Phonetic alphabet
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There is more information available on this subject at Phonetic alphabet on the English Wikipedia. |
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 |
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) |
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 |
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) |
— |
Uses[edit]
- 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".