CW reference • ITU-R M.1677-1

Morse code prosigns

Prosigns (procedural signals) are two characters sent without the inter-letter gap, forming a single sound shape that means a control or punctuation event in CW operation. Tap any row for the full page.

How to send a prosign

A prosign is sent as one continuous string of dits and dahs. For example, SK is … - · - sent as one shape, not as "S" then "K" with a gap. In typed Morse it is conventionally written with an overbar (SK̅) or simply as the joined letters.

Reference table

ProsignCodeMeaningMore
AA .-.- New line / line break Detail →
AR .-.-. End of message (+) Detail →
AS .-... Wait / standby Detail →
BK -...-.- Break Detail →
BT -...- New paragraph (=) Detail →
CL -.-..-.. Going off the air Detail →
CT -.-.- Start of transmission (KA) Detail →
HH ........ Error / disregard Detail →
KN -.--. Go ahead, named station only Detail →
K -.- Go ahead (any station) Detail →
R .-. Received / roger Detail →
SK ...-.- End of contact Detail →
SN ...-. Understood (VE) Detail →
SOS ...---... International distress Detail →

Related references

Combine prosigns with the CW abbreviations and Q-codes to write efficient on-air messages. Practice by typing a sample message in the translator and listening with audio playback.