 3) …
Repeat 5–10 times.
Drill 3: Continuous SOS
Send:
…—…
Repeat 10 times, keeping every dash 3× the dot.
Drill 4: Decode under pressure
Listen and write what you hear:
… — …
…—…
Train your brain to recognize both.