NATO phonetic alphabet
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:07:22 PM Wikipedia source
The NATO phonetic alphabet, officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, is an internationally recognized set of names for the letters of the Latin alphabet and the Hindu-Arabic digits. It is most commonly used in radio communication, where the usual names of the letters are likely to be misheard. It was defined in 1955–1956 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Tables
Letter names
Bravo
Bravo
Alfa
Bravo
November
Oscar
Charlie
Charlie
Alfa
Charlie
November
Papa
Delta
Delta
Alfa
Delta
November
Quebec
Echo
Echo
Alfa
Echo
November
Romeo
Foxtrot
Foxtrot
Alfa
Foxtrot
November
Sierra
Golf
Golf
Alfa
Golf
November
Tango
Hotel
Hotel
Alfa
Hotel
November
Uniform
India
India
Alfa
India
November
Victor
Juliett
Juliett
Alfa
Juliett
November
Whiskey
Kilo
Kilo
Alfa
Kilo
November
Xray
Lima
Lima
Alfa
Lima
November
Yankee
Mike
Mike
Alfa
Mike
November
Zulu
| Alfa | November |
| Bravo | Oscar |
| Charlie | Papa |
| Delta | Quebec |
| Echo | Romeo |
| Foxtrot | Sierra |
| Golf | Tango |
| Hotel | Uniform |
| India | Victor |
| Juliett | Whiskey |
| Kilo | Xray |
| Lima | Yankee |
| Mike | Zulu |
| | |
Digit names (ICAO)
Two
Two
One
Two
Seven
Eight
Three ('tree')
Three ('tree')
One
Three ('tree')
Seven
Nine ('niner')
Four ('fower')
Four ('fower')
One
Four ('fower')
Seven
Zero
Five ('fife')
Five ('fife')
One
Five ('fife')
Seven
Hundred (00)
Six
Six
One
Six
Seven
Thousand ('tousand')
| One | Seven |
| Two | Eight |
| Three ('tree') | Nine ('niner') |
| Four ('fower') | Zero |
| Five ('fife') | Hundred (00) |
| Six | Thousand ('tousand') |
Letter code words with pronunciation · Pronunciation of code words › Tables
IPA
IPA
Symbol
IPA
Code word
English respelling
A
A
Symbol
A
Code word
Alfa [sic]
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈalfa
ICAO (1950)
ˈælfa
ICAO (1950)
AL fah
B
B
Symbol
B
Code word
Bravo
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈbravo
ICAO (1950)
ˈbraːˈvo [sic]
ICAO (1950)
BRAH voh
C
C
Symbol
C
Code word
Charlie
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈtʃali
(or ˈʃali)
ICAO (1950)
ˈtʃɑːli
(or ˈʃɑːli)
ICAO (1950)
CHAR lee
(or SHAR lee)
D
D
Symbol
D
Code word
Delta
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈdɛlta
ICAO (1950)
ˈdeltɑ
ICAO (1950)
DELL tah
E
E
Symbol
E
Code word
Echo
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈɛko
ICAO (1950)
ˈeko
ICAO (1950)
ECK oh
F
F
Symbol
F
Code word
Foxtrot
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈfɔkstrɔt
ICAO (1950)
ˈfɔkstrɔt
ICAO (1950)
FOKS trot
G
G
Symbol
G
Code word
Golf
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈɡɔlf
ICAO (1950)
ɡʌlf [sic]
ICAO (1950)
golf
H
H
Symbol
H
Code word
Hotel
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
hoˈtɛl
ICAO (1950)
hoːˈtel
ICAO (1950)
ho TELL
I
I
Symbol
I
Code word
India
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈɪndia
ICAO (1950)
ˈindi.ɑ
ICAO (1950)
IN dee ah
J
J
Symbol
J
Code word
Juliett [sic]
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈdʒuliˈɛt
ICAO (1950)
ˈdʒuːli.ˈet
ICAO (1950)
JEW lee ETT
K
K
Symbol
K
Code word
Kilo
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈkilo
ICAO (1950)
ˈkiːlo
ICAO (1950)
KEY loh
L
L
Symbol
L
Code word
Lima
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈlima
ICAO (1950)
ˈliːmɑ
ICAO (1950)
LEE mah
M
M
Symbol
M
Code word
Mike
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈmai̯k
ICAO (1950)
mɑik
ICAO (1950)
mike
N
N
Symbol
N
Code word
November
