General
charlie
What does charlie mean?
The letter C in the phonetic alphabet, and during the Vietnam War a general term for the Viet Cong, shortened from 'Victor Charlie' (VC).
"Charlie moved through those tunnels like ghosts."
Origin
US military; from the phonetic alphabet and the abbreviation VC for Viet Cong.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Charlie' mean in a Vietnam War context?
It was a general term for the Viet Cong, shortened from 'Victor Charlie' — the phonetic-alphabet reading of the abbreviation VC.
Does 'Charlie' just mean the letter C?
Charlie is the phonetic-alphabet word for the letter C, and that's how the Viet Cong nickname arose from the initials VC.
Is 'Charlie' still used this way?
The wartime meaning is tied to the Vietnam era; today 'Charlie' is mainly just the phonetic word for the letter C in radio use.
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