# Use the NATO phonetic alphabet or make up your own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 3, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002 "2020-06-03T19:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/21 "2020-06-04T06:49:47Z")
Note also that the standard is very specific about how the words should be pronounced. “O” (the letter Oh) is Oscar, pronounced OS-cah “Q” is Quebec, pronounced KAY-beck “V” is Victor, pronounced VIC-tah “3” is Tree (not Three) “4” is Fower “5” is Fife and everyone knows “9” is Niner (lest it be mistaken for the German “nein”; remember, this is supposed to be an international code). “Yes” is always to be pronounced “Affirmative” “No” is always to be pronounced “Negative” One pilot I fly with from time to time is quite the stickler about all these, even including “Tree” and “Fife”. Most others that I know pronounce most of the words more like normal (Oscar, Victor, Three, Four, Five), but everybody seems to agree with “Niner”. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/22 "2020-06-04T11:23:38Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Note also that the standard is very specific about how the words should be pronounced. > > “O” (the letter Oh) is Oscar, pronounced OS-cah > “Q” is Quebec, pronounced KAY-beck > “V” is Victor, pronounced VIC-tah > “3” is Tree (not Three) > “4” is Fower > “5” is Fife > and everyone knows “9” is Niner (lest it be mistaken for the German “nein”; remember, this is supposed to be an international code). Oscar and Victor are to be pronounced as if you’re from Boston??? :p:p:p:eek::eek::eek::D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/23 "2020-06-04T11:54:32Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Being a student pilot, I’ve learned the NATO radio alphabet, which is the international standard in aviation. Also used by the military. > > Note that there is a different standard commonly used by American law enforcement, as mentioned by **jnglmassiv** several posts above. > > I had occasion to spell my name to a police dispatcher a few months ago. When I said: > > she asked me if I had been in the military because I had some of the words “wrong”. :smack: > > Note, by the way, the correct usage is NOT: > "S as in Sierra, E as in Echo, N as in November, E as is Echo, . . . " > > but simply: > “Sierra Echo November Echo . . .” _Actually,_ the “correct” usage is: “Senegoid, I spell: Sierra Echo November Echo Gulf Oscar India Delta: Senegoid.” Or at least that was the “correct” usage I was taught in the U.S. Army. But, since I’m generally not interacting with someone who received U.S. Army training anymore, I don’t use that procedure, I say: “Senegoid, that’s S as in Sierra, E as in Echo…” I do use the NATO phonetic alphabet because that was drilled into me and it comes naturally. I’d have to deliberately try not to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/24 "2020-06-04T12:16:05Z")
I’ve used both NATO and APCO, so I usually use the first one that comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/25 "2020-06-04T13:36:15Z")
When I use NATO to spell something out for my coworker she inevitably asks me if Sierra is S or C. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/26 "2020-06-04T13:47:25Z")
My Militia service was in a Signals regiment, so NATO was drilled into me and is still my automatic usage half a century later. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/27 "2020-06-04T13:59:12Z")
Whenever I deal with Disney employees on the phone(always a pleasure, seriously), they check spelling with their own alphabet: Ariel, Bambi, Cinderella, Dumbo, etc. I don’t know the whole thing but I’m sure you can guess M. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/28 "2020-06-04T14:55:30Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > M=Mancy you of all people. I did something similar to someone at work. they asked “Did you say ‘B’ or ‘D’?” I replied “‘B’ as in ‘Bog.’” ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/29 "2020-06-04T20:08:42Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > _Actually,_ the “correct” usage is: > > “Senegoid, I spell: Sierra Echo November Echo Gulf Oscar India Delta: Senegoid.” I wasn’t taught it that way (from flying lessons, not from military), but I don’t doubt that a bit. Sounds thorough that way. Sounds like you’re participating in a spelling bee. 🙂 By all my sources, “G” is Golf, not Gulf, but that’s probably subtle. Were you taught to pronounce Oscar and Victor like you’re from Boston? ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/30 "2020-06-04T20:15:55Z")
Shirley you can’t be serious. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/31 "2020-06-04T20:37:20Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > If I can remember the NATO word for the letter I need, I’ll use that. If I can remember the official NATO one right away then I’ll use a random word. I only just now caught my error in the second sentence, but I hope it was obvious from context that I meant “If I **can’t** remember the official NATO one right away then I’ll use a random word.” ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/32 "2020-06-04T20:38:45Z")
> [@Mk\_VII](#): > > Shirley you can’t be serious. Roger, over. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/33 "2020-06-04T20:48:47Z")
When I first put on a US Army uniform I was 19. I retired at 46. It should not be surprising that I always use NATO. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/34 "2020-06-04T21:06:10Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Roger, over. “Oveur.” “Dunn.” ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/35 "2020-06-05T00:16:06Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I use words with silent or odd first letters. > > Pneumonia > Xerox > Aether > Chutzpa I said D as in Django damn it! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/36 "2020-06-05T05:45:14Z")
The NATO alphabet is part of my physical being and need to be taught in all schools. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/37 "2020-06-05T09:14:09Z")
I only use it for letters that are genuinely difficult to distinguish, like “M” and “N”, and usually use the appropriate NATO words but not the overly precise pronunciation. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/38 "2020-06-05T10:04:24Z")
When I was a child, the seaside postcard stands often had one with a comedy alphabet that ran something like A for 'orses B for Lamb C for Miles D for Dumb (I now discover it came from [a novelty number of the 1930s)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockney_Alphabet) Though trying to use it for spelling would probably get you an invitation to Foxtrot Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/39 "2020-06-05T12:36:44Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > _Actually,_ the “correct” usage is: > > “Senegoid, I spell: Sierra Echo November Echo Gulf Oscar India Delta: Senegoid.” > > Or at least that was the “correct” usage I was taught in the U.S. Army. But, since I’m generally not interacting with someone who received U.S. Army training anymore, I don’t use that procedure, I say: “Senegoid, that’s S as in Sierra, E as in Echo…” > > I do use the NATO phonetic alphabet because that was drilled into me and it comes naturally. I’d have to deliberately try not to use it. “[Robert Loggia](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-ohJ6oXGkI): ‘R’ as in ‘Robert Loggia.’ ‘O’ as in ‘Oh my God, it’s Robert Loggia!’ ‘B’ as in ‘By God, that’s Robert Loggia!’ ‘E’ as in ‘Everybody loves Robert Loggia.’ …” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002/40 "2020-06-05T13:17:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I can never remember the NATO phonetic alphabet so I usually make it up on the fly. Usually common English names. This is what I do … David, Thomas, Mary, Robert, Brian, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-the-nato-phonetic-alphabet-or-make-up-your-own/855002.md?page=3)