CW abbreviation · Greetings & sign-off
TU in Morse code
Shorter form of 'thank you'. Often the final word of a contest QSO.
Morse rendering
- ..-
Sent letter-by-letter with standard inter-letter gaps.
What it saves you on the air
This is the whole reason CW abbreviations exist. Sending TU instead of spelling out “Thank you” cuts 85% of the airtime — 72 dot-units of keying saved every time you send it.
| Speed | TU | “Thank you” | Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 WPM | 1.2s | 7.8s | 6.6s |
| 20 WPM | 0.8s | 5.1s | 4.3s |
| 25 WPM | 0.6s | 4.1s | 3.5s |
Timed with standard spacing: dit 1 unit, dah 3, letter gap 3, word gap 7. Work out any other speed on the timing calculator.
Meaning
TU — Thank you
When this is used
TU is preferred in contests where every keystroke matters; TNX is more conversational. A contest exchange typically ends 'TU QRZ?' meaning 'thanks, who's next?'
Examples
| On the air | Plain English |
|---|---|
| TU QRZ? | Thank you, who's calling next? |
| TU 73 | Thank you, best regards. |
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