Why 6 is interesting
Six reverses direction — now dashes grow from the left and dots recede. It's the mirror of 4 (four dots and a dash becomes one dash and four dots). The cut alias B saves four full symbols.
Cultural and numerical context
Six starts the reverse pattern — one dash, four dots. Mirror of 4.
The ham radio cut-number alias
At fast contest speeds, operators abbreviate digit 6 with the letter B. The morse for B is shorter than the morse for 6, saving fractions of a second per character. Over a 24-hour contest with thousands of exchanges, that adds up to meaningful speed gains.
All ten digits at a glance
See the full numbers explainer for why every digit is five elements, or the alphabet for letter codes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number 6 in morse code?
The digit 6 in international morse code is "-...." — a five-element pattern like every other digit.
Why is every morse digit five elements long?
Digits in morse have a uniform length to make them easier to recognize by ear at high speed. Letters vary in length by English frequency, but digits appear in any context so they get a consistent five-pulse shape.
What's the cut-number alias for 6?
At high contest speeds, operators abbreviate 6 with the letter B, which is shorter in morse. This is called cut-number shorthand and is context-specific to fast CW operation.