During times of difficult communication the phonetic alphabet is of great use. ‘S’ and ‘F’ can sound the same, as can ‘D’ and ‘B’. Spelling of names is sometimes required. For example, ‘Smith’ is transmitted as Sierra Mike India Tango Hotel using the phonetic alphabet.

 

LETTER	PHONETIC	SPOKEN AS
A	ALPHA	AL FAH
B	BRAVO	BRAH VO
C	CHARLIE	CHAR LEE
D	DELTA	DELLTA
E	ECHO	ECK OH
F	FOXTROT	FOKS TROT
G	GOLF	GOLF
H	HOTEL	HOH TEL
I	INDIA	IN DEE AH
J	JULIET	JEW LEE ETT
K	KILO	KEY LOH
L	LIMA	LEE MAH
M	MIKE	MIKE
N	NOVEMBER	NO VEMBER
O	OSCAR	OSS CAH
P	PAPA	PAH PAH
Q	QUEBEC	KEH BECK
R	ROMEO	ROH ME OH
S	SIERRA	SEE AIR RAH
T	TANGO	TANG GO
U	UNIFORM	YOU NEE FORM
V	VICTOR	VICK TAH
W	WHISKEY	WISS KEY
X	X-RAY	ECKS RAY
Y	YANKEE	YANG KEY
Z	ZULU	ZOO LOO