Saturday, January 14, 2012

Amateur Radio Phonetic Alphabets and Figure Codes


In amateur radio voice communication, telephonic pronunciation of an alphabet becomes necessary to convey messages. Due to characteristics of the radio frequency band condition, the voice communication through the modes of AM or SSB often becomes difficult to listen. It results in a poor identification of the letter and an incomplete message conveyed at the other end. This may be caused by the band noise, interference from other stations, attenuation, bad modulation of the signal etc. The pronunciation of an alphabet helps to confirm the letter that was spoken during the transmission. This is essential in situations where there is a need for conveying urgent messages or establishment of a formal contact.


Each alphabet is given a telephonic equivalent word for signifying that alphabet. The first letter of the word corresponds with the alphabet that it denotes.

Here is a list of all these alphabets with their telephonic equivalent words and phonetic pronunciation.
Character         Telephonic Word          Phonic Pronunciation
A                     Alfa                              AL-FAH
B                      Bravo                           BRAH-VOH
C                     Charlie                          CHAR-LEE
D                     Delta                            DELL-TAH
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                             KEE-LOH
L                      Lima                            LEE-MAH
M                     Mike                            MIKE
N                     November                     NO-VEM-BER
O                     Oscar                           OSS-CAH
P                      Papa                            PAH-PAH
Q                     Quebec                         KEH-BECK
R                      Romeo                         ROW-ME-OH
S                      Sierra                           SEE-AIR-RAH
T                     Tango                           TANG-GO
U                     Uniform                        YOU-NEE-FORM
V                     Victor                           VIK-TAH
W                    Whiskey                        WISS-KEY
X                     Xray                             ECKS-RAY
Y                     Yankee                          YANG-KEY
Z                      Zulu                             ZOO-LOO

1                      One                              WUN
2                      Two                             TOO
3                      Three                           TREE
4                      Four                             FOW-ER
5                      Five                              FIFE
6                      Six                               SIX
7                      Seven                           SEV-EN
8                      Eight                             AIT
9                      Nine                             NIN-ER
0                      Zero                             ZEE-RO

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