Morse Code for "I Love You"

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Copy-and-paste Morse code messages to send your SO

Co-authored by Ali Garbacz, B.A. Reviewed by John Keegan

Last Updated: May 26, 2023 Fact Checked

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Writing “I Love You” in Morse Code

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How to Send Morse Code

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Morse Code Timing Rules

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More Fun Morse Code Messages

There’s something super cute and romantic about telling your partner how much you love them in a code only you two can understand. Morse code is easy to learn and allows you to send your significant other all kinds of lovely messages in a discreet way. Follow along to learn how to translate “I love you” and lots of other cute messages in Morse code. By the time you’re done reading, you and your bae will be speaking your very own language of love.

Things You Should Know

Write “I love you” in Morse code as .. ._.. _ _ _ …_ . _._ _ _ _ _ .._
Send your message via text, by flashing a light, tapping your fingers on the table, or blinking.
Shorten “I love you” to the abbreviation ILY .. ._.. _. to send it faster.

Section 1 of 4:

Writing “I Love You” in Morse Code

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Write “I love you” as .. ._.. _ _ _ …_ . _._ _ _ _ _ .._ Morse code changes each letter in the alphabet into a series of dots and dashes. In this case, you’re translating the letters I, L, O, V, E, Y, O, and U into Morse code to send to your special someone. Use a Morse code chart to learn the dot and dash combination for each letter. In this case, the letters of “I love you” are the following in Morse code:^{[1]
X
Research source}
- I = .. (dot dot)
  L = ._.. (dot dash dot dot)
  O = _ _ _ (dash dash dash)
  V = ..._ (dot dot dot dash)
  E = . (dot)
  Y = _._ _ (dash dot dash dash)
  O = _ _ _ (dash dash dash)
  U = .._ (dot dot dash)

Section 2 of 4:

How to Send Morse Code

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If you’re not physically near each other but still want to send a coded message, translate your text into a series of dots and dashes. Or maybe you’re in class or at work and want to pass your partner a note. In that case, physically write out the dots and dashes on a piece of paper. Then just wait to see their reaction!
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Tap out your message with your fingers. If you’re near each other, discreetly send your message by tapping out each letter on a table or wall. Use your fingers, a pen, or anything else that will make noise. There are specific rules when it comes to the timing of dots and dashes in Morse code, so use the following rules when tapping out your message:
- For dots, do a quick tap and pause for 1 second.
- For dashes, tap and pause for 3 seconds.
- For example, if you were to tap out the letter A, which is ._ (dot dash), you would tap once and pause for 1 second, then tap again and pause for 3 seconds.
- When you finish tapping out a letter, pause for 3 seconds.
- When you finish an entire word, pause for 7 seconds.
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Flick a flashlight on and off to send the message. Using a flashlight to tell your significant other that you love them is something straight out of a romance movie. Use the flashlight on your phone, a light inside your house, or just a regular old flashlight to send your signal. For the dots, flip the flashlight on for 1 second. For dashes, leave the light on for a full 3 seconds.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Leave the light off for 3 seconds when you finish a letter and 7 seconds when you finish a word.
If you’re both in an important meeting and can’t be caught passing notes or tapping your fingers, blinking is another creative way to send your Morse code message. Close your eyes for 1 second to represent a dot, then close them for 3 seconds to represent a dash. Keep your eyes open for 3 seconds when you finish a letter and 7 seconds when you complete an entire word.

Section 3 of 4:

Morse Code Timing Rules

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Dots, dashes, and spaces are sent over specific units of time. If you’re sending your message via tapping, blinking, or by flashlight (or any other means that aren’t writing), there are certain rules to keep in mind so that your message is easily understandable. Each symbol and pause is allotted a certain number of units of time. “Units of time” can be seconds, milliseconds, or even shorter depending on how quickly you want to send your message. The important thing is that you’re pausing for the correct amount of time to distinguish letters and words. The rules are as follows:^{[3]
X
Research source}
- A dot = 1 unit of time
- A dash = 3 units of time
- Pause between dots and dashes = 1 unit of time
- Pause between letters = 3 units of time
- Pause between words = 7 units of time

Section 4 of 4:

More Fun Morse Code Messages

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I love you too .. ._.. _ _ _ …_ . _._ _ _ _ _ .._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Return the sentiment by telling them that you love them just as much! This one is super easy because you’re just adding 3 extra letters. And what’s even better, they’re all dashes. The breakdown of this phrase looks like the following:
- I = .. (dot dot)
  L = ._.. (dot dash dot dot)
  O = _ _ _ (dash dash dash)
  V = ..._ (dot dot dot dash)
  E = . (dot)
  Y = _._ _ (dash dot dash dash)
  O = _ _ _ (dash dash dash)
  U = .._ (dot dot dash)
  T = _ (dash)
  O = _ _ _ (dash dash dash)
  O = _ _ _ (dash dash dash)
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ILY .. ._.. _. Send your message a lot faster by shortening it to a 3-letter abbreviation. After all, you probably want to let your significant other know how much you love them as quickly as possible. Write this message out as the following:
- I = .. (dot dot)
  L = ._.. (dot dash dot dot)
  Y = _._ _ (dash dot dash dash)
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Kiss me _._ .. … … _ _ . Make your bae blush with some Morse code flirting. Hopefully they’ll send back _ _ _ _._ (OK). Write this phrase out like so:
- K = _._ (dash dot dash)
  I = .. (dot dot)
  S = … (dot dot dot)
  S = … (dot dot dot)
  M = _ _ (dash dash)
  E = . (dot)
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You’re cute _._ _ _ _ _ .._ ._. . _._. .._ _ .Let them know how adorable you find them with this cute response. For a shorter message, abbreviate it as “ur cute” .._ ._. _._. .._ _ . The breakdown of the full phrase is as follows:
- Y = _._ _ (dash dot dash dash)
  O = _ _ _ (dash dash dash)
  U = .._ (dot dot dash)
  R = ._. (dot dash dot)
  E = . (dot)
  C = _._. (dash dot dash dot)
  U = .._ (dot dot dash)
  T = _ (dash)
  E = . (dot)