Morse code abbreviations are used to speed up Morse communications by foreshortening textual words and phrases. Morse abbreviations are short forms, representing normal textual words and phrases formed from some (fewer)characters taken from the word or phrase being abbreviated. Many are typicalEnglishabbreviations, or shortacronyms for often-used phrases.
Morse code abbreviations are not the same asprosigns. Morse abbreviations are composed of (normal) textual alpha-numeric character symbols with normal Morse code inter-character spacing; the character symbols in abbreviations, unlike the delineated character groups representing Morse code prosigns, are not "run together" orconcatenated in the way most prosigns are formed.
Although a few abbreviations (such asSX for "dollar") are carried over from formercommercial telegraph codes, almost all Morse abbreviations arenot commercial codes. From 1845 until well into the second half of the 20th century,commercial telegraphic code books were used to shorten telegrams, e.g.PASCOELA = "Locals have plundered everything from the wreck."[1] However, these cyphers are typically "fake" words six characters long, or more, used for replacing commonly used whole phrases, and are distinct from single-word abbreviations.
The following Table of Morse code abbreviations and further references toBrevity codes such as92 Code,Q code,Z code, andR-S-T system serve to facilitate fast and efficient Morse code communications.
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Defined in | Type of abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA ... | All after (used after question mark to request a repetition) | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| AB ... | All before (similarly) | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| ADRS | Address | ITU-T Rec. F.1[3] | operating signal |
| ADS | Address | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| AGN | Again | operating signal | |
| ANT | Antenna | ||
| AR | End of transmission. | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| AS | Wait | operating signal | |
| BK | Break (to pause transmission of a message, say) | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| BN ... ... | All between | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| C | Yes; correct; affirmative | operating signal | |
| CFM | Confirm | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| CK | Check | ||
| CL | Closing (I am closing my station) | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| CP ... ... | Calling several stations (followed by the call signs of two or more stations, e.g.CP T4SRJ C5ADK for "calling stations T4SRJ and C5ADK") | operating signal | |
| CQ | Calling (calling all stations / any station) (do not follow withPLS orPSE; seeLID) | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| CQD | All stations distress (used prior to replacement bySOS to let all operators know of an impending distress signal) | operating signal | |
| CS ... | Calling station (followed by the call sign of a particular station, e.g.CS F3TL for "calling station F3TL") | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| CS? | What call sign? (used with "?" to request a contact's call sign) | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| DE ... | From (or "this is") | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| DX | Long distance, foreign countries (sometimes refers to long distance contact) | ||
| ES | And / [ & ] / also /et | American Morse code | |
| FB | Good (literal abbr. "fine business") | Amateur radio slang; suspected euphemism | |
| FM ... | From (seeDE) | operating signal | |
| FWD | Forward | ||
| I I | I say again; I repeat; ditto; alt. European: "<station> out". | ||
| K | Invitation to transmit | ITU-R M.1172,[2] ITU-R M.1677-1[4] | operating signal |
| KN | Over to you; only the previously named station should respond (e.g. afterK6PCH DE W1AWKN; only station K6PCH should reply to W1AW) | ITU-R M.1677-1[4] | operating signal |
