International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is standard method for expressing the range of sounds of that we use in the languages of the world.  This is a useful tool for linguists and language learners as it is the way to write every possible sound.  It often is helpful to see the “big picture” of all the sounds and how they relate to each other.  It can also help you understand how to get your mouth to make the desired sound in your new language.  If you learn the IPA, you will be able to write the proper pronunciation or every word in every language.

Learn more about the IPA:






Radio Phonetic Alphabet

alphaThe 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