Skip to content
  • Home
  • Online CoursesExpand
    • Alberta
    • British Columbia
    • Manitoba
    • Ontario
    • Saskatchewan
  • Contact Security Guard Training Canada
  • Blog
Security Guard Training Canada Logo
Twitter YouTube
Security Guard Training Canada Logo
Get Hired !

Download Our Guide To Ace
Your Security Guard Interview

Download Now!

Phonetic Alphabet For Security Guards

The international phonetic alphabet (spelling alphabet), used in police, military, emergency services, aviation, and general communications. It is also very helpful when trying to spell your name or address over the phone. Using this system eliminates the potential errors that can occur from the listener, not hearing/understanding what was said.

For example, if I was to say that my address was 221B Baker Street over the phone (or radio) did I say B or D or possibly E. All of which rhyme and without visual clues are sometimes indistinguishable to a remote listener.

The last thing you would want when calling for backup is for the listener to misunderstand the address or the type of assistance required. This can be used in conjunction with 10-codes.

It was originally developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization and subsequently adopted by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) among other significant global and national bodies covering telecommunications, maritime, and aviation.


The NATO phonetic alphabet is a Spelling Alphabet, a set of words used instead of letters in oral communication (i.e. over the phone or military radio). Each word (“code word”) stands for its initial letter (alphabetical “symbol”). The 26 code words in the NATO phonetic alphabet are assigned to the 26 letters of the English alphabet in alphabetical order as follows:

Phonetic Alphabet

LetterCode
Word
Phonic
(Pronunciation)
AAlpha AL FAH
BBravoBRAH VOH
CCharlieCHAR LEE
DDeltaDELL TAH
EEchoECK OH
FFoxtrotFOKS TROT
GGolfGOLF
HHotelHOH TELL
IIndiaIN DEE AH
J Juliett JEW LEE ETT
KKiloKEY LOH
LLimaLEE MAH
MMikeMIKE
NNovemberNO VEM BER
OOscarOSS CAH
PPapaPAH PAH
QQuebecKEH BECK
RRomeoROW ME OH
SSierraSEE AIR RAH
TTangoTANG OH
UUniformYOU NEE FORM
VVictorVIK TAH
WWhiskeyWISS KEY
XX-RayECKS RAY
YYankeeYANG KEY
ZZuluZOO LOO

Keep Yourself Informed

Join Our Mailing List
NATO Phonetic Alphabet

Note: Contrary to what its name suggests, the NATO Phonetic Alphabet is not a phonetic alphabet. Phonetic alphabets are used to indicate, through symbols or codes, what a speech sound or letter sounds like. The NATO Phonetic Alphabet is instead a spelling alphabet (also known as telephone alphabet, radio alphabet, word-spelling alphabet, or voice procedure alphabet).

Last Updated on November 17, 2021

Post navigation

Previous Previous
Renew Your Ontario Security Guard Licence
NextContinue
Proper Coronavirus Security Guard Procedures During COVID-19 Outbreak
  • Provincial Requirements
    • Alberta
    • British Columbia
    • Manitoba
    • New Brunswick
    • Newfoundland
    • Nova Scotia
    • Ontario
    • Prince Edward Island
    • Quebec
    • Saskatchewan
  • Blog
  • Security Guard Jobs
  • Security Guard Equipment
  • Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • YouTube Channel
Facebook Twitter YouTube

© 2023 Security Guard Training Canada

SecurityGuardTrainingCanada.ca is a Panther Associates property. We can be reached at: Security Guard Training Canada c/o 5022281 Ontario Inc dba Panther Associates 200 Woolner Ave York, ON M6N 1Y4 or via our contact page

Scroll to top
  • Home
  • Online Courses
    • Alberta
    • British Columbia
    • Manitoba
    • Ontario
    • Saskatchewan
  • Contact Security Guard Training Canada
  • Blog