YES is one of the highest-utility words in Morse because it ends confusion instantly. In real CW-style exchanges, “YES” is how you confirm instructions, acknowledge a question, or signal agreement without needing a full sentence. If you want your Morse to feel practical (not just academic), YES is a core word to lock in early.
People often search for things like:
What is YES in Morse code?
How do you write YES in Morse code?
What is the Morse code for Y?
What is the Morse code for E?
What is the Morse code for S?
This page gives you the exact YES pattern, what it means, how timing works, and how to practice it so you send it cleanly and it decodes correctly.
YES in Morse code: the exact pattern
YES = -.– . …
That’s:
Y, then E, then S
Breakdown by letter:
Y = -.–
That’s: dash, dot, dash, dash
E = .
That’s: dot
S = …
That’s: dot, dot, dot
Written clearly as a word:
-.– . …
What YES means (in plain English)
YES means:
Confirmation / agreement / “affirmative”.
Think of it as:
“Got it.” / “Correct.” / “I agree.”
In structured exchanges, YES is used when the other station asks a direct question and you want to confirm quickly without adding noise.
YES vs other common confirmations (don’t mix these)
YES is a word (spelled letter-by-letter), not a signal.
YES = agreement / confirmation
OK = acknowledged / understood (often “I received you” more than “I agree”)
R (or RGR / ROGER in some contexts) = received / copied (radio-style acknowledgment)
If you agree with the content: YES fits.
If you’re confirming receipt/understanding: OK or R fits better.
Timing rules for YES (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
YES is a normal word, meaning you must send each letter separately with correct letter spacing:
Y (-.–) [3 units gap] E (.) [3 units gap] S (…)
So YES should feel like:
Y (tight inside) → small pause (3 units) → E → small pause (3 units) → S
If you mess up the 3-unit letter gaps, YES can blur into nonsense.
Common YES mistakes (avoid these)
Running the letters together
If you use 1-unit spacing between letters, YES stops being “Y E S” and becomes a confusing long pattern. Keep 3 units between letters.
Over-pausing between letters
If you pause too long (like a 7-unit word gap), it can sound like three separate words. Keep letters at 3 units, save 7 units for real word breaks.
Messing up Y (-.–)
Y is the “shape” letter here. If your final two dashes aren’t clearly 3 units each, it gets sloppy fast.
Turning YES into “OK” behavior
YES = agreement. OK = acknowledgment. In real back-and-forth, that difference matters.
How to use YES (simple examples)
Example 1: Answering a direct question
Q: READY?
YES
Meaning:
“I’m ready.”
Example 2: Confirming an instruction
SEND REPORT NOW
YES
Meaning:
“I confirm / I will do it.”
Example 3: Confirming accuracy
IS THIS CORRECT?
YES
Meaning:
“Correct.”
Practice drills (fast and effective)
Drill 1: Letter spacing discipline
Send:
YES (pause) YES (pause) YES
Focus on:
clean 3-unit gaps between Y / E / S.
Drill 2: Y stability drill
Send:
Y Y Y Y Y
Then:
YES YES YES
Your goal:
Y stays consistent and doesn’t collapse into a messy long dash sequence.
Drill 3: YES vs NO contrast
Alternate:
YES (.-) NO
But in Morse:
YES = -.– . …
NO = -. —
Your goal:
YES feels “three-part,” NO feels “two-part” with a heavy O at the end.