F

What does "Foxtrot" mean?

In the NATO phonetic alphabet, the letter F is represented by the codeword Foxtrot, pronounced FOKS-trot. When spelling over radio, phone, or in person in noisy environments, you say "Foxtrot" to unambiguously indicate the letter F.

History & etymology

The ballroom dance popularized in 1914; the name's sharp consonants cut through radio static.

How to use it

Say "Foxtrot" whenever you need to specify the letter F 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 F, you might say "Foxtrot as in Foxtrot" 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 F below. For the full 26-letter chart with pronunciation and history, visit the NATO alphabet reference page. Prefer to memorize it? Try our flashcards.