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
noˈvɛmba
ICAO (1950)
noˈvembə
ICAO (1950)
no VEM ber
O
O
Symbol
O
Code word
Oscar
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈɔska
ICAO (1950)
ˈɔskɑ
ICAO (1950)
OSS cah
P
P
Symbol
P
Code word
Papa
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
paˈpa
ICAO (1950)
pəˈpɑ
ICAO (1950)
pah PAH
Q
Q
Symbol
Q
Code word
Quebec
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
keˈbɛk [sic]
ICAO (1950)
keˈbek
ICAO (1950)
keh BECK
R
R
Symbol
R
Code word
Romeo
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈromio
ICAO (1950)
ˈroːmi
ICAO (1950)
ROW me oh
S
S
Symbol
S
Code word
Sierra
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
siˈɛra
ICAO (1950)
siˈerɑ
ICAO (1950)
see AIR rah
T
T
Symbol
T
Code word
Tango
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈtaŋɡo
ICAO (1950)
ˈtænɡo
ICAO (1950)
TANG go
U
U
Symbol
U
Code word
Uniform
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈjunifɔm
(or ˈunifɔm)
ICAO (1950)
ˈjuːnifɔːm
(or ˈuːnifɔrm [sic])
ICAO (1950)
YOU nee form
(or OO nee form)
V
V
Symbol
V
Code word
Victor
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈvɪkta
ICAO (1950)
ˈviktɑ
ICAO (1950)
VIK tah
W
W
Symbol
W
Code word
Whiskey
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈwɪski
ICAO (1950)
ˈwiski
ICAO (1950)
WISS key
X
X
Symbol
X
Code word
Xray, x-ray
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈɛksrei̯
ICAO (1950)
ˈeksˈrei [sic]
ICAO (1950)
ECKS ray
Y
Y
Symbol
Y
Code word
Yankee
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈjaŋki
ICAO (1950)
ˈjænki
ICAO (1950)
YANG key
Z
Z
Symbol
Z
Code word
Zulu
DIN 5009
(2022) IPA
ˈzulu
ICAO (1950)
ˈzuːluː
ICAO (1950)
ZOO loo
| Symbol | Code word | DIN 5009 (2022) IPA | ICAO (1950) | |
| IPA | English respelling | |||
| A | Alfa [sic] | ˈalfa | ˈælfa | AL fah |
| B | Bravo | ˈbravo | ˈbraːˈvo [sic] | BRAH voh |
| C | Charlie | ˈtʃali (or ˈʃali) | ˈtʃɑːli (or ˈʃɑːli) | CHAR lee (or SHAR lee) |
| D | Delta | ˈdɛlta | ˈdeltɑ | DELL tah |
| E | Echo | ˈɛko | ˈeko | ECK oh |
| F | Foxtrot | ˈfɔkstrɔt | ˈfɔkstrɔt | FOKS trot |
| G | Golf | ˈɡɔlf | ɡʌlf [sic] | golf |
| H | Hotel | hoˈtɛl | hoːˈtel | ho TELL |
| I | India | ˈɪndia | ˈindi.ɑ | IN dee ah |
| J | Juliett [sic] | ˈdʒuliˈɛt | ˈdʒuːli.ˈet | JEW lee ETT |
| K | Kilo | ˈkilo | ˈkiːlo | KEY loh |
| L | Lima | ˈlima | ˈliːmɑ | LEE mah |
| M | Mike | ˈmai̯k | mɑik | mike |
| N | November | noˈvɛmba | noˈvembə | no VEM ber |
| O | Oscar | ˈɔska | ˈɔskɑ | OSS cah |
| P | Papa | paˈpa | pəˈpɑ | pah PAH |
| Q | Quebec | keˈbɛk [sic] | keˈbek | keh BECK |
| R | Romeo | ˈromio | ˈroːmi | ROW me oh |
| S | Sierra | siˈɛra | siˈerɑ | see AIR rah |
| T | Tango | ˈtaŋɡo | ˈtænɡo | TANG go |
| U | Uniform | ˈjunifɔm (or ˈunifɔm) | ˈjuːnifɔːm (or ˈuːnifɔrm [sic]) | YOU nee form (or OO nee form) |
| V | Victor | ˈvɪkta | ˈviktɑ | VIK tah |
| W | Whiskey | ˈwɪski | ˈwiski | WISS key |
| X | Xray, x-ray | ˈɛksrei̯ | ˈeksˈrei [sic] | ECKS ray |
| Y | Yankee | ˈjaŋki | ˈjænki | YANG key |
| Z | Zulu | ˈzulu | ˈzuːluː | ZOO loo |
Digit code words with pronunciation · Pronunciation of code words › Tables
ICAO
(English)
ICAO
(English)
Symbol
ICAO
(English)
Code word
SIA
(French)
Respellings
CCEB 2016
Respellings
FAA
Respellings
ITU-R 2007 (WRC-07)
IMO (English)
Respellings
IMO
(French)
Respellings
US Navy
1957
Respellings
US Army
1
1
Symbol
1
Code word
One, unaone
Respellings
WUN
Respellings
OUANN
Respellings
wun
Respellings
wun
Respellings
OO-NAH-WUN
Respellings
OUNA-OUANN
Respellings
wun
Respellings
wun, won (USMC)
