This Way in Morse Code

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

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

"This way" is the guiding phrase — the one you'd use to lead a group or point a companion in the right direction. In Morse it reads - .... .. ... / .-- .- -.-- . It's plain-language Morse, handy for directing people with a flashlight on a dark trail. It isn't a distress signal (SOS, ... --- ..., fills that role), but as a practical way to say "follow me over here," it's genuinely useful outdoors.

Letter-by-Letter Breakdown

LetterMorseSound (di / dah)
T-dah
H....di-di-di-dit
I..di-dit
S...di-di-dit
/word gap
W.--di-dah-dah
A.-di-dah
Y-.--dah-di-dah-dah

Two words. "This" runs - .... .. ..., opening on a lone T then piling up dots through H, I, S — a bright, dotty word after that first dash. "Way" closes on .-- .- -.--, ending on the dash-heavy Y. The phrase swings from the quick dots of "this" into the longer signals of "way," giving it a clear directional sweep.

7 letters·19 signal elements·12 dots·7 dashes·~4.0 sec at 20 WPM

How to Send “This Way” in Morse Code

On a dark trail, "this way" can be flashed with a headlamp to guide a group toward you or in the right direction — a practical bit of outdoor signaling. It's plain text, so the receiver must read Morse. For emergencies, send SOS instead. As practice, the dot-rich "this" is good ear-training for hearing several short signals after an opening dash.

Type it

Enter "This Way" 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 "This Way" 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 "this way" in Morse code?+

"This way" in Morse code is - .... .. ... / .-- .- -.-- . The word "this" is dot-heavy after its opening T, while "way" ends on the dash-heavy Y. It's plain-language Morse for directing people, not a distress signal.

Can I use "this way" to guide hikers with a flashlight?+

Yes, as plain text. If your companions read Morse, flashing "this way" with a headlamp can point them toward you or the correct route on a dark trail. It's an ordinary directional message, though — in a real emergency, SOS (... --- ...) is the signal to send for rescue.

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