| LID | Poor operator (derogatory) | Wire telegraph slang, same asPLUG | |
| MSG | Prefix indicating amessage to or from the master of a ship concerning its operation or navigation | ITU-R M.1172[2] | |
| N | No;nine | ||
| NIL | I havenothing to send you | ITU-R M.1172[2] | |
| NR ... ... | Number follows | operating signal | |
| OK | Okay | ITU-R M.1172,[2] ITU-T Rec. F.1[3] | operating signal |
| OM | Old Man (any male radio operator or male spouse of radio operator, both regardless of age) | Amateur radio slang | |
| PLS | Please (not appropriate afterCQ; seeLID) | ITU-T Rec. F.1[3] | |
| PPR | Paper | ITU-T Rec. F.1[3] | |
| PSE | Please | ITU-R M.1172[2] | |
| PX | Prefix | ||
| R | Received as transmitted (origin of "Roger") | ITU-T Rec. F.1[3] | operating signal |
| RX | Receiver / Receive | ||
| RPT | Report / Repeat please / I repeat as follows | ITU-R M.1172,[2] ITU-T Rec. F.1[3] | |
| RSN | Readability (1-5) / Strength (1-9) / Noise (1-9) | Not yet in widespread use | |
| RST ... ... ... | Signal report format (Readability / Signal Strength / Tone) | In universal amateur radio use | operating signal |
| SFR | So far (proword) | ||
| SIG | Signature | ITU-T Rec. F.1[3] | |
| SK | Out (prosign), end of contact | operating signal | |
| SK | Silent Key (a deceased radio amateur) | Amateur radio slang; fromSK, the last signal received from a radio contact | |
| SVP | Please (French:"S'il vous plaît") | ITU-T Rec. F.1[3] | |
| SX | Dollars | Phillips Code | |
| THX | Thanks, Thank You | ||
| TU | Thank You | ||
| TX | Transmitter / Transmit | ||
| W | Word / Words | ITU-T Rec. F.1[3] | |
| WA ... | Word after | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| WB ... | Word before | ITU-R M.1172[2] | operating signal |
| WC | Wilco; "Will comply" | operating signal | |
| WD | Word / Words | ITU-R M.1172[2] | |
| WX ... ... ... | Weather / Weather report follows | ITU-R M.1172[2] | |
| XCVR | Transceiver | ||
| XYL | Former Young Lady (female spouse of radio operator, regardless of age) | Amateur radio slang | |
| YL | Young Lady (any female radio operator, regardless of age) | Amateur radio slang | |
| Z ... ... ... ... | Zulu time i.e.UTC | operating signal | |
| 161 | Best regards +Love andkisses; used onYL networks as a sign-off | sum of two92 Codes | |
| 30 | No more; this is the end; finished | Not used in radiotelegraphy | 92 Code |
| 72 | Best regards | Amateur radio slang. Whileoperating QRP / low power | 92 Code |
| 73 | Best regards | 92 Code | |
| 75 | Derogatory term for a disliked operator (Referring to 75 meter ham band) | Amateur radio slang, USA only | |
| 77 | Long Live CW (Morse Code), wishing you many happy CW contacts | ||
| 88 | Love andkisses | 92 Code | |
| 99 | Get lost! |
To make Morse code communications faster and more efficient, there are many internationally agreed patterns or conventions of communication which include: extensive use of abbreviations, use ofbrevity codes such as92 Code,RST code,Q code,Z code as well as the use ofMorse prosigns. The skills required to have efficient fast conversations with Morse comprise more than simply knowing the Morse code symbols for the alphabet and numerals. Skilled telegraphists must also know many traditional International Morse code communications conventions.
In the following example of a typical casual Morse code conversation between two stations there is extensive use of such: Morse code abbreviations, brevity codes,Morse procedural signs, and other such conventions.
An example casual Morse code (CW) conversation between Station S1ABC and Station S2YZ is illustrated in the following paragraphs. Here the actual Morse code information stream sent by each station (S1ABC and S2YZ) is shown in bold face small capitals type, and is followed below each bold face transmission by an indentedinterpretation of the message sent, together with short explanations of the codes. These translations and explanations are shown below each station's indicated transmission data stream.
