Speech Recognition Software Spelling Alphabet

Speech recognition software can make writing essays, reports and their documents much faster. It is sometimes necessary to spell words the software is unfamiliar with. To make sure that the program understands you first time it is a good idea to use a "spelling alphabet" also known as a "phonetic alphabet". But spelling alphabets are different from phonetic transcription systems like the International Phonetic Alphabet.

Most people have heard “Alpha Beta Charlie” and know it comes from a spelling alphabet. The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) spelling alphabet, also known as the NATO phonetic alphabet or international radiotelephony spelling alphabet, is the most popular.

You can input a word speech recognition fails to recognise quickly. Suppose you say "coat" and it responds with "cost" or "coast". Instuct it to "spell it" and then say quickly: "charlie oscar alpha tango". It never fails to get what you mean.

To learn, break the alphabet down into chunks and commit four at a time to memory with repetition.

• Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta

• Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel

• India Juliet Kilo Lima

• Mike November Oscar Papa

• Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango

• Uniform Victor Whiskey X-ray

• Yankee Zulu

In no time you will sound very professional. It is also very useful when using the phone.

A Phonetic Alphabet list for printing from a pdf document can be found here: Phonetic Spelling Alphabet. Pin it up near your phone or computer and with your headphones on you are ready to sound like a pro!

This spelling alphabet list gives the specific pronunciations.

A Alpha Al-fah

B Bravo Brah-voh

C Charlie Char-lee

D Delta Dell-tah

E Echo Eck-oh

F Foxtrot Foks-trot

G Golf Golf

H Hotel Hoh-tel

I India In-dee-ah

J Juliet Jew-lee-et

K Kilo Key-loh

L Lima Lee-mah

M Mike Mike

N November No-vem-ber

O Oscar Oss-car

P Papa Pah-pah

Q Quebec Keh-beck

R Romeo Row-me-oh

S Sierra See-air-rah

T Tango Tang-go

U Uniform Yoo-nih-form

V Victor Vik-tore

W Whiskey Wiss-key

X Xray Ecks-ray

Y Yankee Yang-key

Z Zulu Zoo-loo

1 One Wun

2 Two Too

3 Three Tree

4 Four Fow-er

5 Five Fife

6 Six six

7 Seven Sev-en

8 Eight Ait

9 Nine Nin-er

0 Zero Zee-ro