The ICAO phonetic alphabet: all 26 letters and how to use them
By Edel González, pilot · Published · 3 min read
Quick answer
The ICAO phonetic alphabet gives each letter a fixed word (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie… Zulu) so letters can't be confused on a noisy radio. ICAO and the FAA use the same 26 words. Pilots use it for call signs, taxiways, ATIS codes, fixes and spelling, and should only abbreviate call signs after ATC does.
What the phonetic alphabet is
The aviation phonetic alphabet (officially the ICAO radiotelephony spelling alphabet) gives each of the 26 letters a fixed word. ICAO defines it in Annex 10, Volume II, Chapter 5, and the FAA uses the same words in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM 4-2-7). So whether you fly in the US, Europe or anywhere else, the letters sound the same.
The reason is simple: on a noisy VHF frequency, "B", "D", "P" and "T" are nearly impossible to tell apart. "Bravo", "Delta", "Papa" and "Tango" are not.
All 26 letters
| Letter | Word | Stress (capitals) |
|---|---|---|
| A | Alfa | AL fah |
| B | Bravo | BRAH voh |
| C | Charlie | CHAR 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 loh |
| 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 |
| V | Victor | VIK tah |
| W | Whiskey | WISS key |
| X | X-ray | ECKS ray |
| Y | Yankee | YANG key |
| Z | Zulu | ZOO loo |
Tip: note the spellings Alfa (with an f) and Juliett (double t). They're spelled that way so non-English speakers pronounce them correctly.
Where you'll use it on the radio
- Call signs: N172SP is "November One Seven Two Sierra Papa" in the US; G-ABCD is "Golf Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta" in the UK.
- Taxiways: "taxi to runway 28 via Alfa, Charlie".
- ATIS codes: "with information Kilo".
- Reporting points and fixes spelled with letters.
- Spelling unusual words when ATC asks.
ICAO vs FAA: abbreviated call signs
The alphabet itself is identical, but call sign habits differ:
| Topic | ICAO | FAA (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Letters | Same 26 words | Same 26 words |
| Abbreviating | First letter + at least last two, only after ATC abbreviates first | Prefix/type or manufacturer + last three characters (e.g. "Cessna Two Sierra Papa"), after ATC does so first |
| Numbers in call sign | Spoken digit by digit | Spoken digit by digit |
[VERIFICAR: AIM 4-2-4 wording on abbreviated call signs and ICAO Annex 10 Vol II 5.2.1.7 paragraph number]
Example: first call and taxi (US, non-towered vs towered differs; this is towered)
| Who | Message |
|---|---|
| Pilot | Springfield Ground, Cessna One Seven Two Sierra Papa, at the FBO with information Kilo, VFR to the north |
| ATC | Cessna One Seven Two Sierra Papa, Springfield Ground, runway two eight, taxi via Alfa, Charlie |
| Pilot | Runway two eight, taxi via Alfa, Charlie, Cessna Two Sierra Papa |
Airport and frequency names are illustrative; always use your local charts and the Chart Supplement.
Common mistakes
- Making up words ("B as in boy"). Fine on the phone, not on the radio.
- Abbreviating your call sign before ATC does.
- Rushing: spelling fast defeats the purpose.
- Mixing up Alfa/Echo or India/Hotel under workload.
- Saying "nine" or "three" casually: in ICAO phraseology they become "niner" and "tree" (we'll cover numbers separately).
How to memorize it
- Recite all 26 aloud until it's automatic.
- Spell license plates and street signs as you drive.
- Say full radio calls out loud, not just the letters.
If you want to practice complete calls with a responding controller, you can do it in KoAir, in English and Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
Is it Alfa or Alpha?
Both sound the same; ICAO spells it Alfa so non-English speakers pronounce the f sound.
Is the FAA phonetic alphabet different from ICAO?
No. The 26 words are identical (AIM 4-2-7); call sign abbreviation habits differ.
When can I shorten my call sign?
Only after ATC has abbreviated it first.
Sources
- FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Chapter 4, Section 2, 4-2-7 Phonetic Alphabet
- ICAO Annex 10, Volume II (Communication Procedures), Chapter 5, 5.2.1.3 and Figure 5-1 spelling alphabet [VERIFICAR exact paragraph in current edition]
- ICAO Doc 9432 Manual of Radiotelephony, Chapter 2, transmitting technique and spelling alphabet
