Phonetic Alphabet Converter

What Is the NATO Phonetic Alphabet?

The NATO phonetic alphabet — officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet — is a standardized set of 26 code words used to spell out letters clearly over voice communication. Instead of saying "B" (which sounds like "D", "P", or "T"), you say "Bravo." Instead of "M" (easily confused with "N"), you say "Mike."

Developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the 1950s and adopted by NATO, it is the universal standard for aviation, military, maritime, emergency services, and business communication worldwide. Each code word was tested across speakers of 31 nations to ensure intelligibility in English, French, and Spanish.

How to Use This Converter

Type any text into the input box above. The converter instantly translates each letter and number into its NATO phonetic equivalent. Switch between NATO/ICAO, US Police (LAPD), German, French, and Spanish alphabets using the dropdown. Click any letter chip to hear its pronunciation, or use the Listen button to hear the entire sequence. The Phone Script output gives you a ready-to-read format for calls: "B as in Bravo, C as in Charlie."

Who Uses the Phonetic Alphabet?

While originally developed for military and aviation use, the NATO phonetic alphabet is now essential across many industries. Pilots and air traffic controllers use it for all radio communication. Police officers use it (or the LAPD variant) for license plates, addresses, and names. Call center agents use it to verify customer information. IT support technicians rely on it for serial numbers, MAC addresses, and passwords. And everyday people use it whenever they need to spell a name or email address clearly over the phone.

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