“CQ” in Morse Code

The general call — CQ means "calling anyone": send it and every operator in range is invited to answer. Its origin is the French sécurité clipped by British telegraphers, and its rhythm (−·−· −−·−) is so distinctive that operators recognize a CQ before consciously reading it.

Letter by letter

To key it right, hold every dash three times as long as a dot. Leave a short three-unit breath between letters; the slash is the long, seven-unit pause between words. Want to hear it slower or flash it as light? Open it in the morse code translator.

More words in Morse

Verified by hand · how these write-ups are made