Learning the Nato Phonetic Alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta...

Written By Keith Knittel

This is a reference for anyone who doesn’t know the phonetic alphabet (I didn’t a short time ago!), this is how letters are referenced over the radio/in the airspace world. Getting to know the phonetic alphabet will also translate over to other aspects too. Once you learn these, you’ll be amazed at how often the phonetic alphabet comes in handy when speaking and adding clarity when it matters most. The phonetic alphabet is also the standard in the military and police/law enforcement.

I’ve included some commonly mis-used phonetic alphabet alternatives to the real terms used in parenthesis. While they still get the point across, they aren’t the officially used terms - and people that know their phonetic alphabet might correct you. Just saying!

Phonetic Alphabet List

  • Alpha (NOT Able)

  • Bravo (NOT Betty)

  • Charlie

  • Delta (Sometimes referred to as “Data” or “David” to avoid confusion with Delta Airlines)

  • Echo (NOT Eagle)

  • Foxtrot

  • Golf

  • Hotel

  • India

  • Juliet

  • Kilo

  • Lima

  • Mike

  • November (Not Nancy)

  • Oscar

  • Papa

  • Quebec

  • Romeo

  • Sierra

  • Tango

  • Uniform

  • Victor

  • Whiskey

  • Xray

  • Yankee

  • Zulu (NOT Zebra)

Phonetic Numbers List

  • One

  • Two

  • Three

  • Four

  • Five

  • Six

  • Seven

  • Eight

  • Niner

Keith Knittel
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