Morse Code Prosigns
Learn procedural Morse signals used to control operating flow: distress, end of message, end of contact, wait, correction, break, and directed reply.
Common prosigns and operating signs
Use the play buttons to hear each signal, then send difficult ones into audio practice or worksheets.
SOS
Emergency distress
...---...
Distress signal sent as one continuous pattern.
AR
Message complete
.-.-.
End of message.
SK
Closing a contact
...-.-
End of contact.
BT
New section
-...-
Break or separator between thoughts.
KN
Directed reply
-.--.
Go only to the named station.
AS
Pause traffic
.-...
Wait or stand by.
HH
Resend after mistake
........
Error correction signal.
CT
Opening traffic
-.-.-
Start of transmission.
How to read and use prosigns
Use this page when the entry is a procedural signal, not a written punctuation mark or a three-letter radio abbreviation.
Who it is for
Use prosigns when you are learning how Morse operators start, pause, correct, end, or close message traffic.
What it includes
The chart covers common procedural signs in the MorseWords reference set, including SOS, AR, SK, BT, KN, AS, HH, and CT.
How to apply it
Read the label as a name for the signal, but listen for the continuous Morse pattern without normal letter spacing.
Worked prosign examples
These examples show the operating role of each signal instead of treating the label as an ordinary word.
SOS distress signal
...---...
SOS is sent as one continuous distress signal. For a focused explanation, use the SOS Morse code page.
AR and SK endings
.-.-. / ...-.-
AR marks the end of a message, while SK marks the end of a contact. Both are operating-flow signals, not punctuation.
AS and HH control signals
.-... / ........
AS asks the other station to wait. HH is an error correction signal used before sending the corrected copy.
Common prosign mistakes
The biggest prosign mistakes come from adding letter spacing or mixing procedure with abbreviations.
Adding normal letter gaps
AR is written with two letters, but it is sent continuously as .-.-. rather than as A followed by R.
Calling every shorthand a prosign
QTH, QSL, and QRZ are Q-codes. They are sent as ordinary letters with their own radio shorthand meanings.
Using prosigns as sentence punctuation
Prosigns manage operating flow. For written symbols like period, slash, and question mark, use punctuation.
Prosigns vs punctuation vs Q-codes
Use prosigns for operating flow, punctuation for written marks, and Q-codes for radio shorthand meanings.
Prosigns
Use prosigns when you need procedural signals for starting, pausing, correcting, ending, or closing traffic.
Open ProsignsPunctuation
Use punctuation for normal written symbols inside translated text.
Open PunctuationQ-codes
Use Q-codes for radio shorthand phrases sent as normal letter groups.
Open Q-codesBest next step after reviewing prosigns
Practice the sound of continuous signals, then compare them with normal letter groups so the spacing difference is clear.
Morse prosigns FAQ
What is a Morse code prosign?>
A prosign is a procedural Morse signal used to manage operating flow, such as starting traffic, ending a message, waiting, correcting an error, or closing a contact.
Are prosigns sent with spaces between letters?>
No. A prosign may be written with letter labels, but the Morse is sent as one continuous signal without the normal gap between those letters.
Are prosigns the same as abbreviations?>
No. Abbreviations and Q-codes are sent as normal letters. Prosigns are operating signals with special continuous spacing.
How are prosigns different from Q-codes?>
Prosigns control message flow, while Q-codes are radio shorthand phrases such as QTH, QSL, QRS, and QRZ.
Should beginners learn prosigns right away?>
Beginners can start with SOS and a few common signals, but letter and number recognition should usually come first.
