NATO / ICAO
Alpha · Bravo · Charlie
The international radiotelephony spelling alphabet, used in aviation and by NATO. The official spelling is “Alfa”; ZuluSpell currently displays the familiar “Alpha”.
NATO history ↗The word behind every letter
Spelling alphabets
Alpha, Adam or Able. Different traditions, the same idea: one unmistakable word for each letter.
Available in ZuluSpell
LAPD radio
Adam · Boy · Charles
The American public-safety radio alphabet commonly associated with the Los Angeles Police Department. Local police alphabets can vary.
LAPD alphabet reference ↗RAF 1942
Able · Baker · Charlie
The wartime “Able Baker” spelling alphabet used by the RAF from 1942. A historical alternative to today’s international standard.
Historical alphabet comparison ↗| Letter | NATO / ICAO | LAPD radio | RAF 1942 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Alpha | Adam | Able |
| B | Bravo | Boy | Baker |
| C | Charlie | Charles | Charlie |
| D | Delta | David | Dog |
| E | Echo | Edward | Easy |
| F | Foxtrot | Frank | Fox |
| G | Golf | George | George |
| H | Hotel | Henry | How |
| I | India | Ida | Item |
| J | Juliett | John | Jig |
| K | Kilo | King | King |
| L | Lima | Lincoln | Love |
| M | Mike | Mary | Mike |
| N | November | Nora | Nan |
| O | Oscar | Ocean | Oboe |
| P | Papa | Paul | Peter |
| Q | Quebec | Queen | Queen |
| R | Romeo | Robert | Roger |
| S | Sierra | Sam | Sugar |
| T | Tango | Tom | Tare |
| U | Uniform | Union | Uncle |
| V | Victor | Victor | Victor |
| W | Whiskey | William | William |
| X | X-ray | X-ray | X-ray |
| Y | Yankee | Young | Yoke |
| Z | Zulu | Zebra | Zebra |
Everyday number phrases
- 0
- Ground zero
- 1
- Day one
- 2
- Two of a kind
- 3
- Three-ring circus
- 4
- Four-leaf clover
- 5
- High five
- 6
- Six-pack
- 7
- Lucky seven
- 8
- Eight-legged spider
- 9
- Nine lives
Other spelling traditions
These historical systems are reference examples, not selectable in the speller.
- Early international alphabet
- Amsterdam, Baltimore, Canada… Place names featured in the international alphabet that preceded today’s NATO / ICAO standard. NATO history ↗
- Early British military alphabet
- Ack, Beer, Charlie… British military spelling words evolved through several versions before the later Able Baker system. Historical comparison ↗
For aviation, emergency services or other professional radio use, follow the alphabet prescribed by your organisation.
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