NATO Phonetic Alphabet Translator

This NATO phonetic alphabet translator converts any word, code or reference number into the spelling alphabet used by aviation, the military, emergency services and call centres worldwide. Type in the box and the phonetic spelling appears instantly — handy when you're reading a booking reference or a serial number over a bad phone line.

The NATO phonetic alphabet, formally the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, assigns an unambiguous codeword to each letter: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot and so on through Zulu. The words were chosen in the 1950s after extensive testing so that no two sound alike, even through radio static or across strong accents. Note the deliberate spellings of Alfa and Juliett — they avoid mispronunciation by non-English speakers.

Digits are spoken as plain numbers in the standard alphabet, and this translator follows that convention. Words in the output are separated by a slash so you can see where one word ends and the next begins. Switch to decode mode to turn a phonetic string back into ordinary text — useful for transcribing notes taken during a call. Everything runs in your browser, free and without signup.