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NATO Phonetic Alphabet
The International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization in 1956 and used by NATO, aviation, maritime, and emergency services worldwide.
Adopted 1956 (ICAO), 1959 (NATO)
| Letter | Codeword | Pronunciation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Alfa | AL-fah | Details → |
| B | Bravo | BRAH-voh | Details → |
| C | Charlie | CHAR-lee | Details → |
| D | Delta | DELL-tah | Details → |
| E | Echo | EKK-oh | Details → |
| F | Foxtrot | FOKS-trot | Details → |
| G | Golf | GOLF | Details → |
| H | Hotel | hoh-TELL | Details → |
| I | India | IN-dee-ah | Details → |
| J | Juliett | JEW-lee-ett | Details → |
| K | Kilo | KEY-loh | Details → |
| L | Lima | LEE-mah | Details → |
| M | Mike | MIKE | Details → |
| N | November | no-VEM-ber | Details → |
| O | Oscar | OSS-car | Details → |
| P | Papa | pah-PAH | Details → |
| Q | Quebec | keh-BEK | Details → |
| R | Romeo | ROW-me-oh | Details → |
| S | Sierra | see-AIR-ah | Details → |
| T | Tango | TANG-go | Details → |
| U | Uniform | YOU-nee-form | Details → |
| V | Victor | VIK-ter | Details → |
| W | Whiskey | WISS-key | Details → |
| X | X-ray | EKS-ray | Details → |
| Y | Yankee | YANG-key | Details → |
| Z | Zulu | ZOO-loo | Details → |
What is the NATO phonetic alphabet?
The NATO phonetic alphabet is a set of 26 codewords — one for each letter of the Roman alphabet — designed to be unambiguous over voice radio and telephone. Instead of saying "M as in Mary" or "B as in boy," you say "Mike" or "Bravo." Every codeword was chosen after extensive testing in 1955 to remain intelligible through poor-quality radio links, across accents, and to non-native English speakers.
How to use it
When spelling a word, simply replace each letter with its codeword. "CAT" becomes "Charlie Alfa Tango." For our free translator, paste any text and we'll convert it instantly. For memorization, try our flashcards.
Why every codeword matters
Each of the 26 codewords below has its own story — why "Alfa" is spelled without a "ph," why "Juliett" has two t's, why "Papa" is stressed on the second syllable. Click any letter above for the full history.