Phonetic Alphabet
The Phonetic Alphabet, also known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet or NATO phonetic alphabet, is a standardised set of words used to represent the letters of the alphabet in oral communication. Each word in the phonetic alphabet corresponds to a specific letter and is designed to reduce ambiguity and miscommunication when spelling out words or names over the phone or radio. For example, “Alpha” represents the letter A, “Bravo” represents B, “Charlie” represents C, and so on. This system is commonly used in military, aviation, maritime, and other industries where clear and concise communication is essential.
NATO Phonetic Alphabet
|
Letter |
Phonetic Word |
Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
|
A |
Alpha |
AL fah |
|
B |
Bravo |
BRAH voh |
|
C |
Charlie |
CHAR lee |
|
D |
Delta |
DELL tah |
|
E |
Echo |
ECK oh |
|
F |
Foxtrot |
FOKS trot |
|
G |
Golf |
golf |
|
H |
Hotel |
ho TELL |
|
I |
India |
IN dee ah |
|
J |
Juliett |
JEW lee ETT |
|
K |
Kilo |
KEY loh |
|
L |
Lima |
LEE mah |
|
M |
Mike |
mike |
|
N |
November |
no VEM ber |
|
O |
Oscar |
OSS cah |
|
P |
Papa |
pah PAH |
|
Q |
Quebec |
keh BECK |
|
R |
Romeo |
ROW me oh |
|
S |
Sierra |
see AIR rah |
|
T |
Tango |
TANG go |
|
U |
Uniform |
YOU nee form |
|
V |
Victor |
VIK tah |
|
W |
Whiskey |
WISS key |
|
X |
Xray, x-ray |
ECKS ray |
|
Y |
Yankee |
YANG key |
|
Z |
Zulu |
ZOO loo |
|
Number |
Phonetic Word |
Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
One |
WUN |
|
2 |
Two |
TOO |
|
3 |
Three |
TREE |
|
4 |
Four |
FOW-er |
|
5 |
Five |
FIFE |
|
6 |
Six |
SIX |
|
7 |
Seven |
SEV-en |
|
8 |
Eight |
AIT |
|
9 |
Nine |
NIN-er |
|
0 |
Zero |
ZE-RO |
|
00 |
Hundred |
HUN-dred |
|
000 |
Thousand |
TOU-SAND |
|
. |
Decimal |
DAY-SEE-MAL |
