military-alphabet
The military alphabet, or more properly the phonetic alphabet, exists in innumerable variants.

If any military alphabet can be viewed as the most correct, it is the current NATO standard military alphabet.

However, even with the NATO standard military alphabet, various member nations use numerous spelling variations.

This version of the military alphabet is also known as the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) code.

The NATO Standard Military Alphabet

This chart shows the current NATO standard military alphabet:

Letter NATO
A Alpha
B Bravo
C Charlie
D Delta
E Echo
F Foxtrot
G Golf
H Hotel
I India
J Juliet
K Kilo
L Lima
M Mike
N November
O Oscar
P Papa
Q Quebec
R Romeo
S Sierra
T Tango
U Uniform
V Victor
W Whiskey
X Xray
Y Yankee
Z Zulu

Military Alphabet Pronunciation Guide

The following military alphabet pronunciation guide is excerpted from FM 24-19: Radio Operators Handbook.

Letter Pronounciation
A ALFAH
B BRAHVOH
C CHARLEE
D DELLTAH
E ECKOH
F FOKSTROT
G GOLF
H HOH TELL
I INDEE AH
J JEWLEE ETT
K KEYLOH
L LEEMAH
M MIKE
N NO VEMBER
O OSSCAH
P PAHPAH
Q KEHBECK
R ROWME OH
S SEE AIRRAH
T TANGGO
U YOUNEE FORM
V VIKTAH
W WISSKEY
X ECKSRAY
Y YANGKEY
Z ZOOLOO

An Example of Military Alphabet Use

To spell “ByteGuide” with the military alphabet one would say:

Tango Echo Charlie Hotel Foxtrot Alpha Quebec

The Numeric Military Alphabet

There is also a military “alphabet” for numbers, which is used mainly as a pronunciation guide.

Number Pronounciation
0 Zeero
1 Wun
2 Too
3 Tree
4 Fow-er
5 Fife
6 Siks
7 Seven
8 Ait
9 Nine