The NATO phonetic alphabet is a system where key words are used to represent letters and numbers when using two-way radios or other verbal communication. Often with international speakers, accents, stress, and poor communication links, letters such as b, c, d, e, g, p, t, v, z, and the number 3 can sound alike. Assigning a commonly agreed upon word helps avoid confusion when spelling words. This is different from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), which is a method of documenting each sound in language. Below is each letter, its word, the pronunciation, and the IPA spelling.
| A |
Alpha |
AL FAH |
ˈælfɑ |
| B |
Bravo |
BRAH VOH |
ˈbrɑːˈvo |
| C |
Charlie |
CHAR LEE
|
ˈtʃɑːli |
| D |
Delta |
DELL TAH |
ˈdeltɑ |
| E |
Echo |
ECK OH |
ˈeko |
| F |
Foxtrot |
FOKS TROT |
ˈfɔkstrɔt |
| G |
Golf |
GOLF |
ɡʌlf |
| H |
Hotel |
HO TELL |
hoːˈtel |
| I |
India |
IN DEE AH |
ˈindiˑɑ |
| J |
Juliet |
JEW LEE ETT |
ˈdʒuːliˑˈet |
| K |
Kilo |
KEY LOH |
ˈkiːlo |
| L |
Lima |
LEE MAH |
ˈliːmɑ |
| M |
Mike |
MIKE |
mɑik |
| N |
November |
NO VEM BER |
noˈvembə |
| O |
Oscar |
OSS CAH |
ˈɔskɑ |
| P |
Papa |
PAH PAH |
pəˈpɑ |
| Q |
Quebec |
KEH BECK |
keˈbek |
| R |
Romeo |
ROW ME OH |
ˈroːmiˑo |
| S |
Sierra |
SEE AIR AH |
siˈerɑ |
| T |
Tango |
TANG GO |
ˈtænɡo |
| U |
Uniform |
YOU NEE FORM |
ˈjuːnifɔːm |
| V |
Victor |
VIK TAH |
ˈviktɑ |
| W |
Whiskey |
WISS KEY |
ˈwiski |
| X |
X-ray |
ECKS RAY |
ˈeksˈrei |
| Y |
Yankee |
YANG KEY |
ˈjænki |
| Z |
Zulu |
ZOO LOO |
ˈzuːluː |
| Digit |
Word |
Pronunciation |
| 0 |
Zero |
ZE RO |
| 1 |
One |
WUN |
| 2 |
Two |
TOO |
| 3 |
Three |
TREE |
| 4 |
Four |
FOW ER |
| 5 |
Five |
FIFE |
| 6 |
Six |
SIX |
| 7 |
Seven |
SEV EN |
| 8 |
Eight |
AIT |
| 9 |
Nine |
NIN ER |