- - . - Dash-Dash-Dot-Dash | Also known as Quebec in the NATO phonetic alphabet
Q in Morse code is --.- (dash-dash-dot-dash).
Q in Morse code is --.- (dash-dash-dot-dash). Starts with two dashes like G and O.
Hear full words containing Q on our free Morse code translator
or browse the alphabet chart.
"Qu-een Queen-ie".
Q = - - . -
International Morse treats timing as part of the character. A dot lasts one time unit, a dash lasts three, the space between elements inside Q is one unit, and the gap before the next letter is three units. When you hear --.- in a word, you are hearing one rhythm — not counting individual beeps. The official character set and ratios are defined in ITU-R M.1677-1 and summarized for beginners on Wikipedia’s Morse code article.
Copy these into the Morse code translator to compare what you hear with what you read. Letters are separated by spaces; words use a slash.
Q → - - . -
Q (- - . -) is often mixed up with letters that share dots, dashes, or rhythm. On the air, context and prosigns disambiguate, but learners should drill look-alikes side by side:
#, you usually have an extra space inside a letter or a symbol that is not ITU Morse.
Pattern: dash-dash-dot-dash. Memory hook: "Qu-een Queen-ie". Say the rhythm out loud while you tap it on a desk — muscle memory beats staring at a chart. Amateur operators often recommend hearing each letter at full speed with longer gaps (Farnsworth spacing); try the Learn preset on the translator, then move to Koch lessons or a shareable Koch practice session. The ARRL learning hub links licensing paths if you want on-air copy practice after the alphabet.
Accessible SVG for Q: dash-dash-dot-dash (--.-) with two opening dashes, labeled Q.
Q is dash-dash-dot-dash in International Morse per ITU-R M.1677-1 ITU-R M.1677-1. Ham operators associate Q with Q-signals, though those prosigns are separate from plain letter Q in spacing. Wikipedia Wikipedia: Morse code lists Q among longer letters introduced late in Koch sequences.
Do not shorten the first two dashes to a single dash, or Q becomes G (--.) plus extra elements.
NATO phonetics use Quebec for Q Wikipedia: NATO phonetic alphabet on voice nets. Morse Q appears in callsign prefixes allocated to certain regions and inside English words like quit during ragchews.
Aviation rarely needs Q in domestic voice except when spelling foreign registrations.
ARRL documentation ARRL: Learning Morse Code explains that Q codes like QTH are procedural abbreviations, while alphabet Q still appears in names. Copy entire Q groups before assuming a procedural meaning.
Practice Q after G and O because dash openings overlap.
Commercial stations used Q codes heavily; alphabet Q nevertheless appeared in ship names on manifests. ITU tables stabilized Q’s shape while Q-signal dictionaries expanded independently.
Museum telegraph displays sometimes conflate Q codes with the letter—read captions carefully.
Compare Q (--.-) with G (--.) noting Q’s trailing dash after the dot. Contrast Q with Z (--..) where dots replace Q’s final dash. Send Q-G-Z cycles at Farnsworth spacing.
If four dashes appear, you may be copying numerals—check message context.
Quebec phonetic appears when spelling international registrations containing Q, while amateur prefix allocations also use Q geographically. Q-code dictionaries published by ARRL explain procedural three-letter groups that are not the same as sending alphabet Q within names. Study both topics separately, linking only through shared letter shape --.- timing. Wikipedia lists Q codes with historical maritime usage; reading primary descriptions prevents mythologizing incorrect meanings. When copying Q in callsigns, wait for four elements ending in dash before logging, distinguishing Q from G with trailing dash.
Contest operators may send Q quickly in serial numbers; rely on fixed group length in exchange structure rather than guessing. ITU conference proceedings summarized on Wikipedia show alphabet Q stable while Q signals evolved independently.
Quebec phonetic clarifies international registrations while Morse Q codes remain procedural abbreviations documented by ARRL references. Read Wikipedia Q-code lists for historical context without conflating them with alphabet timing --.- during callsign copy. Schedule Q-G-Z comparison drills weekly until final dot-versus-dash endings stay distinct at target speed.
Contest serial numbers may include Q; rely on exchange structure rather than guessing from partial dashes alone.
Quebec phonetic for international registrations differs from Q-code procedural vocabulary cataloged by ARRL; study both but copy timing --.- as alphabet Q during call sign logging. Weekly Q-G-Z comparison prevents final-element swaps that arise when operators skip late-alphabet maintenance drills during busy contest seasons. Wikipedia Q-code history pages provide responsible context without encouraging on-air misuse of procedural signals during practice.
Maintain a personal glossary distinguishing Q codes from alphabet Q timing, citing ARRL and Wikipedia entries during club teaching moments without transmitting procedural signals on air.
Quiz yourself on Q-code meanings separately from alphabet Q timing using ARRL published lists, then copy callsigns containing Q without inserting procedural shorthand accidentally.
Independent Morse tools · ITU-R M.1677-1 · No fabricated operator identity
These pages document a free browser translator and trainer. Timing follows International Morse (ITU-R M.1677-1). We do not claim an FCC callsign or Extra Class license for the site operator. Use the tools for practice; licensed instruction still matters for on-air work.
Last verified: September 2026 · Standard: ITU-R M.1677-1 · About · Editorial policy · Contact · Privacy