NATO phonetic alphabet converter
This tool spells out text using the NATO phonetic alphabet, the ICAO spelling alphabet used on radios and phone calls. People use it to read out booking codes, serial numbers and names clearly, and to decode code words back to letters.
- Runs in your browser
- Free, no account needed
- Copy or download the result
Result
Example
Flight BA 249
Foxtrot Lima India Golf Hotel Tango / Bravo Alfa / Two Fower Niner
How to use the nato phonetic alphabet converter
- Type text or code words into the Text or code words box.
- Leave Direction on Detect automatically, or pick a direction.
- Choose ICAO radio words or Plain English in Digits.
- Press Run, then Copy result.
How it works
Letters use the official ICAO spellings, including Alfa, Juliett and X-ray. Words are separated by a slash.
ICAO radio digits use Tree, Fower, Fife and Niner for 3, 4, 5 and 9, which are the radio pronunciations. Plain English uses Three, Four, Five and Nine.
Decoding accepts both spellings, such as Alpha or Alfa, Juliet or Juliett, and Xray or X-ray, and returns capital letters and digits.
Accented letters are spelled as their plain letter. Punctuation has no code word, so it is kept as typed and listed below the result.
Everything runs in your browser. Your input is not uploaded or stored.
Questions and answers
Why is it spelled Alfa and Juliett?
ICAO chose those spellings so speakers of other languages pronounce them correctly. Alfa avoids the ph sound and Juliett shows the final t is spoken.
Why do pilots say Niner?
Niner keeps nine from sounding like the German word nein. Tree, Fower and Fife are used for 3, 4 and 5 for clarity too.
Can it convert code words back to letters?
Yes. Paste words like Hotel Echo Lima Lima Oscar and it returns HELLO.