the NATO Phonetic Alphabet

Let’s explore the story behind the NATO phonetic alphabet.  In this video, we’ll reveal how this system, used by pilots, police officers, and many others, came to life.

Despite its name, the NATO phonetic alphabet isn’t actually phonetic, and it wasn’t created by NATO. Its history is full of surprising twists, shaped by years of linguistic testing after World War II. Join us as we trace its journey from ALFA to ZULU.