Phonetic Alphabet Tables

The phonetic alphabet is useful for spelling out words and names over the phone. Some letters of the alphabet sound the same and sometimes it can be difficult to hear what a person is saying if they are in a noisy place. For this reason you should use a phonetic alphabet when spelling out words over the telephone, which makes it much easier for other people to understand what they are saying. An alternate version, Western Union's phonetic alphabet and Police & Civilian phonetic alphabet, is presented in case the NATO version sounds too militaristic to you. You decide what version you want to use. Here is the phonetic alphabet:

US Armed Forces Phonetic Alphabet

Letter A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z phonetic letter Alpha or Alfa Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel India Juliet or Juliett Kilo Lima Mike November Oscar Papa Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango Uniform Victor Whiskey X-ray Yankee Zulu Pronunciation AL FAH BRAH VOE CHAR LEE DELL TAH ECK OH FOKS TROT GOLF HO TELL IN DEE AH JEW LEE ETT KEY LOH LEE MAH MIKE NO VEM BER OSS CAH PAH PAH KEH BECK ROW ME OH SEE AIR RAH TANG GO YOU NEE FORM VIK TAH WISS KEY ECKS RAY YANG KEY ZOO LOO

Western Union Phonetic Alphabet

Letter A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z phonetic letter Adams Boston Chicago Denver Easy Frank George Henry Ida John King Lincoln Mary New York Ocean Peter Queen Roger Sugar Thomas Union Victor William X-ray Young Zero

Police & Civilian Phonetic Alphabet

Letter A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z phonetic letter Adam Boy Charlie or Charles David Edward Frank George Henry or Hank Ida John King Lincoln Mary or Mike Nancy or Nora Ocean Paul or Peter Queen Robert or Roger Sam Tom or Thomas Union Victor William or Walter X-ray Yellow or Young Zebra or Zero

Note: Any message that isn't understood correctly can have critical consequences. Good communication is important to any organization and the need is vital. Speak slowly enunciate clearly (but don't shout) and spell out words if necessary.