Morse code mnemonics

Morse code mnemonics are systems to represent the sound of Morse characters in a way intended to be easy to remember. Since every one of these mnemonics requires a two-step mental translation between sound and character, none of these systems are useful for using manual Morse at practical speeds. Amateur radio clubs can provide resources to learn Morse code.

Cross-linguistic

Visual mnemonic
Baden-Powell's mnemonic chart from 1918

Visual mnemonic charts have been devised over the ages. Baden-Powell included one in the Girl Guides handbook[1] in 1918.

A contemporary Morse code chart

Here is a more up-to-date version, ca. 1988:

Other visual mnemonic systems have been created for Morse code, mapping the elements of the Morse code characters onto pictures for easy memorization. For instance, "R" (▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄) might be represented as a "racecar" seen in a profile view, with the two wheels of the racecar being the dits and the body being the dah.

English

Syllabic mnemonics

Syllabic mnemonics are based on the principle of associating a word or phrase to each Morse code letter, with stressed syllables standing for a dah and unstressed ones for a dit. There is no well-known complete set of syllabic mnemonics for English, but various mnemonics do exist for individual letters.

LetterMorse CodeMnemonic
A▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄al-FA,
al-THOUGH,
a-GAIN,
a-JAR,
or
a-PART
B▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄BE a good boy,
BOB is the man,
or
BOOT to the head
C▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄CO-ca CO-la,
COC-a COL-a,
CHAR-lie's AN-gels,
COOK-ie CLICK-er,
or
CHAR-lie CHAR-lie
D▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄DOG (dad) did it,
DOCK work-er,
DAN-ger-ous,
or
DRAC-u-la
E▄▄▄▄eh?,
or
hey!
F▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄Freddie FOX-trot,
fetch a FIRE man,
fe-ne-STRA-tion,
Fi-tti-PAL-di,
did i FAIL it?,
get a HAIR-cut,
for the FAIR-est,
did she LIKE it,
or
did it HURT you
G▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄GREAT GATS-by,
GOO-GLE ad,
HOLE IN one!,
GOO-GOL-plex (a 1 with a googol zeros),
GOOD GRAV-y,
or
GOD LOVES it
H▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄hip-pi-ty hop,
hitting the hip,
or
Hol-i-day Inn
I▄▄▄▄▄▄did it,
dig-it,
Bom-bay (India),
Keke,
or
i-bid.
J▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄in JAWS JAWS JAWS,
the JU-LIE JAY,
he's J JONAH JAMESON,
where-FORE ART THOU?,
or
I WANT YOU, JONES
K▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄KAN-dy KID (candy kid),
KICK the CAN,
POUND for POUND,
or
KAN-ga-ROO
L▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄a LIGHT is lit,
to 'ELL with it!,
he LOST his lid,
Li-MA Pe-ru,
li-BRA-ri-an,
li-NO-le-um,
a LA-dy bug,
or
Los AN-ge-les
M▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄MMMM-MMMM,
MA-MA,
LIKE MIKE,
or
MORE MILK!
N▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄NI-gel,
NA-vy,
NA-zi,
NOO-gie,
AU-tumn,
or
NU-dist
O▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄O-RE-O,
ONE OF US,
HO HO HO,
SUN-NY DAY,
or
OH! MY! GOD!
P▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄a PIZ-ZA pie,
pa-RADE PA-nel,
of DOC-TOR good,
did POP POP it,
or
a POO-PY smell
Q▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄PAY-DAY to-DAY,
QUEUE OV-er HERE,
HERE COMES the BRIDE (queen),
QUEEN’s WED-ding DAY
GOD SAVE the QUEEN,
or
QUEEN NEEDS a STEED
R▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ro-TA-tion,
re-FLEC-tor,
ro-MER-o,
a RABB-it,
or
Br'er RABB-it
S▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄sí-sí-sí,
sk-sk-sk,
or
Ne-va-da
T▄▄▄▄▄▄THRUST
or
TALL
U▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄gid-dy UP,
u-ni-FORM,
un-der-NEATH
un-der WHERE?!,
or
kiss a EWE
jing-le-BELLS
V▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄Beet-ho-ven's FIFTH (V'th)
vic-tor-y VEE,
or
vee-vee-vee VA
W▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄the WORLD WAR,
with WHITE WHALE,
or
mo WA WA
X▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄X marks the SPOT,
CROSS at the DOOR,
ON-ly the BONES,
or
EX-tra ex-PENSE
Y▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄WHY did I DIE?,
JACK and CO-KE,
ON a PO-NY,
YEL-low YO-YO,
or
YOU'RE a COOL DUDE
Z▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ZSA ZSA did it,
SHA-KA Zu-lu,
or
ZINC ZOO-keep-er
CharacterMorse CodeSyllabicMnemonic
.▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄a STOP a STOP a STOPPeriods are also known as "full stops".
,▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄COM-MA, it's a COM-MASelf-explanatory.
?▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄it's a QUES-TION, is it?Self-explanatory.
:▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄HA-WA-II stan-dard timeThe clocks in Hawaii are always on standard time, and don't turn an hour ahead in the summer. Colons are used in displaying time (like in "10:23").
/▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄SHAVE and a HAIR-cutThe rhythm from the musical routine. see Shave and a Haircut.
(NOTE: also Fraction Bar and Division Sign)
"▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄six-TY-six nine-TY-nineQuotation marks resemble a 66 at the beginning of a quote, and a 99 at the end of a quote.
'▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄and THIS STUFF GOES TO me!An apostrophe may be used to denote ownership of property.
;▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄A-list, B-list, C-listA semicolon may be used to group ordered lists in the same sentence.

