NATO Phonetic Alphabet: Pronunciation of the Phonetic Alphabet
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Aug 3, 2022 • 2 min read
Like Morse code, the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) phonetic alphabet serves as a communication template for different industries, including amateur radio and the military. Also known as the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) spelling alphabet, the NATO alphabet is an important form of message transmission.
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What Is the NATO Phonetic Alphabet?
The NATO phonetic alphabet, or ICAO phonetic alphabet, is a code-word communication platform. As a radio alphabet, it uses different words to represent the Roman alphabet. This association of letters with pronounceable words prevents misinterpretations over telephone and radio communications.
Is the NATO Phonetic Alphabet Still in Use?
Air traffic controllers, military departments, and international governments use this universal phonetic alphabet to send messages. As a military alphabet, the NATO phonetic alphabet assists with wartime communications. From a commercial standpoint, major airlines and retail outlets use the code word system to prevent misinterpretations over telecommunications.
A Brief History of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
The NATO phonetic alphabet originated in 1956 as a universal set of code words. During World War II, the United States and Great Britain used a phonetic alphabet to communicate the Allied forces’ tactics. One name for this early form of the NATO phonetic alphabet was “Able Baker.” Since this phonetic alphabet used the letters of the English alphabet, it was not applicable to non-English languages.
During the 1950s, NATO revised the phonetic alphabet of the ICAO to create an international phonetic alphabet. To prevent miscommunications resulting from different countries using various phonetic alphabets, linguistics experts helped create the NATO phonetic alphabet, formerly the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet. Each word in the NATO alphabet has a simple pronunciation to ensure effective communication.
A year after the creation of the NATO phonetic alphabet, the ICAO recognized it. A few years later, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) also accepted it. Today, the NATO phonetic alphabet is a universal code-word system people across the globe use every day.
The NATO Phonetic Alphabet and Code Word Pronunciation
Here is a breakdown of the NATO phonetic alphabet and its pronunciation:
| Letter | Code Word | Phonic Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A | Alfa or Alpha | AL-FAH |
| B | Bravo | BRAH-VOH |
| C | Charlie | CHAR-LEE or SHAR-LEE |
| D | Delta | DELL-TAH |
| E | Echo | ECK-OH |
| F | Foxtrot | FOKS-TROT |
| G | Golf | GOLF |
| H | Hotel | HOH-TEL |
| 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 | OO-NEE-FORM |
| V | Victor | VIK-TAH |
| W | Whiskey | WISS-KEY |
| X | X-ray | ECKS-RAY |
| Y | Yankee | YANG-KEY |
| Z | Zulu | ZOO-LOO |
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