Home › Morse Code Abbreviations

Morse Code Abbreviations

Morse code abbreviations used in ham radio, aviation, and military communication. Includes Q codes, prosigns, and common operating shorthand with meanings and audio.

No abbreviations found matching your search.

What Are Morse Code Abbreviations?

Morse code operators developed a rich shorthand over 180 years to communicate faster. These abbreviations fall into three main groups: Q codes (standardized three-letter codes starting with Q), prosigns (procedural signals that control transmission flow), and common abbreviations used in everyday amateur radio contacts.

Q Codes

Q codes were originally developed for telegraph use in 1909 and later adopted by radio operators worldwide. Each code can be used as a question or a statement. For example, QSL means "I confirm receipt" and QTH means "my location is…"

Prosigns

Prosigns are procedural signals sent as a single unspaced unit. AR (end of transmission), SK (end of contact), and BT (break / new paragraph) are among the most commonly used in Morse code operation.

Why Abbreviations Matter

At typical operating speeds of 20–30 WPM, abbreviations cut transmission time dramatically. A skilled operator can convey complex information in seconds using a handful of Q codes — making Morse code one of the most efficient communication systems ever devised.

S K two letters, with a gap S̅K̅ one prosign, no gap
What makes a prosign: SK ("end of contact") is keyed as a single unbroken sign

The Codes Every Operator Knows

If you only learn a few pieces of Morse shorthand, learn these — they appear in virtually every CW contact on the air:

  • CQ — "calling any station": the universal invitation to talk. A contact usually begins with CQ CQ CQ followed by the sender's callsign.
  • K — "over, go ahead": hands the conversation to the other operator.
  • R — "received": confirms the last transmission arrived in full.
  • QSL — "I confirm receipt": also the name of the postcards hams exchange to confirm contacts.
  • QTH — "my location is…": one of the first things exchanged in a contact.
  • 73 — "best regards": the standard friendly sign-off, dating back to landline telegraph days.
  • 88 — "love and kisses": 73's affectionate sibling, traditionally sent between close friends or spouses.

Number codes like 73 and 88 survive because numbers are fast and unambiguous in Morse — every digit is exactly five signals. You'll find the full searchable list of Q codes, prosigns, and abbreviations in the tables above, and the ham radio Morse code guide walks through how a complete on-air conversation flows. To hear any of these codes as audio, paste them into the Morse code translator.