2
2
Symbol
2
Code word
Two, bissotwo
Respellings
TOO
Respellings
TOU
Respellings
too
Respellings
too
Respellings
BEES-SOH-TOO
Respellings
BIS-SO-TOU
Respellings
too
Respellings
too
3
3
Symbol
3
Code word
Three, terrathree
Respellings
TREE
Respellings
TRI
Respellings
tree
Respellings
tree
Respellings
TAY-RAH-TREE
Respellings
TÉ-RA-TRI
Respellings
thuh-ree
Respellings
tree
4
4
Symbol
4
Code word
Four, kartefour
Respellings
FOW-er
Respellings
FO eur
Respellings
FOW-er
Respellings
fow-er
Respellings
KAR-TAY-FOWER
Respellings
KAR-TÉ-FO-EUR
Respellings
fo-wer
Respellings
fow-er
5
5
Symbol
5
Code word
Five, pantafive
Respellings
FIFE
Respellings
FA ÏF [sic]
Respellings
fife
Respellings
fife
Respellings
PAN-TAH-FIVE
Respellings
PANN-TA-FAIF
Respellings
fi-yiv
Respellings
fife
6
6
Symbol
6
Code word
Six, soxisix
Respellings
SIX
Respellings
SIKS
Respellings
six
Respellings
six
Respellings
SOK-SEE-SIX
Respellings
SO-XI-SICKS
Respellings
six
Respellings
six
7
7
Symbol
7
Code word
Seven, setteseven
Respellings
SEV-en
Respellings
SÈV n
Respellings
SEV-en
Respellings
sev-en
Respellings
SAY-TAY-SEVEN
Respellings
SÉT-TÉ-SEV'N [sic]
Respellings
seven
Respellings
sev-en
8
8
Symbol
8
Code word
Eight, oktoeight
Respellings
AIT
Respellings
EÏT
Respellings
ait
Respellings
ait
Respellings
OK-TOH-AIT
Respellings
OK-TO-EIT
Respellings
ate
Respellings
ait
9
9
Symbol
9
Code word
Nine, novenine
Respellings
NIN-er
Respellings
NAÏ neu
Respellings
NINE-er
Respellings
nin-er
Respellings
NO-VAY-NINER
Respellings
NO-VÉ-NAI-NEU
Respellings
niner
Respellings
nin-er
0
0
Symbol
0
Code word
Zero, nadazero
Respellings
ZE-RO (ZEE-ro)
Respellings
ZI RO
Respellings
ZE-ro
Respellings
ze-ro / zee-ro
Respellings
NAH-DAH-ZAY-ROH
Respellings
NA-DA-ZE-RO
Respellings
zero
Respellings
ze-ro
00
00
Symbol
00
Code word
Hundred
Respellings
HUN-dred
Respellings
HUN-dred
Respellings
(zero zero)
Respellings
(hundred)
Respellings
hun-dred
000
000
Symbol
000
Code word
Thousand
Respellings
TOU-SAND (TOU-sand)
Respellings
TAOU ZEND
Respellings
(zero zero zero)
Respellings
(thousand)
Respellings
thow-zand
Respellings
tou-sand
(decimal point)
(decimal point)
Symbol
(decimal point)
Code word
Decimal, (FAA) point
Respellings
DAY-SEE-MAL
Respellings
DÈ SI MAL
Respellings
(decimal)
Respellings
(point)
Respellings
DAY-SEE-MAL
Respellings
DÉ-SI-MAL
| Symbol | Code word | Respellings | ||||||||
| ICAO (English) | SIA (French) | CCEB 2016 | FAA | ITU-R 2007 (WRC-07) IMO (English) | IMO (French) | US Navy 1957 | US Army | |||
| 1 | One, unaone | WUN | OUANN | wun | wun | OO-NAH-WUN | OUNA-OUANN | wun | wun, won (USMC) | |
| 2 | Two, bissotwo | TOO | TOU | too | too | BEES-SOH-TOO | BIS-SO-TOU | too | too | |
| 3 | Three, terrathree | TREE | TRI | tree | tree | TAY-RAH-TREE | TÉ-RA-TRI | thuh-ree | tree | |
| 4 | Four, kartefour | FOW-er | FO eur | FOW-er | fow-er | KAR-TAY-FOWER | KAR-TÉ-FO-EUR | fo-wer | fow-er | |
| 5 | Five, pantafive | FIFE | FA ÏF [sic] | fife | fife | PAN-TAH-FIVE | PANN-TA-FAIF | fi-yiv | fife | |
| 6 | Six, soxisix | SIX | SIKS | six | six | SOK-SEE-SIX | SO-XI-SICKS | six | six | |
| 7 | Seven, setteseven | SEV-en | SÈV n | SEV-en | sev-en | SAY-TAY-SEVEN | SÉT-TÉ-SEV'N [sic] | seven | sev-en | |
| 8 | Eight, oktoeight | AIT | EÏT | ait | ait | OK-TOH-AIT | OK-TO-EIT | ate | ait | |
| 9 | Nine, novenine | NIN-er | NAÏ neu | NINE-er | nin-er | NO-VAY-NINER | NO-VÉ-NAI-NEU | niner | nin-er | |
| 0 | Zero, nadazero | ZE-RO (ZEE-ro) | ZI RO | ZE-ro | ze-ro / zee-ro | NAH-DAH-ZAY-ROH | NA-DA-ZE-RO | zero | ze-ro | |
