Phonetic alphabet
The NATO phonetic alphabet used in marine VHF communications.
Related reference
Numbers on VHF
| Number | Spoken as | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Zero | ZEE-ro |
| 1 | One | WUN |
| 2 | Two | TOO |
| 3 | Three | TREE |
| 4 | Four | FOW-er |
| 5 | Five | FIFE |
| 9 | Nine | NIN-er |
When to use the phonetic alphabet
Use whenever you need to spell out a word clearly over VHF — vessel names, MMSI numbers, waypoints. Example: ALBA = Alpha Lima Bravo Alpha.