Real World

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 
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)

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".

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ 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.