The pattern behind Morse numbers
Every digit uses exactly five elements. For 1 through 5, the number of leading dots increases: 1 has one dot followed by four dashes, and 5 has five dots. For 6 through 9, the number of leading dashes increases. Zero is five dashes.
This pattern can help you check a written answer. It does not mean that you should count every received element forever. Listen to the whole digit as you practise, then use the pattern to identify why a written answer was wrong.
Read a number one digit at a time
| Number | Morse | Check |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | .---- ----- | Two five-element groups. |
| 25 | ..--- ..... | Do not merge the last dots of 2 into 5. |
| 2026 | ..--- ----- ..--- -.... | Four digits, with a separate 2 repeated. |
| 007 | ----- ----- --... | Leading zeroes remain part of the message. |
A number is not converted into a special signal for its mathematical value. The input 2026 is sent as 2, 0, 2 and 6. Likewise, 007 should not become 7 if the leading zeroes are meaningful.
Dates, decimal points and slashes
Digits alone do not tell a reader whether a group is a date, a measurement or an identifier. Preserve meaningful punctuation. The text 3.5 becomes ...-- .-.-.- .....: the middle group is a decimal point. The text 10/20 uses -..-. for the literal slash.
When decoding typed Morse, an unencoded slash between groups is treated as a word separator. To include slash punctuation in the decoded text, enter its signal instead. This prevents confusion between a separator used to format Morse and a symbol that belongs inside the original number.
Practise with a small set
Start with 1, 5, 6 and 0, then add the remaining digits in small groups. In the practice quiz, enter 1560 as the character set. Use written prompts first if you are checking recall, or listening prompts if you are practising recognition by ear.
Keep notes on the specific confusion. If 6 and 7 are difficult, compare -.... with --.... If 4 and 5 are difficult, listen for the final dash in 4. Avoid changing the character set and speed at the same time when comparing sessions.
Try these number groups
.---- ...-- .....-.... --... ---..----- ----. ..---
Check the answers
- 135
- 678
- 092
These are digit groups, so leading zeroes are preserved. Count five elements in each individual group when checking the written answer.
Combine letters and numbers carefully
The message ROOM 12 contains a word boundary before the digits. The code is .-. --- --- -- / .---- ..---. Use the translator to check a mixed message and the printable chart for a compact reference. The number mapping follows the figures table in ITU-R M.1677.