What is the NATO phonetic alphabet?
It is a shared list of code words for letters — Alfa, Bravo, Charlie… Zulu — so people can spell clearly over radio and phone. Many also call it the ICAO alphabet or the international radiotelephony spelling alphabet. The names differ more than the twenty-six words.
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
Below is the interactive chart. We keep history short on purpose: you came for the list, not a textbook.
When to use
Answering “what is…” before using the tools; sharing a simple definition with a teammate.
When not to
Not a long diplomatic history essay. Not IPA linguistics.
Assumptions
Definition + live chart. Digits covered on the numbers page.
Worked examples
In: Question
Out: Shared letter code words for clear spelling
In: Letter C
Out: Charlie
How it works
Read the short definition, then tap letters or spell a line.
Common traps
- “Phonetic” here means spelling letters, not IPA sounds.
- Alfa spelling surprises people who only saw Alpha in search ads.
- What is nato phonetic alphabet (without “the”) is the same intent.
Next tool
Common questions
A standard set of words for A–Z so letters are not confused on voice channels.