Communicating at sea: the radio phonetic alphabet for sailors

Clear, unambiguous communication at sea is essential, especially in emergencies. The radio phonetic alphabet is an indispensable tool for avoiding confusion. Find out how it works and how to use it at sea.

Yves Melchior Published on March 31, 2025

When sailing, radio transmissions can be disrupted by weather conditions or interference. To ensure perfect understanding, sailors use the international phonetic alphabet.

Why use the phonetic alphabet?

Letters can be easily confused, especially under difficult conditions. So, instead of spelling "Bateau", we'll say "Bravo - Alfa - Tango - Echo - Alfa - Uniform".

The international phonetic alphabet

Here are the 26 letters and their phonetic correspondences:

Letter	Phonetic code	Letter	Phonetic code
A	Alfa	N	November
B	Bravo	O	Oscar
C	Charlie	P	Dad
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

Its use at sea

To spell out the name of a boat or a radio call sign.
When stating a position.
In an emergency, to avoid misinterpretation.

The phonetic alphabet is a key tool in maritime communication. Whether you're transmitting a distress message or simply identifying a boat, it guarantees clear communication.