General
alfa
What does alfa mean?
The code word representing the letter 'A' in the NATO/ICAO phonetic (spelling) alphabet, spelled with an 'f' so non-English speakers do not mispronounce it.
""Callsign Alfa two-six, radio check.""
Origin
Adopted 1956 as part of the ICAO/NATO International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Alfa" stand for?
It's the NATO phonetic alphabet code word for the letter A, used to spell letters clearly over radio.
Why is "Alfa" spelled with an f instead of "Alpha"?
The official ICAO/NATO spelling uses 'f' so speakers of languages where 'ph' isn't pronounced as an f sound still say it correctly. In everyday use people often write "Alpha."
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