NATO Phonetic Alphabet
Spell anything as Alfa Bravo Charlie for phone calls and radio, plus the full reference chart.
Never spell your email twice again
Type any name, booking reference, or postcode and read the phonetic version straight off the screen while you are on the call. Every letter becomes an unmistakable word, so B and P, or M and N, can never be confused over a bad line. Everything runs in your browser.
The official spelling alphabet
This is the ICAO international radiotelephony spelling alphabet, adopted in 1956 and used by pilots, air traffic control, shipping, NATO forces, and emergency services worldwide. The odd-looking spellings, Alfa with an f and Juliett with a double t, are intentional so the words read correctly in every language.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NATO phonetic alphabet?
The international spelling alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and so on through Zulu, one word per letter, chosen so letters cannot be confused over bad audio. It is the standard in aviation, shipping, and emergency services.
How do I spell my name with the NATO alphabet?
Type it into the box above and read off the words: JANE becomes Juliett Alpha November Echo. Handy for phone calls with confirmation numbers, names, and postcodes.
How are numbers said in the NATO alphabet?
Digits are spoken with a few special pronunciations for clarity: three is TREE, five is FIFE, nine is NINER, and thousand is TOUSAND, all chosen to survive radio static.
Why Juliett with two t's and Alfa with an f?
The official ICAO spellings avoid ambiguity for non-English speakers: Alfa because ph is not pronounced f in many languages, and Juliett because a single final t is silent in French. Both spellings are the standard, even though they look odd in English.