Slavic languages

In the Czech language, the mnemonic device to remember Morse codes lies in remembering words that begin with each appropriate letter and has so called long vowel (i.e. á é í ó ú ý) for every dash and short vowel (a e i o u y) for every dot. Additionally, some other theme-related sets of words have been thought out as Czech folklore.

LetterMorse CodeCzech wordTranslationAlternative (folklore)Translation
A▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄akátacaciaabsťákabstinence symptoms
B▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄blýskavicelightning stormblít až domavomit until at home
C▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄cílovníciaiming sightscíl je výčepthe target is the taproom
D▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄dálnicehighwaydám jednoI'll have one (beer)
E▄▄▄▄erbcoat of armsexone-sip-drinking
F▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄FilipínyPhilippinesFernet píšethe Fernet's pungent
G▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄Grónská zemthe land of Greenlandgrónský rumrum of Greenland
H▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄holubicedove (female)hruškovicePear brandy
Ch▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄chléb nám dává(he) gives us breadchvátám k pípámI rush to the faucets
I▄▄▄▄▄▄ibisIbisIronIron (window cleaning agent with alcohol content)
J▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄jasmín bílýwhite JasmineJabčák bílýWhite Apple brandy
K▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄královstvíkingdomkýbl vínpot of wines
L▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄lední hokejice hockeylikérečeklittle liquor
M▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄máváwavingmží z pípit's sprinkling out of faucets
N▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄národnationnávykhabit
O▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ó náš pánoh, our lordó můj líhoh, my alcohol
P▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄papírnícipaper-makerspivní tácekbeer underpad
Q▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄kvílí orkánwailing hurricanekvílím ožránI wail drunked
R▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄rarášekimprumíčeklittle rum
S▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄sekeraaxesud je tuthe barrel's here
T▄▄▄▄▄▄tóntonetétea
U▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄učenýeruditeuchlastánfully loaded
V▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄vyvolenýthe chosen onevodka finskáFinnish vodka
W▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄waltrův vůzWalter's carriagewhiskou ploutto float through Whiskey
X▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄XénokratésXenocratesk sýru burčáknew half-fermented wine with cheese
Y▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄Ýgar máváYgar is wavingý, jsem zlámánee, I'm a mess
Z▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄Zrádná ženaperfidious womanzlískám se hnedI get stoned quickly

In Polish language, which does not distinguish long and short vowels, Morse mnemonics are also words or short phrases that begin with each appropriate letter, but dash is coded as a syllable containing an "o" (or "ó"), while a syllable containing another vowel codes for dot. For some letters, multiple mnemonics are in use; the table shows one example.

LetterMorse CodePolish wordTranslation
A▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄azotnitrogen
B▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄botanikabotany
C▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄co mi zrobiszwhat will you do to me
D▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄dolinavalley
E▄▄▄▄EłkEłk
F▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄filantropiaphilanthropy
G▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄gospodainn/tavern
H▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄halabardahalberd
Ch▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄chlorowodórhydrogen chloride
I▄▄▄▄▄▄igłaneedle
J▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄jednokonnoon/with one horse
K▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄kolanoknee
L▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄LeonidasLeonidas
Ł▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄no mnemonic
M▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄motormotor
N▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄nogaleg
O▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄OpocznoOpoczno
P▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄PeloponezPeloponnese
R▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄retortaretort
S▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄SaharaSahara
T▄▄▄▄▄▄tortrack/rail line
U▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄UrsynówUrsynów
W▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄winoroślgrapevine (plant)
Y▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄York, Hull, Oxfordthree British university towns
Z▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ZłotoryjaZłotoryja

Hebrew

Invented in 1922 by Zalman Cohen, a communication soldier in the Haganah organization.

אותקודקיצור אותקודקיצור
א· −אִמָּא ל· − · ·לִבַּבְתִּנִי
ב− · · ·בַּשְּׁלִי לִי מִיץ מ− −מַפָּ"ם
ג− − ·גַּנָּבִים נ− ·נָעִים
ד− · ·דָלִיתִי ס− · − ·סָבִי אָבִי
ה− − −הֲגָנָה ע· − − −עִיר הַנַּמָּל
ו·וִי פ· − − ·פִּיל קַנָּדִי
ז− − · ·זַמָּר לִירִי צ· − −צִיטָטָה
ח· · · ·חִכִּיתִי לִי ק− − · −קַטָּרִינָה
ט· · −טִיףּ טִפָּה ר· − ·רִנָתִי
י· ·יִידִישׁ ש· · ·שִׁירִי לִי
כ− · −כַּבִּירָה ת−תָּו

Indonesia

In Indonesia, one mnemonic commonly taught in scouting method to remember Morse codes lies in remembering words that begin with each appropriate letter and substituting the o vowel for every dash and other vowels (a, i, u, and e) for every dot.

LetterMorse CodeWord
A▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄alok
B▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄bocah kecil
C▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄coca-cola
D▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄doremi
E▄▄▄▄eh
F▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄fanta loe
G▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄gotongin
H▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄hayamwuruk
I▄▄▄▄▄▄ipin
J▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄jago loro
K▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄komando
L▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄lego dia
M▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄motor
N▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄nomer
O▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄om toto
P▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄pertolongan
Q▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄qomokaro
R▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄rasome
S▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄samlekum
T▄▄▄▄▄▄tol
U▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄upin-o
V▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄versi gayo
W▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄wahyoo
X▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄xosendero
Y▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄yosimono
Z▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄zoro-aster

References
  1. "Girl Guiding by Lord Baden-Powell" (PDF). Pearson. 1938. Retrieved 2015-09-06. Some people find it easier to remember the does [sic] and dashes by picturing them as forming the letters— thus:— (p61)
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