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
Aal-FA,
al-THOUGH,
a-GAIN,
a-JAR,
or
a-PART
BBE a good boy,
BOB is the man,
or
BOOT to the head
CCO-ca CO-la,
COC-a COL-a,
CHAR-lie's AN-gels,
COOK-ie CLICK-er,
or
CHAR-lie CHAR-lie
DDOG (dad) did it,
DOCK work-er,
DAN-ger-ous,
or
DRAC-u-la
Eeh?,
or
hey!
FFreddie 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
GGREAT GATS-by,
GOO-GLE ad,
HOLE IN one!,
GOO-GOL-plex (a 1 with a googol zeros),
GOOD GRAV-y,
or
GOD LOVES it
Hhip-pi-ty hop,
hitting the hip,
or
Hol-i-day Inn
Idid it,
dig-it,
Bom-bay (India),
Keke,
or
i-bid.
Jin JAWS JAWS JAWS,
the JU-LIE JAY,
he's J JONAH JAMESON,
where-FORE ART THOU?,
or
I WANT YOU, JONES
KKAN-dy KID (candy kid),
KICK the CAN,
POUND for POUND,
or
KAN-ga-ROO
La 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
MMMMM-MMMM,
MA-MA,
LIKE MIKE,
or
MORE MILK!
NNI-gel,
NA-vy,
NA-zi,
NOO-gie,
AU-tumn,
or
NU-dist
OO-RE-O,
ONE OF US,
HO HO HO,
SUN-NY DAY,
or
OH! MY! GOD!
Pa PIZ-ZA pie,
pa-RADE PA-nel,
of DOC-TOR good,
did POP POP it,
or
a POO-PY smell
QPAY-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
Rro-TA-tion,
re-FLEC-tor,
ro-MER-o,
a RABB-it,
or
Br'er RABB-it
Ssí-sí-sí,
sk-sk-sk,
or
Ne-va-da
TTHRUST
or
TALL
Ugid-dy UP,
u-ni-FORM,
un-der-NEATH
un-der WHERE?!,
or
kiss a EWE
VBeet-ho-ven's FIFTH (V'th)
vic-tor-y VEE,
or
vee-vee-vee VA
Wthe WORLD WAR,
with WHITE WHALE,
or
mo WA WA
XX marks the SPOT,
CROSS at the DOOR,
ON-ly the BONES,
or
EX-tra ex-PENSE
YWHY did I DIE?,
JACK and CO-KE,
ON a PO-NY,
YEL-low YO-YO,
or
YOU'RE a COOL DUDE
ZZSA 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
Aakátacaciaabsťákabstinence symptoms
Bblýskavicelightning stormblít až domavomit until at home
Ccílovníciaiming sightscíl je výčepthe target is the taproom
Ddálnicehighwaydám jednoI'll have one (beer)
Eerbcoat of armsexone-sip-drinking
FFilipínyPhilippinesFernet píšethe Fernet's pungent
GGrónská zemthe land of Greenlandgrónský rumrum of Greenland
Hholubicedove (female)hruškovicePear brandy
Chchléb nám dává(he) gives us breadchvátám k pípámI rush to the faucets
IibisIbisIronIron (window cleaning agent with alcohol content)
Jjasmín bílýwhite JasmineJabčák bílýWhite Apple brandy
Kkrálovstvíkingdomkýbl vínpot of wines
Llední hokejice hockeylikérečeklittle liquor
Mmáváwavingmží z pípit's sprinkling out of faucets
Nnárodnationnávykhabit
Oó náš pánoh, our lordó můj líhoh, my alcohol
Ppapírnícipaper-makerspivní tácekbeer underpad
Qkvílí orkánwailing hurricanekvílím ožránI wail drunked
Rrarášekimprumíčeklittle rum
Ssekeraaxesud je tuthe barrel's here
Ttóntonetea
Uučenýeruditeuchlastánfully loaded
Vvyvolenýthe chosen onevodka finskáFinnish vodka
Wwaltrův vůzWalter's carriagewhiskou ploutto float through Whiskey
XXénokratésXenocratesk sýru burčáknew half-fermented wine with cheese
YÝgar máváYgar is wavingý, jsem zlámánee, I'm a mess
ZZrádná 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
Aazotnitrogen
Bbotanikabotany
Cco mi zrobiszwhat will you do to me
Ddolinavalley
EEłkEłk
Ffilantropiaphilanthropy
Ggospodainn/tavern
Hhalabardahalberd
Chchlorowodórhydrogen chloride
Iigłaneedle
Jjednokonnoon/with one horse
Kkolanoknee
LLeonidasLeonidas
Łno mnemonic
Mmotormotor
Nnogaleg
OOpocznoOpoczno
PPeloponezPeloponnese
Rretortaretort
SSaharaSahara
Ttortrack/rail line
UUrsynówUrsynów
Wwinoroślgrapevine (plant)
YYork, Hull, Oxfordthree British university towns
ZZłotoryjaZłotoryja

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
Aano
Bbonaparte
Ccoba-coba-
Ddominan
Eegg
Ffather joe
Ggolongan
Hhimalaya
Iislam
Jjago loro
Kkomando
Llemonade
Mmotor
Nnotes
Oomono
Ppertolongan
Qqomokaro
Rrasome
Ssahara
Ttom
Uunesco
Vversikaro
Wwahono
Xxosendero
Yyosimono
Zzoro-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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