Phonetic alphabet and Morse code
Use Alfa to Zulu to spell letters clearly over the radio, and dots and dashes to send letters and numbers in Morse.
Reviewed by Ramon Curto, Nautical teacher at IECNPC · Last reviewed:
Spell your boat name or call sign
Use A–Z, 0–9 and spaces; maximum 80 characters. Punctuation and accented letters become spaces.
- Phonetic words
- Alfa Lima Foxtrot Alfa / Unaone Bissotwo Terrathree
- Morse code
- .- .-.. ..-. .- / .---- ..--- ...--
Listening quiz
Listen to a random letter, then choose its identity.
Worked example: ALFA 123
- Phonetic words
- Alfa Lima Foxtrot Alfa / Unaone Bissotwo Terrathree
- Morse code
- .- .-.. ..-. .- / .---- ..--- ...--
A: 60 ms · 60 ms · 180 ms (Character speed (WPM): 20)
| Character | Code word | Pronunciation guide | Morse code |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Alfa | AL FAH | .- |
| B | Bravo | BRAH VOH | -... |
| C | Charlie | CHAR LEE / SHAR LEE | -.-. |
| D | Delta | DELL TAH | -.. |
| E | Echo | ECK OH | . |
| F | Foxtrot | FOKS TROT | ..-. |
| G | Golf | GOLF | --. |
| H | Hotel | HOH TELL | .... |
| I | India | IN DEE AH | .. |
| J | Juliett | JEW LEE ETT | .--- |
| K | Kilo | KEY 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 / OO NEE FORM | ..- |
| V | Victor | VIK TAH | ...- |
| W | Whiskey | WISS KEY | .-- |
| X | X-ray | ECKS RAY | -..- |
| Y | Yankee | YANG KEY | -.-- |
| Z | Zulu | ZOO LOO | --.. |
| 0 | Nadazero | NAH DAH ZAY ROH | ----- |
| 1 | Unaone | OO NAH WUN | .---- |
| 2 | Bissotwo | BEES SOH TOO | ..--- |
| 3 | Terrathree | TAY RAH TREE | ...-- |
| 4 | Kartefour | KAR TAY FOWER | ....- |
| 5 | Pantafive | PAN TAH FIVE | ..... |
| 6 | Soxisix | SOK SEE SIX | -.... |
| 7 | Setteseven | SAY TAY SEVEN | --... |
| 8 | Oktoeight | OK TOH AIT | ---.. |
| 9 | Novenine | NO VAY NINER | ----. |
How it works
Radio spelling and Morse are different systems. The international radiotelephony spelling alphabet assigns a word to each letter: Alfa, Bravo and so on. Say these words when a boat name, call sign or other identity could be misunderstood. Keep the official words even when speaking another language. The pronunciation guide is an approximate sound guide, not an English translation of the code words.
For ALFA 123, say Alfa Lima Foxtrot Alfa, then Unaone Bissotwo Terrathree if you are using the ITU maritime figure code. Appendix 14 and the International Code of Signals give these compound figure words. They are not the ordinary English digits or the separate IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases pronunciation scheme. Follow the procedure applicable to your radio service; do not assume every everyday VHF number must use these compound words.
Morse represents characters with short and long elements. One dash lasts three dots. Inside a character the silence lasts one dot; between characters it lasts three; between words it lasts seven. At 20 words per minute, using the standard PARIS word of 50 units, one dot lasts 60 milliseconds and a dash lasts 180 milliseconds. The letter A is dot–dash: 60 ms on, 60 ms off, 180 ms on.
Farnsworth practice keeps characters brisk and adds thinking time between them. At 20 WPM character speed and 10 WPM spacing speed, PARIS takes six seconds including its final word gap. Its 31 fixed units take 1.86 seconds; the remaining 4.14 seconds cover 19 spacing units. The trainer uses that ratio for character and word gaps. Start with individual letters, listen to their rhythm, then spell a short call sign without counting each element.
Mariners can still use Morse with a signalling lamp. In the International Code of Signals, U means “You are running into danger”; its Morse is dot–dot–dash. SOS is the continuous distress signal ...---..., without letter gaps. Typing SOS here selects that continuous signal for playback. Radio alphabet practice is relevant to maritime radio operator training such as SRC. This page does not claim a full Morse test is required for RYA Day Skipper, PER or permis côtier; check your current national syllabus.
Frequently asked questions
Why Alfa and Juliett?
Those are the official international spellings. Do not replace them with Alpha or Juliet.
Should I translate the code words?
No. Keep the internationally agreed words in every language; only the explanatory text is translated.
What are Nadazero and Unaone?
They are the ITU maritime figure code words for 0 and 1, listed in Appendix 14 and the ICS. They differ from ordinary digit pronunciation.
How long are Morse gaps?
One dot inside a character, three dots between characters and seven dots between words at standard spacing.
What does Farnsworth spacing change?
It lengthens gaps between characters and words while preserving dot, dash and internal-gap durations.
Is SOS three separate letters?
The distress signal is one continuous ...---... group. This trainer plays typed SOS continuously; ordinary text has letter gaps.
What does U mean at sea?
In the International Code of Signals, U means “You are running into danger”. Its Morse code is ..-.
Can I use this without sound or JavaScript?
The reference table and worked example remain readable without JavaScript. With JavaScript, light playback is an alternative to sound; you can also print the reference.