Military, maritime, aviation, and emergency services use the Phonetic alphabet so there are fewer mistakes in the transmission of critical information. The phonetic alphabet or word spelling alphabet or the international phonetic alphabet is used in operations where clear communication is paramount.
If you’ve ever tried giving street directions on the phone that include and are not limited to an email address, username, password, or street address you’ve probably ended up spelling out words. This is exactly why the phonetic alphabet exists for radio comms.
The international phonetic alphabet assigns each letter in the alphabet a word; some numbers have variations in how they are pronounced. Following is the Phonetic alphabet.
Phonetic Alphabet
- A-Alpha
- B-Bravo
- C-Charlie
- D-Delta
- E-Echo
- F-Foxtrot
- G-Golf
- H-Hotel
- I-India
- J-Julliet
- K-Kilo
- L-Lima
- M-Mike
- N-November
- O-Oscar
- P-Papa
- Q-Quebec
- R-Romeo
- S-Sierra
- T-Tango
- U-Uniform
- V-Victor
- W-Whiskey
- X-Xray
- Y-Yankee
- Z-Zulu
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, Xray, Yankee, Zulu.
Phonetic Numbers
- 1-Wun
- 2-Too
- 3- Tree
- 4-Fo Wer
- 5-Fife
- 6-Six
- 7-Sev En
- 8-Ait
- 9-Nin Er
- 0-Ze Ro
- 100-Hun Dred
- 1000-Tou Sand
| Number | Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Zero | Ze Ro |
| 1 | One | Wun |
| 2 | Two | Too |
| 3 | Three | Tree |
| 4 | Four | Fo Wer |
| 5 | Five | Fife |
| 6 | Six | Six |
| 7 | Seven | Sev En |
| 8 | Eight | Ait |
| 9 | Nine | Nin Er |
| 100 | Hundred | Hun Dred |
| 1000 | Thousand | Tou Sand |
What is the NATO Phonetic Alphabet?
The NATO phonetic alphabet uses words in place of letters when communicating via radio. Using words instead of letters when speaking on the radio makes for fewer errors when transmitting in combat or emergencies and fewer misunderstandings. For example, instead of saying “ABCD” in your call sign, you’d say Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta.
What is the international phonetic alphabet used for?
The phonetic alphabet was used initially by military radioman to pass messages along clearly. Transmitting on the radio with static or a poor radio signal leads to confusion and mistranslated information. Words are used in place of letters because certain letters in the alphabet sound similar.
For example, Bravo, Delta, and Echo are less likely to be confused in transmission than the letters B, D, and E, which sound similar.