| 00 | Hundred | HUN-dred | HUN-dred | (zero zero) | (hundred) | hun-dred | ||||
| 000 | Thousand | TOU-SAND (TOU-sand) | TAOU ZEND | (zero zero zero) | (thousand) | thow-zand | tou-sand | |||
| (decimal point) | Decimal, (FAA) point | DAY-SEE-MAL | DÈ SI MAL | (decimal) | (point) | DAY-SEE-MAL | DÉ-SI-MAL | |||
Punctuation code words (CCEB) · Pronunciation of code words › Tables
-
-
Symbol
-
Code word
hyphen, (FAA) dash
/
/
Symbol
/
Code word
slant
(
(
Symbol
(
Code word
brackets on
| Symbol | Code word |
| stop (when not a decimal point) | |
| comma (when not a decimal comma) | |
| - | hyphen, (FAA) dash |
| / | slant |
| ( | brackets on |
| brackets off |
References
- In print, these code words are commonly capitalized or written in all caps for visual salience (CCEB 2016).
- This is reinforced by the IMO, which for example has "TCHAH-LI" as the French respelling of Charlie and "OSS-CAH", "VIK-
- Capital letters, if any, indicate a stressed syllable.
- Written "nine" in the examples, but pronunciation given as "niner"
- The ICAO specifies that all syllables in these words are to be equally stressed (§5 note), but in practice they are not.
- With the code words for the digits and decimal, each syllable is stressed equally.
- Only the second (English) component of each code word is used by the Aeronautical Mobile Service.
- Each sequence of figures is both preceded and followed by "as a number" – or, for punctuation only, "as a mark" – spoken
- "NATO phonetic alphabet, codes and signals"https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/articles/news/2017/12/21/nato-phonetic-alphabet-codes-and-signals
- ICAO, International Standards and Recommended Practices, Aeronautical Telecommunications, Annex 10 to the Convention on International Civil Aviationm Edition 4, 1955-04
- International Standards and Recommended Practices and Procedures for Air Navigation Services, Annex 10 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation: Aeronautical Telecommunications; Volume II Communication Procedures including those with PANS status,https://elibrary.icao.int/reader/278655/%26returnUrl%3DaHR0cHM6Ly9lbGlicmFyeS5pY2FvLmludC9leHBsb3JlO3NlYXJjaFRleHQ9YW5uZXglMjAxMCUyMHZvbHVtZSUyMGlpO21haW5TZWFyY2g9MTt0aGVtZU5hbWU9Qmx1ZS1UaGVtZS9wcm9kdWN0LWRldGFpbHMvMjc4NjU1?productType=ebookProcedures
- North Atlantic Treaty Organizationhttps://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/pdf_2018_01/20180111_nato-alphabet-sign-signal.pdf
- "Where does the term "Bravo Zulu" originate?"https://web.archive.org/web/20050306051400/http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/questions/bzulu.html
- "The Postal History of ICAO: Annex 10 - Aeronautical Telecommunications"https://web.archive.org/web/20190212211147/https://www.icao.int/secretariat/PostalHistory/annex_10_aeronautical_telecommunications.htm
- L . Rose, "Aviation's ABC: The development of the ICAO spelling alphabet", ICAO Bulletin 11/2 (1956) 12–14.
- DIN 5009:2022-06https://www.din.de/de/mitwirken/normenausschuesse/nia/entwuerfe/wdc-beuth:din21:341625838!full-text
- International Civil Aviation Organizationhttps://www.icao.int/Pages/AlphabetRadiotelephony.aspx
- Albert Pelsser, La storia postale dell' ICAO Archived 21 July 2022 at the Wayback Machine, translated by Nico Michelinihttps://applications.icao.int/postalhistory/l_alfabeto_fonetico_internazionale.pdf
- Camelia Uşurelu (2019: 461) Studii lingvistice. In memoriam Cristina Călăraşu. Editura Universităţii din Bucureşti
- "Phonetic Alphabet"https://www.egmdss.com/gmdss-courses/mod/resource/view.php?id=72