The NATO phonetic alphabet gives each letter a code word, from Alfa to Zulu, so letters can be spelled clearly over the radio or the phone. Download the free printable chart below. It shows every letter with its code word, a picture and the pronunciation on one page.
NATO Phonetic Alphabet Chart
Alfa, Bravo, Charlie: the spelling alphabet used in radio, aviation and customer service. One printable page.
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NATO phonetic alphabet: letters, code words and pronunciation
| Letter | Code word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A | Alfa | AL-fah |
| B | Bravo | BRAH-voh |
| C | Charlie | CHAR-lee |
| D | Delta | DELL-tah |
| E | Echo | ECK-oh |
| F | Foxtrot | FOKS-trot |
| G | Golf | GOLF |
| H | Hotel | hoh-TELL |
| I | India | IN-dee-ah |
| J | Juliett | JEW-lee-ett |
| K | Kilo | KEY-loh |
| L | Lima | LEE-mah |
| M | Mike | MIKE |
| N | November | no-VEM-ber |
| O | Oscar | OSS-cah |
| P | Papa | pah-PAH |
| Q | Quebec | keh-BECK |
| R | Romeo | ROW-me-oh |
| S | Sierra | see-AIR-rah |
| T | Tango | TANG-go |
| U | Uniform | YOU-nee-form |
| V | Victor | VIK-tah |
| W | Whiskey | WISS-key |
| X | X-ray | ECKS-ray |
| Y | Yankee | YANG-key |
| Z | Zulu | ZOO-loo |
The stressed syllable is in capitals. The pronunciations follow the official ICAO guide, which is why Alfa and Juliett have unusual spellings: “Alfa” keeps speakers of other languages from reading “ph” as a separate sound, and the double t in “Juliett” stops French speakers from leaving the final t silent.
Numbers in the phonetic alphabet
Pilots and radio operators also say numbers in a set way, so that similar-sounding digits are not confused.
| Number | Spoken as |
|---|---|
| 0 | ZE-RO |
| 1 | WUN |
| 2 | TOO |
| 3 | TREE |
| 4 | FOW-er |
| 5 | FIFE |
| 6 | SIX |
| 7 | SEV-en |
| 8 | AIT |
| 9 | NIN-er |
Who uses the phonetic alphabet
NATO, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Telecommunication Union all use the same 26 code words. Pilots and air traffic controllers use them to read out call signs and runway names. Police, the military, ships at sea and amateur radio operators use them on the radio. Customer service and call center staff use them to confirm names, email addresses, booking codes and account numbers over the phone.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NATO alphabet the same as the military alphabet?
Yes. The NATO phonetic alphabet, the military alphabet, the ICAO alphabet and the international radiotelephony spelling alphabet are the same list of 26 code words. It has been in use since 1956.
How do you spell a name with the phonetic alphabet?
Say each letter’s code word in order. The name “Sam” is “Sierra Alfa Mike”. Say “uppercase” or “lowercase” before a letter only when case matters, as in a password.
Why does the chart show a whisk for Whiskey?
The chart is used in classrooms, so the picture for Whiskey is a kitchen whisk. The code word itself is unchanged.
Is there a children’s alphabet chart?
Yes. The alphabet chart page has printable A to Z charts with animal, food and everyday pictures for children learning their letters.