Editing Phonetic alphabet

{{Era|RW|Human|UNSC|HCW}}
{{Wikipedia|NATO phonetic alphabet}}
The '''phonetic alphabet''' is a system of spelling alphabet used by the [[United Nations Space Command]], derived from the [[Wikipedia:NATO phonetic alphabet|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.

== The UNSC phonetic alphabet ==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="width:600px; margin:2px auto; background: #F9F9F9; border: 1px #000 solid; border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
! style="text-align:center;" | Letter
! style="text-align:center;" | Code word
! style="text-align:center;" | Pronunciation
! style="text-align:center;" | IPA from ICAO
|-
|align=center| A || '''Alfa''' <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, ITU, IMO, FAA)</span> <br />'''Alpha''' <span style="font-size:90%;">(ANSI)</span> ||'''AL''' FAH|| {{IPA|ˈælfɑ}}
|-
|align=center| B ||'''Bravo''' ||'''BRAH''' VOE || {{IPA|ˈbrɑːˈvo}} (''sic'')
|-
|align=center| C ||'''Charlie''' ||'''CHAR''' LEE &nbsp;or <br /> '''SHAR''' LEE || {{IPA|ˈtʃɑːli}} (''sic'') &nbsp;or <br /> {{IPA|ˈʃɑːli}} (''sic'')
|- 
|align=center| D ||'''Delta''' ||'''DELL''' TAH|| {{IPA|ˈdeltɑ}}
|- 
|align=center| E ||'''Echo''' ||'''ECK''' OH|| {{IPA|ˈeko}}
|-
|align=center| F ||'''Foxtrot''' ||'''FOKS''' TROT || {{IPA|ˈfɔkstrɔt}}
|-
|align=center| G ||'''Golf'''<br />'''Gamma''' <ref group="note">''Golf'', the stand-in for the letter G in the modern phonetic alphabet, has only been referenced [[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|once]] in the ''Halo'' series. However, several units with the ''Gamma'' designation appear in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' and another, Gamma 4, is mentioned in ''[[Homecoming]]''. A Pelican designated ''[[Gamma 054]]'' appears in ''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''.</ref>
 ||GOLF/'''GA''' MAH|| {{IPA|gʌlf}}(''sic'')<br/> {{IPA|ˈɡæmə}} 
|-
|align=center| H ||'''Hotel''' ||HO '''TELL''' <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO)</span><br />HOH '''TELL''' <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO, FAA)</span> || {{IPA|hoːˈtel}}
|-
|align=center| I ||'''India''' ||'''IN''' DEE AH|| {{IPA|ˈindiˑɑ}}
|-
|align=center| J ||'''Juliett''' <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, ITU, IMO, FAA)</span><br />'''Juliet''' <span style="font-size:90%;">(ANSI)</span> ||'''JEW''' LEE '''ETT'''|| {{IPA|ˈdʒuːliˑˈet}}
|-
|align=center| K ||'''Kilo''' ||'''KEY''' LOH|| {{IPA|ˈkiːlo}}
|-
|align=center| L ||'''Lima''' ||'''LEE''' MAH|| {{IPA|ˈliːmɑ}}
|-
|align=center| M ||'''Mike''' ||MIKE|| {{IPA|mɑik}}
|-
|align=center| N ||'''November''' ||NO '''VEM''' BER|| {{IPA|noˈvembə}} (''sic'')
|-
|align=center| O ||'''Oscar''' ||'''OSS''' CAH || {{IPA|ˈɔskɑ}}
|-
|align=center| P ||'''Papa''' ||PAH '''PAH'''|| {{IPA|pəˈpɑ}}
|-
|align=center| Q ||'''Quebec''' ||KEH '''BECK'''|| {{IPA|keˈbek}}
|-
|align=center| R ||'''Romeo''' ||'''ROW''' ME OH|| {{IPA|ˈroːmiˑo}}
|-
|align=center| S || '''Sierra''' ||SEE '''AIR''' RAH <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, ITU, IMO)</span><br />SEE '''AIR''' AH <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span>|| {{IPA|siˈerɑ}}
|-
|align=center| T ||'''Tango''' ||'''TANG''' GO|| {{IPA|ˈtængo}} (''sic'')
|-
|align=center| U ||'''Uniform''' ||'''YOU''' NEE FORM &nbsp;or <br /> '''OO''' NEE FORM || {{IPA|ˈjuːnifɔːm}} (''sic'') &nbsp;or <br /> {{IPA|ˈuːnifɔrm}}
|-
|align=center| V ||'''Victor''' ||'''VIK''' TAH || {{IPA|ˈviktɑ}}
|-
|align=center| W ||'''Whiskey''' ||'''WISS''' KEY|| {{IPA|ˈwiski}}
|-
|align=center| X ||'''X-ray''' or<br /> '''Xray''' ||'''ECKS RAY''' <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, ITU)</span><br />'''ECKS''' RAY <span style="font-size:90%;">(IMO, FAA)</span>|| {{IPA|ˈeksˈrei}}
|-
|align=center| Y ||'''Yankee''' ||'''YANG''' KEY|| {{IPA|ˈjænki}} (''sic'')
|-
|align=center| Z ||'''Zulu''' ||'''ZOO''' LOO|| {{IPA|ˈzuːluː}}
|-
|align=center| 0 ||Zero <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br />Nadazero <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>||ZE RO <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />NAH-DAH-ZAY-ROH <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|-
|align=center| 1 || One <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br /> Unaone <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)||WUN <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />OO-NAH-WUN <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|-
|align=center| 2 || Two <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br />Bissotwo <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>||TOO <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />BEES-SOH-TOO <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|-
|align=center| 3 || Three <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br />Terrathree <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>||TREE <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />TAY-RAH-TREE <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|-
|align=center| 4 ||Four <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br />Kartefour <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>||'''FOW''' ER <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />KAR-TAY-FOWER <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|-
|align=center| 5 ||Five <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br />Pantafive <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>||FIFE <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />PAN-TAH-FIVE <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|-
|align=center| 6 ||Six <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br />Soxisix <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>||SIX <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />SOK-SEE-SIX <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|-
|align=center| 7 ||Seven <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br />Setteseven <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>||'''SEV''' EN <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />SAY-TAY-SEVEN <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|-
|align=center| 8 ||Eight <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br />Oktoeight <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>||AIT <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />OK-TOH-AIT <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|-
|align=center| 9 ||Nine <span style="font-size:90%;">(FAA)</span><br />Novenine <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span><br />No 'r' in spellings||'''NIN''' ER <span style="font-size:90%;">(ICAO, FAA)</span><br />NO-VAY-NINER <span style="font-size:90%;">(ITU, IMO)</span>|| —
|}

== Uses ==
*[[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]]''.
*[[Fireteam]]s are distinguished by phonetic letters. Example: [[Fireteam Zulu]].
*[[Bumblebee]] lifepods have serial numbers using three letters from the phonetic alphabet.
*Marines use them in place of abbreviations in the field for weapons, vehicles, units, and sometimes common sayings.
**[[Covenant]] forces are called "Echo Tango" (E.T.) in battle, which is often shortened to just "Tango". "Tango" could also mean "target."
**A nickname for [[Jiralhanae|Brutes]] is "Baby Kong." Marines often say "Bravo-Kilo" instead, usually in interviews or testimonials.
**"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.
*[[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] is sometimes referred to by the phonetic value of her initials, "Charlie Hotel".

== Notes ==
<references group="note"/>

[[Category:Terms and Phrases]]
[[Category:Military Terminology]]