What does ‘SOS’ mean? The term’s maritime origins
“S-O-S please, someone help me/It’s not healthy for me to feel this.”
“So when you’re near me darling/Can’t you hear me, S.O.S?”
From Rihanna and ABBA singing it to SZA naming an entire album after it, “SOS” has become a common phrase in texts and everyday language. But what does “SOS
What does ‘SOS’ mean?
Many believe “SOS” stands for “save our souls” or “save our ship,” but it actually doesn’t stand for any specific phrase. SOS is a Morse Code distress signal.
Morse Code utilizes dots, dashes, and spaces to convey letters and numbers. Samuel F.B. Morse developed the system in the 1830s, later refined in 1851 into the International Morse Code, a simpler and more precise version.
Initially, the distress signal was CQD, interpreted as “seeking you, distress” or “all stations, distress,” as per PBS. The British predominantly used CQD, while Germans utilized SOE, and Americans employed NC, all indicating a call for immediate help.
In 1906, the International Telegraphic Radio Conference recommended the more straightforward SOS, chosen for its distinct dots and dashes pattern, streamlining communication.
The comparison:
CQD: -.-./–.-/-.. SOS: …/—/…
The first U.S. transmission of SOS occurred in 1909 from the Arapahoe vessel. It was employed alongside CQD during the Titanic’s sinking. After the Titanic disaster, the U.S. officially embraced SOS. Today, U.S. marine operations rely on the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System for signaling.
The phrases “save our souls” and “save our ship” gained traction through popular use beyond marine communication.
Moreover, in modern slang and texting:
“SOS, can you help me find an excuse to leave this date?” “SOS, do you remember the name of the restaurant we visited last week?”
What does ‘SOS’ mean on iPhone?
SOS isn’t exclusive to marine communication anymore; it’s now a widespread distress signal used in our daily lives.
Apple’s Emergency SOS feature automatically contacts local emergency numbers and your designated emergency contacts, sharing your real-time location for immediate help. It operates independently of cell service or WiFi.
Accessible in Settings, Emergency SOS allows customization of its functioning. “Call with Hold” prompts a slider option when you press and hold the side power and volume buttons. Alternatively, “Call with 5 Presses” dials emergency services when you quickly press the side button five times.
Apple also offers a car crash detection feature that automatically notifies emergency services upon detecting a severe accident.