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 “Tech FAQ” 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 |
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