Morse Code Abbreviations

CQ, DE, 73, QTH and common Q-signals with Morse patterns, meanings, audio, and how they differ from prosigns.

Not prosigns: these are ordinary letters and digits with normal spacing. Continuous procedural signals live on the prosigns page.

Common Morse Abbreviations Chart

Light amateur / CW shorthand — press Play for audio.

AbbrevMorseMeaningUseAudio
73--... ...--Best regardsCommon CW farewell / closing courtesy.
CQ-.-. --.-General callCalling any station — “seek you”.
QSL--.- ... .-..Confirm receiptAcknowledge a contact or report; also QSL cards.
QTH--.- - ....LocationStation location (city / grid).
DE-.. .FromIntroduces the sending station’s callsign.
BX-... -..-Box / bundle (light use)Informal shorthand; confirm local convention before relying on it.
88---.. ---..Love and kissesFriendly closing; less formal than 73.
OM--- --Old manFriendly address to a male operator.
YL-.-- .-..Young ladyAddress for a female operator.
XYL-..- -.-- .-..WifeOperator’s wife (informal ham slang).

Abbreviations vs Prosigns

Morse abbreviations are short words or digit groups sent with normal letter spacing — for example 73, CQ, QTH. Prosigns such as AR or SK are sent as one continuous character (no three-unit letter gap). Mixing the two causes procedure mistakes on the air.

How to Use This Chart

  1. Learn the meaning before memorising Morse.
  2. Play each row and confirm letter spaces (not a run-on string).
  3. Practise CQ DE and 73 in the translator as full phrases.
  4. When you need end-of-message / end-of-contact signals, open prosigns.

Quick Starter Set

CQ

General call. Pair with DE + callsign in real operating.

73

Best regards — the everyday CW closing.

QTH

Location exchange — keep it short and clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

73 means “best regards.” In Morse it is the digits 7 and 3: --... ...--.