The phonetic alphabet is a system of spelling alphabet used by the United Nations Space Command, derived from the NATO phonetic alphabet. It is used, most commonly by the military, to spell parts of a message containing letters and numbers to avoid confusion that may arise from phonetically similar letters, especially if static or other interference is present.
Letters and numbers[edit]
Letter
|
Code word
|
Pronunciation
|
IPA from ICAO
|
A |
Alfa (ICAO, ITU, IMO, FAA) Alpha (ANSI) |
AL FAH |
pronounced ˈælfɑ
|
B |
Bravo |
BRAH VOE |
pronounced ˈbrɑːˈvo
(sic)
|
C |
Charlie |
CHAR LEE or SHAR LEE |
pronounced ˈtʃɑːli
(sic) or pronounced ˈʃɑːli
(sic)
|
D |
Delta |
DELL TAH |
pronounced ˈdeltɑ
|
E |
Echo |
ECK OH |
pronounced ˈeko
|
F |
Foxtrot |
FOKS TROT |
pronounced ˈfɔkstrɔt
|
G |
Golf Gamma[note 1]
|
GOLF/GA MAH |
pronounced gʌlf
(sic) pronounced ˈɡæmə
|
H |
Hotel |
HO TELL (ICAO) HOH TELL (ITU, IMO, FAA) |
pronounced hoːˈtel
|
I |
India |
IN DEE AH |
pronounced ˈindiˑɑ
|
J |
Juliett (ICAO, ITU, IMO, FAA) Juliet (ANSI) |
JEW LEE ETT |
pronounced ˈdʒuːliˑˈet
|
K |
Kilo |
KEY LOH |
pronounced ˈkiːlo
|
L |
Lima |
LEE MAH |
pronounced ˈliːmɑ
|
M |
Mike |
MIKE |
pronounced mɑik
|
N |
November |
NO VEM BER |
pronounced noˈvembə
(sic)
|
O |
Oscar |
OSS CAH |
pronounced ˈɔskɑ
|
P |
Papa |
PAH PAH |
pronounced pəˈpɑ
|
Q |
Quebec |
KEH BECK |
pronounced keˈbek
|
R |
Romeo |
ROW ME OH |
pronounced ˈroːmiˑo
|
S |
Sierra |
SEE AIR RAH (ICAO, ITU, IMO) SEE AIR AH (FAA) |
pronounced siˈerɑ
|
T |
Tango |
TANG GO |
pronounced ˈtængo
(sic)
|
U |
Uniform |
YOU NEE FORM or OO NEE FORM |
pronounced ˈjuːnifɔːm
(sic) or pronounced ˈuːnifɔrm
|
V |
Victor |
VIK TAH |
pronounced ˈviktɑ
|
W |
Whiskey |
WISS KEY |
pronounced ˈwiski
|
X |
X-ray or Xray |
ECKS RAY (ICAO, ITU) ECKS RAY (IMO, FAA) |
pronounced ˈeksˈrei
|
Y |
Yankee |
YANG KEY |
pronounced ˈjænki
(sic)
|
Z |
Zulu |
ZOO LOO |
pronounced ˈzuːluː
|
0 |
Zero (FAA) Nadazero (ITU, IMO) |
ZE RO (ICAO, FAA) NAH-DAH-ZAY-ROH (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
1 |
One (FAA) Unaone (ITU, IMO) |
WUN (ICAO, FAA) OO-NAH-WUN (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
2 |
Two (FAA) Bissotwo (ITU, IMO) |
TOO (ICAO, FAA) BEES-SOH-TOO (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
3 |
Three (FAA) Terrathree (ITU, IMO) |
TREE (ICAO, FAA) TAY-RAH-TREE (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
4 |
Four (FAA) Kartefour (ITU, IMO) |
FOW ER (ICAO, FAA) KAR-TAY-FOWER (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
5 |
Five (FAA) Pantafive (ITU, IMO) |
FIFE (ICAO, FAA) PAN-TAH-FIVE (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
6 |
Six (FAA) Soxisix (ITU, IMO) |
SIX (ICAO, FAA) SOK-SEE-SIX (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
7 |
Seven (FAA) Setteseven (ITU, IMO) |
SEV EN (ICAO, FAA) SAY-TAY-SEVEN (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
8 |
Eight (FAA) Oktoeight (ITU, IMO) |
AIT (ICAO, FAA) OK-TOH-AIT (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
9 |
Nine (FAA) Novenine (ITU, IMO) No 'r' in spellings |
NIN ER (ICAO, FAA) NO-VAY-NINER (ITU, IMO) |
—
|
- Pelican dropships are identified by a serial number consisting of one letter from the phonetic alphabet and three numbers. Examples: Echo 419, Victor 933, Bravo 022, Kilo 023.
- Fireteams are distinguished by phonetic letters. Example: Fireteam Zulu.
- Bumblebee lifepods have serial numbers using three letters from the phonetic alphabet.
- Combat personnel use phonetic values in place of abbreviations in the field for weapons, vehicles, units, and sometimes common sayings.
- Hostiles are often referred to as "Tangos", meaning "targets".
- Covenant species are called "Echo Tango", meaning "extraterrestrial".
- Spartan-IIs and Spartan-IVs refer to Covenant personnel as "Alpha Bravos", meaning "alien bastards".
- Jiralhanae are sometimes called "Bravo-Kilos", representing the nickname "Baby Kong".
- "Oscar Mike" means "On the move."
- "Mike-Foxtrot" is a euphemism for "motherfucker".
- "Charlie-Foxtrot" is a euphemism for "cluster fuck".
- Spartans are often referred to as "Sierras" by themselves and other UNSC personnel.
- Dr. Catherine Halsey is sometimes referred to by the phonetic value of her initials, "Charlie Hotel".
- ^ Golf, the stand-in for the letter G in the modern phonetic alphabet, has only been referenced once in the Halo series. Gamma is used in all other instances.
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