Code Speak – Ditty Dah Dah Di Dit
By: Kent Petty, KL5T, January 26, 2021
I’ve seen some writings of late addressing Morse code, how to learn it, etc. and found some of it a bit lacking. I thought I’d weigh in with my opines on dots and dashes, dits and dahs, etc. I’m drawing from my 7 months of Morse code school training in the U.S. Air Force, and 20 years as a USAF Morse Operator. By the way, that was the best job on the planet!
For starters, aside from your very first introduction to Morse code, there is little value in learning that A = “. –“ and B = “- . . .”, etc. It can help you initially learn the construct of the code, but it won’t help you progress and advance your speed and accuracy. You have to learn to properly speak the code. This code speak consists of using the following words in the proper combinations (don’t worry, it will become clear): di, dit, ditty, and dah.
So how does this work with the standard characters, numbers, punctuation, and some frequently used prosigns? I’ll list it all below and will include the “dots” and “dashes” just for clarity. Here goes:
A . – di dah
B – . . . dah ditty dit (NOT dah di di dit)
C – . – . dah di dah dit
D – . . dah di dit
E . dit
F . . – . ditty dah dit
G – – . dah dah dit
H . . . . ditty di dit
I . . di dit
J . – – – di dah dah dah
K – . – dah di dah
L . – . . di dah di dit
M – – dah dah
N – . dah dit
O – – – dah dah dah
P . – – . di dah dah dit
Q – – . – dah dah di dah
R . – . di dah dit
S . . . ditty dit
T – dah
U . . – ditty dah
V . . . – ditty di dah
W . – – di dah dah
X – . . – dah ditty dah
Y – . – – dah di dah dah
Z – – . . dah dah di dit
1 . – – – – di dah dah dah dah (sometimes cut to . – di dah
2 . . – – – ditty dah dah dah (sometimes cut to . . – ditty dah)
3 . . . – – ditty di dah dah
4 . . . . – ditty ditty dah
5 . . . . . ditty ditty dit (sometimes cut to . . . ditty dit)
6 – . . . . dah ditty di dit
7 – – . . . dah dah ditty dit
8 – – – . . dah dah dah di dit (sometimes cut to – . . dah di dit)
9 – – – – . dah dah dah dah dit (sometimes cut to – . dah dit)
0 – – – – – dah dah dah dah dah (sometimes cut to – dah)
. (period) . – . – . – di dah di dah di dah
? . . – – . . ditty dah dah di dit
/ – . . – . dah ditty dah dit
– – . . . . – dah ditty ditty dah
BT, or “break text” – . . . – dah ditty di dah
AR, or “end of message” . – . – . di dah di dah dit
SK, or “end of schedule” . . . – . – ditty di dah di dah
You might note that no character is spoken with the endings of “di” or “ditty”. All characters end in a “dah” or a “dit”. Please, use correct Code Speak grammar!
Trying to “speak” the code using the words “dot” and “dash” just has no fluidity, no pizzazz, no panache. Give it a try with the word “CQ”
dot dash dot dash dash dash dot dash dash
Eeeeeek! That’s a mouthful! Now try it with “correct” code speak:
dah di dah dit dah dah di dah
Isn’t that a lot more fluid? Rolls right off the tongue, right?! I love that sound!
With practice, you can get up to a pretty quick speed speaking the code properly. Practice in the car as you drive down the road. Try to speak the words on a street or road sign. Here’s one:
dit dah ditty dah di dit dah
The bottom line is that it’s actually pretty easy to learn code and to even increase your speed, but there is just absolutely no substitute for practice, and practice every day. Practice with a keyer (straight key, bug, paddle with electronic keyer, etc.), practice speaking the code, practice listening to code and writing it down, practice listening to code and typing it, practice listening to code and deciphering it in your head.
Once you have the hang of it, go ahead and get on the air by participating in a CW contest. Don’t do just a few Q’s, work the contest! Rack up those Q’s! You’ll significantly increase your code speed in just one weekend of CW contesting!
For the love of CW
KL5T
