The German Phonetic Spelling Code
Deutsches Funkalphabet - deutsche Buchstabiertafel
“A wie Anton” - Alpha, Bravo, Charlie... with Audio
Part 1: Introduction > Funkalphabet Chart
This phonetic spelling guide shows the German equivalent of the English/international (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...) phonetic spelling used to avoid confusion when spelling words on the phone or in radio communication. It can be helpful when you need to spell your non-German name on the phone or in other situations where spelling confusion may arise.
PRACTICE: Use the chart below to spell your name (first and last names) in German, using the German alphabet and the German spelling code (Buchstabiertafel). Remember that the German formula is “A wie Anton.”
German Alphabet with audio - if you need help with pronouncing the letters of the German alphabet.
| Das Funkalphabet - German Phonetic Spelling Code compared to the international ICAO/NATO code Listen to AUDIO for this chart! (below) |
||
| Germany* | Phonetic Guide | ICAO/NATO** |
| A wie Anton | AHN-tone | Alfa/Alpha |
| Ä wie Ärger | AIR-gehr | (1) |
| B wie Berta | BARE-tuh | Bravo |
| C wie Cäsar | SAY-zar | Charlie |
| Ch wie Charlotte | shar-LOT-tuh | (1) |
| D wie Dora | DORE-uh | Delta |
| E wie Emil | ay-MEAL | Echo |
| F wie Friedrich | FREED-reech | Foxtrot |
| G wie Gustav | GOOS-tahf | Golf |
| H wie Heinrich | HINE-reech | Hotel |
| I wie Ida | EED-uh | India/Indigo |
| J wie Julius | YUL-ee-oos | Juliet |
| K wie Kaufmann | KOWF-mann | Kilo |
| L wie Ludwig | LOOD-vig | Lima |
| AUDIO 1 > Listen to mp3 for A-L | ||
| M wie Martha | MAR-tuh | Mike |
| N wie Nordpol | NORT-pole | November |
| O wie Otto | AHT-toe | Oscar |
| Ö wie Ökonom (2) | UEH-ko-nome | (1) |
| P wie Paula | POW-luh | Papa |
| Q wie Quelle | KVEL-uh | Quebec |
| R wie Richard | REE-shart | Romeo |
| S wie Siegfried (3) | SEEG-freed | Sierra |
| Sch wie Schule | SHOO-luh | (1) |
| ß (Eszett) | ES-TSET | (1) |
| T wie Theodor | TAY-oh-dore | Tango |
| U wie Ulrich | OOL-reech | Uniform |
| Ü wie Übermut | UEH-ber-moot | (1) |
| V wie Viktor | VICK-tor | Victor |
| W wie Wilhelm | VIL-helm | Whiskey |
| X wie Xanthippe | KSAN-tipp-uh | X-Ray |
| Y wie Ypsilon | IPP-see-lohn | Yankee |
| Z wie Zeppelin | TSEP-puh-leen | Zulu |
|
AUDIO 1 > Listen to mp3 for A-L AUDIO 2 > Listen to mp3 for M-Z |
||
| For a full explanation of German phonetic spelling code and its history, see Part 1.
Notes:
*Austria and Switzerland have some variations of the German code. See below. |
||
Print this page (without ads)
| German Phonetic Spelling Code Country Variations (German) |
||
| Germany | Austria | Switzerland |
| D wie Dora | D wie Dora | D wie Daniel |
| K wie Kaufmann | K wie Konrad | K wie Kaiser |
| Ö wie Ökonom | Ö wie Österreich | Ö wie Örlikon (1) |
| P wie Paula | P wie Paula | P wie Peter |
| Ü wie Übermut | Ü wie Übel | Ü wie Übermut |
| X wie Xanthippe | X wie Xaver | X wie Xaver |
| Z wie Zeppelin (2) | Z wie Zürich | Z wie Zürich |
| Notes: 1. Örlikon (Oerlikon) is a quarter in the northern part of Zurich. It is also the name of a 20mm cannon first developed during WWI. 2. The official German code word is the name "Zacharias," but it is rarely used. These country variations may be optional. |
||
BACK > Part 1: Introduction
MORE > German Alphabet with audio! Lesson 1.2 of German for Beginners
German Newsletters
Subscribe to a free newsletter!
OUR GERMAN FORUMS