8 in Morse Code
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Three dashes lead into two closing dots for 8: — — — · · . Only 0 and 9 carry more dashes up front — five and four respectively — which makes 8 one of the slower digits to key by hand, though in total sending time it lands level with 2, its own mirror image, and behind 1 as well as 0 and 9.
2's Counterpart
Turn 8 around — dot, dot, dash, dash, dash — and it lines up with 2's code. The two digits sit at matching positions on opposite ends of the ten-digit sequence, one step in from 9 and 1 respectively.
Abbreviated on the Air
During busy contest traffic, D (dash-dot-dot) commonly stands in for 8 as a cut number, shaving two dashes off the digit whenever the exchange has already made it obvious that a number, not a letter, is on its way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which digits take the longest to send after 8?
0, 9 and 1 — 0's five full dashes make it the single slowest digit in the set, while 9 and 1 tie for second, since both are built from four dashes and one dot and differ only in the order the symbols arrive.
How long does 8 take to send compared with other digits?
Slower than average — three of its five symbols are full dashes, putting it among the more time-consuming digits to key by hand alongside 0 and 9.