Phonetic Alphabet
To avoid confusion and errors during voice
transmission, special techniques have been developed for pronouncing letters and
numerals. These special techniques resulted in the phonetic alphabet and
phonetic numerals.
The phonetic alphabet is used by the operator
to spell difficult words and thereby prevent misunderstanding on the part of the
receiving operator. The words of the phonetic alphabet, which is a word alphabet
and not a code, are pronounced as shown in the table below. The underscored
portion indicates the syllable or syllables to be emphasized.
The phonetic alphabet is also used for the
transmission of encrypted messages. For example, the cipher group CMVVX is
spoken "CHARLIE MIKE VICTOR VICTOR XRAY."
Phonetic Alphabet
| Letter |
Word |
Pronunciation |
| A |
ALFA |
AL
FAH |
| B |
BRAVO |
BRAH
VOH |
| C |
CHARLIE |
CHAR LEE (or) SHAR
LEE |
| D |
DELTA |
DELL TAH |
| E |
ECHO |
ECK OH |
| F |
FOXTROT |
FOKS TROT |
| G |
GOLF |
GOLF |
| H |
HOTEL |
HOH TELL |
| I |
INDIA |
IN DEE AH |
| J |
JULIETT |
JEW LEE ETT |
| K |
KILO |
KEY LOW |
| L |
LIMA |
LEE MAH |
| M |
MIKE |
MIKE |
| N |
NOVEMBER |
NO VEM BER |
| O |
OSCAR |
OSS CAH |
| P |
PAPA |
PAH PAH |
| Q |
QUEBEC |
KEH BECK |
| R |
ROMEO |
ROW ME OH |
| S |
SIERRA |
SEE AIR RAH |
| T |
TANGO |
TANG GO |
| U |
UNIFORM |
YOU NEE FORM (or) OO
NEE FORM |
| V |
VICTOR |
VIK TAH |
| W |
WHISKEY |
WISS KEY |
| X |
XRAY |
ECKS RAY |
| Y |
YANKEE |
YANG KEY |
| Z |
ZULU |
ZOO LOO |
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Misc. Information
For
55 years, this has been the basic guidebook for enlisted leaders
of the Army.
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