NATO Phonetic Alphabet
The full NATO spelling alphabet (Alfa to Zulu, plus digits) with a converter that spells any text in NATO code.
Hi! This page shows the full NATO alphabet, from Alfa to Zulu, plus numbers. You can also turn any text into NATO code.
Results
Ads paying for your free English lessons. Prefer a quiet page? Go ad-free
This page is the complete NATO phonetic alphabet - the international radiotelephony spelling alphabet used by pilots, the military, emergency services and call centres worldwide. All 26 code words from Alfa to Zulu are listed below with the ten digit words, and the converter at the top will spell any text you type in NATO code instantly.
The alphabet at a glance
Each letter of the English alphabet is assigned a code word chosen so that no two can be confused, even over the worst radio link: A is Alfa, B is Bravo, C is Charlie, and so on through X-ray, Yankee and Zulu. The official spellings contain two deliberate quirks worth knowing: Alfa is spelled with an F and Juliett with a double T, so that French and other non-English speakers pronounce them correctly. Digits are read as plain number words, with niner often used for 9 in aviation so it cannot be confused with five or the German nein.
Where it came from
The alphabet was standardised in the 1950s by the International Civil Aviation Organization after years of testing across languages and noisy radio conditions, replacing the older Able-Baker alphabet. The words were chosen specifically because speakers of English, French and Spanish could all say and recognise them - which is why it spread from aviation to NATO, shipping, policing and eventually to every customer-service call where a booking code has to survive a bad connection.
Learning and using it
You do not need to memorise all 26 words at once. Learn the ones in your own name and email address first - the converter above will show you exactly which they are - and pick up the rest through use. Practise by spelling car number plates in your head; most people are fluent within a week. When you need to spell something right now, the converter at the top of this page does the conversion for any text and reads it aloud, and the Commonly Misspelled Words list covers the words you might be spelling in the first place.
Spell your name in the NATO alphabet
Type your name into the converter at the top of this page and read the result out loud: each letter becomes a code word that cannot be misheard. MAI becomes M as in Mike, A as in Alfa, I as in India. NGUYEN becomes November, Golf, Uniform, Yankee, Echo, November. The Speak button reads the whole sequence aloud so you can copy the rhythm, and the Copy button gives you a version to paste into a chat.
The converter handles more than names: emails, booking codes and licence plates spell out cleanly too. Digits are read as numbers, and "@" and "." are spoken as "at" and "dot".
How to spell on the phone
Phone lines cut the high frequencies that tell similar letters apart, so B, P, D, T and E sound alike and M and N blur together. Saying the letters louder does not help. Saying a code word for each one does. The phone speller below is tuned for real calls: it splits an email address or booking reference into short groups of four, reads them aloud at dictation speed, and says symbols the way people say them ("at", "dot", "dash", "underscore").
- "Can I spell that for you? It's N as in November, G as in Golf..."
- "My email is A as in Alfa, D as in Delta, at gmail dot com."
- "The booking reference is B as in Bravo, R as in Romeo, dash, 4 4 1 7."
- "Sorry, was that M as in Mike or N as in November?"
- "Let me read it back to you to check."
Frequently asked questions
What is the NATO phonetic alphabet?
The international spelling alphabet: 26 code words, one per letter (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie ... Zulu), standardised by ICAO in the 1950s so letters can be transmitted without confusion over radio and phone.
Why is Alfa spelled with an F and Juliett with two Ts?
Deliberately, so non-English speakers pronounce them correctly: the F prevents the "ph" being read as P-H, and the double T stops French speakers leaving the final T silent.
How are numbers said in the NATO alphabet?
As plain number words: Zero, One, Two and so on. In aviation, 9 is often said as "niner" so it cannot be confused with five or with the German word nein.
Who uses the NATO alphabet today?
Pilots and air traffic control, the military, shipping, police and emergency services, airlines and virtually every call centre. It is the default way to spell anything important by voice.
What is the fastest way to learn it?
Start with the letters of your own name and email address, then practise spelling number plates or street names in your head. The converter on this page gives instant feedback.
How do I spell my name in the NATO alphabet?
Type your name into the converter at the top of the page and read out the result: each letter becomes a code word, like M as in Mike, A as in Alfa, I as in India. The Speak button reads it aloud so you can copy the rhythm.
How do I spell my email address on the phone?
Use the phone speller on this page. Letters become NATO code words, the at-sign is read as "at" and the dot as "dot", and the address is split into short groups so the other person can keep up.