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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 numbersEdit

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)

UsesEdit

  • 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".

NotesEdit

  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.