S1ABC transmits an open call in Morse:
CQ CQ CQ DE S1ABCRNK
S2YZ responds to the call by transmitting the short Morse reply:
S1ABC DE S2YZKN
S1ABC transmits Morse message:
S2YZ DE S1ABC = GA DR OM UR RST 5NN HR = QTH ALMERIA = OP IS JOHN = HW? S2YZ DE S1ABCKN
S2YZ transmits Morse message:
S1ABC DE S2YZ = TNX FB RPRT DR OM JOHN UR 559 = QTH BARCELONA = NM IS ANDY S1ABC DE S2YZKN
S1ABC transmits Morse message:
S2 DE S1ABC = OK TNX QSO DR ANDY = 73 ES HPE CUAGN S2YZ DE S1ABCKN
S2YZ sends Morse message:
S1ABC DE S2YZ = R TU CUAGN 73 S1ABC DE S2YZRNSK
In International Morse code there is nodistinct dot-dash sequence defined only for the mathematical equal sign [=]; rather the same code ( ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ordah di di di dah) is shared bydouble hyphen [=] and theprocedural sign forsection separator notated asBT. It is fairly common in theRecommended International Morse Code for punctuation codes to be shared with prosigns. For example, the code for plus or cross ([+] = ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ) is the same as the prosign forend of telegram, and the widely used but non-ITU "Over to you only" prosignKN is the official code for open parentheses [(] orleft bracket.[4]
The listener is required to distinguish the meaning by context. In the example casual conversation between two station operators, above, the Morse transmissions show the equal sign [=] in the same way that a simple electronic automatic Morse code reader with a one- or two-line display does: It can't distinguish context so it always displays the math symbol. It would also display an open parenthesis [(] for theover to you only prosign (KN = ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ).
The use of theend of section prosignBT in casual exchanges essentially indicates a new paragraph in the text or a new sentence, and is a little quicker to send than afull stop ([.] = ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ) required in telegrams.
Normally an operator copying Morse code by hand or typewriter would decide whether the equal sign [=] or the "new section" prosignBT was meant and startnew paragraph in the recorded text upon reception of the code. This new paragraph copying convention is illustrated in the example conversation in the prior section.
When decoding in one's head, instead of writing text on paper or into a computer file, the receiving operator copying mentally will interpret theBT prosign for either a mental pause, or to jot down for later reference a short word or phrase from the information being sent.
Rag chewer is a name applied to amateur radio Morse code operators who engage in informal Morse code conversations (known aschewing the rag) while discussing subjects such as: The weather, their location, signal quality, and their equipment (especially the antennas being used).
Meaningful rag chewing between fluent Morse code operators having different native languages is possible because of a common language provided by theprosigns for Morse code, the InternationalQ code,Z code,RST code, the telegraph eraPhillips Code and92 codes, and many well known Morse code abbreviations including those discussed in this article. Together all of these traditional conventions serve as a somewhat cryptic but commonly understood language (Lingua Franca) within the worldwide community of amateur radio Morse code operators.
These codes and protocols efficiently encode many well known statements and questions from many languages into short simple character groups which may be tapped out very quickly. The internationalQ code for instance encodes literally hundreds of full normal language sentences and questions in short three character codes each beginning with the character Q. For example, the code wordQTH ... meansMy transmitting location is ... , which radio operators typically take instead to meanMy home is ... . If this code word is followed by a question mark asQTH? it meansWhat is your transmitting location?
Typically very few full words will be spelled out in Morse code conversations. Similar to phonetexting, vowels are often left out to shorten transmissions and turn overs. Other examples, of internationally recognized uses of Morse code abbreviations and well known code numbers, such as those of thePhillips Code from past eras of telegraph technology, are abbreviations such asWX for weather andSX for dollar, and fromwire signal codes, the numbers73 forbest regards and88 forlove and kisses.
These techniques are similar to, and often faster than, texting on modern cellphones. Using this extensivelingua franca that is widely understood across many languages and cultures, surprisingly meaningful Morse code conversations can be efficiently conducted with short transmissions independently of native languages, even between operators who cannot actually communicate by voice because of language barriers.
With heavy use of theQ code and Morse code abbreviations, surprisingly meaningful conversations can readily occur. Note that in the preceding example conversation very few full English words have been used. In fact, in the above example S1 and S2 might not speak the same native language.Although lengthy or detailed conversations could not, of course, be accomplished by radio operators with no common language.
Contesters often use a very specialized and even shorter format for their contacts. Their purpose is to process as many contacts as possible in a limited time (e.g. 100–150 contacts per hour).