88 (Love and Kisses) in Morse Code
---.. ---..
"88" is the affectionate counterpart to 73, meaning "love and kisses." Operators send it to a spouse, sweetheart, or close friend on the air — a warm sign-off reserved for someone special. Like 73, it is sent as numerals, not spelled out: 88 is ---.. ---.. , the digit 8 sent twice. It's a charming piece of old telegraph shorthand that survives in amateur radio today.
Letter-by-Letter Breakdown
| Letter | Morse | Sound (di / dah) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | ---.. | dah-dah-dah-di-dit |
| 8 | ---.. | dah-dah-dah-di-dit |
88 is simply the numeral 8 keyed twice. The digit 8 is ---.. — three dashes followed by two dots — so 88 is that same pattern repeated: ---.. ---.. . The doubled, dash-heavy figure gives it a deep, deliberate, symmetrical sound, easy to recognize as the same group sent back to back.
How to Send “88 (Love and Kisses)” in Morse Code
An operator might close a contact with a loved one "73 88" — best regards and love and kisses together. Because 88 carries romantic affection, it's used sparingly and meaningfully, not with every contact. You send the digits, so it's quick. Learning 88 also drills the numeral 8 thoroughly, since you send the identical dash-heavy pattern twice.
Type it
Enter "88 (Love and Kisses)" in any Morse translator to see ---.. ---.. appear instantly — the fastest way to check the pattern.
Tap it
Tap the rhythm on a hand or table: short taps for dots, longer presses for dashes, with a clear pause between letters.
Blink it
Signal it with your eyes or a subtle nod — quick for a dot, held for a dash — a silent way to pass "88 (Love and Kisses)" across a room.
Flash it
Use a flashlight or phone light: a brief flash is a dot, a long flash is a dash. Press Play above to hear the timing first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 88 in Morse code?+
88 in Morse code is ---.. ---.. — the numeral 8 (---..) sent twice. It means "love and kisses" and is a warm ham radio sign-off reserved for a spouse, sweetheart, or close friend, sent as digits rather than spelled out.
What's the difference between 73 and 88 in ham radio?+
73 means "best regards" and is the everyday friendly sign-off used with any operator. 88 means "love and kisses" and is far more intimate, reserved for a loved one. Operators sometimes send both together — "73 88" — to a spouse or sweetheart, combining a polite close with genuine affection.
Why is 88 sent as numerals in Morse code?+
Like 73, the number 88 comes from telegraph-era numbered shorthand, where digits stood for common phrases. It was always keyed as numerals because that's much faster than spelling words. So 88 is sent as ---.. ---.. , the figure 8 twice, never as "eighty-eight."
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