Emergency Signal Reference
SOS in Morse Code (··· −−− ···)
The universal international distress signal in Morse code. Copy the sequence, understand the acoustic timing, and translate emergency phrases.
Transmitted without inter-character spacing as a continuous prosign: 3 dits, 3 dahs, 3 dits.
Interactive Morse Code Translator
Encode or decode any emergency phrase or custom text into International Morse code.
The History & Meaning of SOS
Why the world standardized on three dots, three dashes, and three dots.
First adopted by the German government in 1905 and ratified as the worldwide maritime distress signal at the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention in Berlin in 1906, ... --- ... replaced earlier fragmented regional call signs like CQD.
Unlike ordinary Morse words where brief pauses separate letters, SOS is officially keyed as an unspaced continuous prosign (represented as SOS with an overline). This continuous sequence creates a distinctive rhythmic cadence that immediately cuts through radio interference and telegraph noise.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about SOS in Morse code.