Phonetic Alphabet Definition
What is the phonetic alphabet?
The Phonetic Alphabet is a system of letters and symbols that are used to represent the individual sounds of a language.
The NATO phonetic alphabet
This is used to spell words, so NATO becomes 'N for November, A for Alpha, T for Tango O for Oscar'. Although it is known as the NATO phonetic alphabet, it was actually developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (1955).
| Letter | Word | Letter | Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Alpha | N | November |
| B | Bravo | O | Oscar |
| C | Charlie | P | Papa |
| D | Delta | Q | Quebec |
| E | Echo | R | Romeo |
| F | Foxtrot | S | Sierra |
| G | Golf | T | Tango |
| H | Hotel | U | Uniform |
| I | India | V | Victor |
| J | Juliett | W | Whiskey |
| K | Kilo | X | X-Ray |
| L | Lima | Y | Yankee |
| M | Mike | Z | Zulu |
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system of symbols used to represent the sounds of spoken language. In English, the IPA provides a unique symbol for each sound, ensuring precise and consistent pronunciation.
Here's a link to a PDF containing the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols used in English.
Test Yourself
See how much you know in our International Phonetic Alphabet online quiz.
See Also:
Dialect, Received Pronunciation, Accent, Phoneme, Allomorph, Homophone, Consonant, Vowel, Close Pair