NATO Phonetic Converter
How this NATO phonetic converter helps
This tool converts ordinary text (letters and numbers) into the NATO phonetic alphabet (code words like Alfa, Bravo, Charlie) and can also decode those code words back to plain text. It is useful whenever you need to spell something clearly over voice: radio calls, phone conversations, aviation or marine communication, IT helpdesks, and everyday spelling of names and email addresses.
Type either normal text or NATO code words into the input box, then choose the direction (Text → NATO or NATO → Text) to see the converted result. The reference sections below explain the full alphabet, how the mapping works, and what the converter can and cannot handle.
How the NATO phonetic alphabet works
The NATO phonetic alphabet, officially called the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, assigns a unique word to each letter from A to Z. For example, the letter A is spoken as Alfa, B as Bravo, and Z as Zulu. These words were chosen so that they sound distinct from each other even over noisy radio channels and for speakers with many different accents.
Mathematically, you can think of the alphabet as a function that maps each letter to a single code word:
Because each letter has exactly one code word and each code word refers to a single letter, the mapping is reversible: decoding simply applies the inverse function .
NATO phonetic alphabet table
Use this table as a quick reference when spelling words or checking the converter’s output.
| Letter | Code word |
|---|---|
| A | Alfa |
| B | Bravo |
| C | Charlie |
| D | Delta |
| E | Echo |
| F | Foxtrot |
| G | Golf |
| H | Hotel |
| I | India |
| J | Juliett |
| K | Kilo |
| L | Lima |
| M | Mike |
| N | November |
| O | Oscar |
| P | Papa |
| Q | Quebec |
| R | Romeo |
| S | Sierra |
| T | Tango |
| U | Uniform |
| V | Victor |
| W | Whiskey |
| X | X-ray |
| Y | Yankee |
| Z | Zulu |
Interpreting the converter’s results
When you convert Text → NATO, each letter in your input becomes its corresponding code word,
separated by spaces. For example, ABC becomes Alfa Bravo Charlie. Numbers are spoken as
Zero through Nine; depending on implementation, they may be shown as digits
(0–9) or words.
When you convert NATO → Text, the tool looks for known code words (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, and so on) and converts each back to its single-letter form. Unknown words or extra punctuation are usually passed through unchanged or removed, so the output stays readable.
Worked example
Suppose you want to spell the email name jsmith9 clearly over a noisy phone line.
- Enter
jsmith9into the input box. - Select the direction Text → NATO.
- Run the conversion to see the result.
The output would be something like:
Juliett Sierra Mike India Tango Hotel Nine
If the other person writes these words down, they can later reconstruct the original string by entering the
phonetic line back into the converter with NATO → Text selected, which returns JSMITH9.
Comparison: plain spelling vs NATO spelling
| Context | Plain spelling | NATO phonetic spelling |
|---|---|---|
| Reading a flight number (BA2490) | “B A two four nine zero” — easily confused with similar-sounding letters and digits. | “Bravo Alfa Two Four Niner Zero” — each element is distinct and standardized. |
| Spelling a surname (Nguyen) | Repeating letters (N-G-U-Y-E-N) may still be misheard, especially internationally. | “November Golf Uniform Yankee Echo November” gives clear anchors for each letter. |
| Giving a postcode or ZIP code | Letters like B, D, E, P, and T can sound similar over poor connections. | Using code words (Bravo, Delta, Echo, Papa, Tango) sharply reduces confusion. |
Limitations and assumptions of this converter
To keep the tool predictable and easy to use, it follows a few simple rules. Understanding these will help you interpret any surprising results.
- Supported letters: Only the basic Latin letters A–Z are mapped to NATO code words. Accented or non-Latin characters (such as á, ñ, ß, or я) are usually left as-is or stripped, depending on the implementation.
- Case handling: Input may be converted to upper case internally. Output text is typically shown in upper case letters and title-cased code words for consistency.
- Digits: The standard spoken forms are Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine. Some radio procedures use variations like “Niner” for 9; if used, these are mapped consistently in both directions.
- Punctuation and spaces: Spaces between words are preserved. Most punctuation marks (commas, periods, slashes, and so on) are either kept as characters or ignored in the phonetic output because the NATO alphabet focuses on letters and numbers, not symbols.
- Unknown words when decoding: In NATO → Text mode, only recognized code words (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, etc.) are converted. Any other words are typically kept in place so that free-form sentences remain understandable.
- Standard vocabulary only: The converter is based on the modern ICAO/NATO list. Local or legacy alphabets from other organizations are not included.
For professional aviation, marine, or emergency communication, always follow your organization’s official procedures in addition to using this reference.