GROUP 1 Alfa Always Adds Accuracy A Alfa Word story From alpha, the first Greek letter; the international spelling uses Alfa.Why selected Spelled Alfa with F so speakers unfamiliar with English “ph” will still pronounce it correctly.▶ Hear both stories B Bravo Word story Italian for “brave”; later used as a cheer for a fine performance.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories C Charlie Word story A friendly form of Charles, a name traditionally linked with “free man.”Why selected Replaced Coca in the 1956 revision; ICAO recognizes both CHAR-lee and SHAR-lee pronunciations.▶ Hear both stories D Delta Word story The fourth Greek letter; its triangle shape also names a river delta.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories
GROUP 2 Easy Everyone Enjoys Excellence E Echo Word story Named for Echo, the Greek mythic figure whose voice remained behind.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories F Foxtrot Word story A smooth dance popularized in the 1910s and associated with performer Harry Fox.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories G Golf Word story The name of the centuries-old Scottish game; its deeper word origin is uncertain.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories H Hotel Word story From French hôtel, a building that provides lodging.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories
GROUP 3 I'm Into Important Information I India Word story The country’s name ultimately comes from the Indus River.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories J Juliett Word story A form of Juliet, from the Roman family name Julius; the standard adds a second T.Why selected Spelled Juliett with two T’s so French speakers will pronounce the final consonant.▶ Hear both stories K Kilo Word story From Greek chilioi, meaning “one thousand.”Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories L Lima Word story Peru’s capital; its name developed from the Indigenous place-name Rímac.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories
GROUP 4 Many Names Need Notebooks M Mike Word story A familiar form of Michael, a Hebrew name meaning “Who is like God?”Why selected Replaced Metro after further international intelligibility testing for the 1956 revision.▶ Hear both stories N November Word story From Latin novem, “nine,” because it was once the ninth Roman month.Why selected Chosen over Nectar after documented debate; November entered the final 1956 alphabet.▶ Hear both stories O Oscar Word story A long-used personal name with Irish and Norse traditions.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories P Papa Word story A simple family word for father used in many languages.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories
GROUP 5 Quebec Questions Quickly Quenched Q Quebec Word story From an Algonquin word meaning “where the river narrows.”Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories R Romeo Word story An Italian personal name once used for a pilgrim or traveler to Rome.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories S Sierra Word story Spanish for a saw—and for a jagged mountain range shaped like saw teeth.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories T Tango Word story Named for the dance developed around the Río de la Plata; the word’s origin is debated.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories
GROUP 6 Uniform Understanding Unites Us U Uniform Word story From Latin roots for “one” and “form”: having the same shape or appearance.Why selected Replaced Union after further international intelligibility testing for the 1956 revision.▶ Hear both stories V Victor Word story Latin for “winner” or “conqueror.”Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories W Whiskey Word story From Gaelic uisce beatha, “water of life.”Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories X X-ray Word story Röntgen used X for an unknown kind of ray when he discovered it in 1895.Why selected Replaced Extra after further international intelligibility testing for the 1956 revision.▶ Hear both stories
Y Yankee Word story A long-standing name for an American; its earliest origin remains debated.Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories Z Zulu Word story The name of a southern African people and language; zulu can mean “heaven” or “sky.”Why selected Retained from the 1951 alphabet after international testing for clarity across radio noise and accents.▶ Hear both stories