PHONETIC ALPHABET

The phonetic alphabet is a set of words used to stand for the letters of the alphabet in oral communication. Each word (“Alfa” for A, “Bravo” for B, “Charlie” for C, etc.) is chosen to be distinct from the others, reducing the risk of misunderstanding or miscommunication, especially in noisy environments or over radio or telephone where sound quality might be poor.

The primary purpose of the phonetic alphabet is to ensure clarity and understanding in spoken communication, especially where accuracy is crucial, such as in military operations, aviation, emergency services, and maritime operations. For example, when a pilot reads out a flight number or a soldier communicates coordinates, using the phonetic alphabet minimizes the risk of letters being misheard as similar-sounding letters (like “B” and “D” or “M” and “N”).

It’s widely used internationally and has become standard practice in many professional contexts where precise verbal communication is essential.