Excuse Me in Morse Code

Daniel Reeves, Morse Code Editor & Radio Telegraphy Specialist
Written and reviewed by Daniel Reeves
Morse Code Editor & Radio Telegraphy Specialist ·

. -..- -.-. ..- ... . / -- .

"Excuse me" is the polite phrase for getting attention or apologizing for a small intrusion, and in Morse it reads . -..- -.-. ..- ... . / -- . . It even contains the alphabet's rarest letter, X, which gives the phrase an unusual, distinctive pattern. It's a courteous everyday expression that's a little more interesting to encode than most.

Letter-by-Letter Breakdown

LetterMorseSound (di / dah)
E.dit
X-..-dah-di-di-dah
C-.-.dah-di-dah-dit
U..-di-di-dah
S...di-di-dit
E.dit
/word gap
M--dah-dah
E.dit

"Excuse" runs . -..- -.-. ..- ... ., opening on a single-dot E and immediately hitting X (-..-), the uncommon dash-dots-dash letter. It then moves through C, U, S and ends on another single-dot E. "Me" closes simply on M's dashes and an E. The early X is the standout — a letter you rarely get to send.

8 letters·19 signal elements·12 dots·7 dashes·~4.1 sec at 20 WPM

How to Send “Excuse Me” in Morse Code

"Excuse me" is a polite signal to send when you want to interrupt gently or apologize for a small bump — flash or tap it to get someone's attention courteously. Because it contains X, it's a valuable practice phrase: the -..- pattern is one many learners rarely drill. The single-dot E's at both ends of "excuse" add some ear-training too.

Type it

Enter "Excuse Me" 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 "Excuse Me" 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 "excuse me" in Morse code?+

"Excuse me" in Morse code is . -..- -.-. ..- ... . / -- . . The word "excuse" contains the letter X (-..-), one of the rarest letters in Morse, which makes this phrase a distinctive and useful one to practice.

Why is "excuse me" good practice in Morse code?+

Because it includes X (-..-), a letter that seldom appears in common words, so most learners rarely get to drill it. Sending "excuse me" lets you rehearse that uncommon dash-dots-dash pattern in context, alongside the more familiar letters and the single-dot E's in "excuse."

Related Phrases

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