Police phonetic alphabet
A lot of “police phonetic alphabet” searches still want the same international Alpha–Zulu words — the list that keeps B and D from collapsing on a bad line. That is what this page uses. We say so up front: if your agency issued a local sheet or APCO-style codes, follow your agency. Here you get the widely shared ICAO / NATO word list in a phone-desk frame.
International spelling alphabet
Select a letter for its code word
Letter Tile Board
A keyboard-focusable A–Z grid
International spelling alphabet (ICAO / NATO word list)
International spelling alphabet (ICAO / NATO word list) — not a military training certificate, not APCO department codes.
More detail
Tap the chart or paste a name into spell mode. Same engines as the rest of the site; different doorway and examples.
When to use
Front-desk phone spelling; volunteer study; civilians who work with dispatch-adjacent paperwork and need the common list.
When not to
Do not cite this page as your department’s official code order. Do not expect 10-codes, signal codes, or status codes. Tactical training material is out of scope entirely.
Assumptions
International letter code words. English UI. Examples lean toward names, streets, and plate-like strings — not emergency procedure scripts.
Worked examples
In: Street Ash
Out: ALFA · SIERRA · HOTEL
In: Plate MK
Out: MIKE · KILO
How it works
Same chart + spell tools; copy for radio or phone. Agency list wins if it conflicts — we say that plainly.
Common traps
- Some U.S. agencies historically used different word lists — always prefer the card in your precinct.
- “Pneumonic alphabet” typos in search still mean this topic.
- Clear spelling helps; it does not replace verification when a record must be exact.
Next tool
Common questions
No — we use the international Alpha–Zulu list. APCO / local lists vary.