Phonetic Alphabet & Numerals

To aid in the reliable transmission of vital words and phrases.

THE PHONETIC ALPHABET

Because HF radio is subject to interference from many sources (man-made and natural), communications can be unclear at times. To aid in the reliable transmission of vital words and phrases, operators and users sometimes need to resort to the use of the phonetic alphabet, to ensure accuracy.

If you are unclear about certain words while on air, ask the sender to try phonetic expression.

The Phonetic Alphabet is a standard procedure for the transmission of difficult-to pronounce words, names or place names by spelling them.
This alphabet is also used for car registration numbers, grid references and other easily mis-understood words.

The over-use of the Phonetic Alphabet wastes on-air time. Always use the Pro-word ‘I Spell’ when about to use this alphabet.

LETTER

A

CODE WORD

Alpha

PRONOUNCED AS

AL - fah

LETTER

B

CODE WORD

Bravo

PRONOUNCED AS

BRAH - voh

LETTER

C

CODE WORD

Charlie

PRONOUNCED AS

CHAR - lee

LETTER

D

CODE WORD

Delta

PRONOUNCED AS

DELL - tah

LETTER

E

CODE WORD

Echo

PRONOUNCED AS

ECK - oh

LETTER

F

CODE WORD

Foxtrot

PRONOUNCED AS

FOKS - trot

LETTER

G

CODE WORD

Golf

PRONOUNCED AS

GOLF

LETTER

H

CODE WORD

Hotel

PRONOUNCED AS

hoh - TELL

LETTER

I

CODE WORD

India

PRONOUNCED AS

IN - dee - ah

LETTER

J

CODE WORD

Juliet

PRONOUNCED AS

JEW - lee - ett

LETTER

K

CODE WORD

Kilo

PRONOUNCED AS

KEY - loh

LETTER

L

CODE WORD

Lima

PRONOUNCED AS

LEE - mah

LETTER

M

CODE WORD

Mike

PRONOUNCED AS

MIKE

LETTER

N

CODE WORD

November

PRONOUNCED AS

no - VEM - ber

LETTER

O

CODE WORD

Oscar

PRONOUNCED AS

OSS - cah

LETTER

P

CODE WORD

Papa

PRONOUNCED AS

pah - PAH

LETTER

Q

CODE WORD

Quebec

PRONOUNCED AS

keh - BECK

LETTER

R

CODE WORD

Romeo

PRONOUNCED AS

ROW - me - oh

LETTER

S

CODE WORD

Sierra

PRONOUNCED AS

see - AIR - rah

LETTER

T

CODE WORD

Tango

PRONOUNCED AS

TANG - go

LETTER

U

CODE WORD

Uniform

PRONOUNCED AS

YOU - nee - form

LETTER

V

CODE WORD

Victor

PRONOUNCED AS

VIK - tah

LETTER

W

CODE WORD

Whisky

PRONOUNCED AS

WISS - key

LETTER

X

CODE WORD

X-Ray

PRONOUNCED AS

ECKS - RAY

LETTER

Y

CODE WORD

Yankee

PRONOUNCED AS

YANG - kee

LETTER

Z

CODE WORD

Zulu

PRONOUNCED AS

ZOO - loo

THE PHONETIC (NUMERIC) ALPHABET

Figures must be spoken slowly and with the correct pronunciation.

All figures, with the exception of exact multiples, e.g. One hundred or one thousand must be spoken separately (i.e. wun-zero = 10, thuh-ree-zero = 30).

Map Grid References should be sent numeral by numeral preceded by the Pro-word GRID.

Always pause between “eastings” and “northings” or “latitude” and “longitude” when sending Map Grid References.

NUMBER

O

CODE WORD

Zero

PRONOUNCED AS

ZEE - row

NUMBER

1

CODE WORD

One

PRONOUNCED AS

WUN

NUMBER

2

CODE WORD

Two

PRONOUNCED AS

TOO

NUMBER

3

CODE WORD

Three

PRONOUNCED AS

Thuh - REE

NUMBER

4

CODE WORD

Four

PRONOUNCED AS

FOW - er

NUMBER

5

CODE WORD

Five

PRONOUNCED AS

FIFE

NUMBER

6

CODE WORD

Six

PRONOUNCED AS

SIX

NUMBER

7

CODE WORD

Seven

PRONOUNCED AS

SEV - en

NUMBER

8

CODE WORD

Eight

PRONOUNCED AS

AIT

NUMBER

9

CODE WORD

Nine

PRONOUNCED AS

NINE - er

NUMBER

10

CODE WORD

Ten

PRONOUNCED AS

WUN - ZEE - row

NUMBER

.

CODE WORD

Decimal Point

PRONOUNCED AS

Day - see - mal

NUMBER

,

CODE WORD

Comma

PRONOUNCED AS

COMMA

NUMBER

.

CODE WORD

Full Stop

PRONOUNCED AS

FULL - STOP

NUMBER

-

CODE WORD

Hypen

PRONOUNCED AS

HY - PHEN

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