C

What does "Charlie" mean?

In the NATO phonetic alphabet, the letter C is represented by the codeword Charlie, pronounced CHAR-lee. When spelling over radio, phone, or in person in noisy environments, you say "Charlie" to unambiguously indicate the letter C.

History & etymology

A common English given name, chosen for its distinct two-syllable sound.

How to use it

Say "Charlie" whenever you need to specify the letter C aloud. Common situations: dictating an email address or license plate over the phone, reading a serial number to technical support, making a radio call in aviation or maritime contexts, or simply avoiding the common confusion between similar-sounding letters (B/D/P/T, M/N, F/S).

Example

If your name starts with C, you might say "Charlie as in Charlie" when spelling it out — or use the NATO alphabet for your whole name using our translator.

Neighboring letters

Explore the codewords for the letters before and after C below. For the full 26-letter chart with pronunciation and history, visit the NATO alphabet reference page. Prefer to memorize it? Try our flashcards.