Roger in Morse Code
.-. --- --. . .-.
"Roger" means "received and understood," and it's one of the best-known words in radio procedure. There's an important nuance for Morse, though: in CW (continuous-wave) operation, the actual on-air shorthand for "received" is the prosign R — a single .-. — not the spelled-out word. "Roger" written out in Morse is .-. --- --. . .-. , more a voice-procedure term than something operators key letter by letter.
Letter-by-Letter Breakdown
| Letter | Morse | Sound (di / dah) |
|---|---|---|
| R | .-. | di-dah-dit |
| O | --- | dah-dah-dah |
| G | --. | dah-dah-dit |
| E | . | dit |
| R | .-. | di-dah-dit |
Spelled out, "Roger" runs .-. --- --. . .-., five letters opening and closing on R (.-.) with the three-dash O and the three-dash-ish G giving its middle real weight. Notice the word both starts and ends on R — a nice bookend. In practice, though, CW operators send just that single opening R to mean the same thing.
How to Send “Roger” in Morse Code
On voice radio, you say "Roger" to confirm receipt. In Morse, you simply send R (.-.) — the prosign — which is faster and standard. So "Roger" is a great example of how voice procedure words and CW shorthand differ: same meaning, different transmission. Knowing both, and that the lone R does the job on CW, is the practical takeaway for operators.
Type it
Enter "Roger" 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 "Roger" 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 "Roger" in Morse code?+
Spelled out, "Roger" in Morse code is .-. --- --. . .-. , beginning and ending on the letter R. In actual CW operation, though, operators send just the prosign R (.-.) to mean "received and understood," rather than keying the whole word.
Do Morse operators actually send the word "Roger"?+
Rarely. "Roger" is a voice-procedure word; on CW the established shorthand for "received" is simply the letter R (.-.). So while you can spell out "Roger" for learning or fun, on the air a single R conveys the same meaning more efficiently — which is what experienced operators send.
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