Military Alphabet · Letter C
C in the Military Alphabet: Charlie
Code word, pronunciation, history, and how to use it when spelling out loud
C for Charlie: What Charlie Means in the Military Alphabet
In the military alphabet, the letter C is Charlie, pronounced CHAR-lee. It is one of the oldest words in the system — C has been Charlie in British and American spelling alphabets almost continuously since 1924.
ICAO's official pronunciation guidance accepts both CHAR LEE and SHAR LEE, so a French-accented SHAR-lee is equally correct.
Whether you say "C for Charlie", "C as in Charlie", or just "Charlie", the meaning is the same: the letter C. On a radio or a phone line, the code word replaces the letter so it cannot be confused with a similar-sounding one.
How to Pronounce Charlie
Charlie is pronounced CHAR-lee (ICAO also allows SHAR-lee), with the stress on the first syllable (CHAR). That is the official ICAO respelling, and the same pronunciation is used in military, aviation, and marine radio. Press the play button above to hear it.
Why "Charlie"?
Charlie is simply the English pet form of Charles, and its longevity is the interesting part. Most code words were replaced when ICAO rebuilt the alphabet around 1950, but Charlie had already served the RAF since 1924 and the joint US-UK Able Baker alphabet through WWII. ICAO's 1951 alphabet actually dropped it in favor of 'Coca,' and only after testing across many nations exposed problems with several 1951 words was Charlie restored in the final version effective 1 March 1956. As a nod to French speakers, ICAO's pronunciation guidance accepts both CHAR-lee and SHAR-lee.
C Across Spelling Alphabets
| Alphabet | Word for C |
|---|---|
| NATO/ICAO | Charlie |
| LAPD | Charles |
| Western Union | Chicago |
| German (Classic) | Cäsar |
| German (DIN 5009:2022) | Chemnitz |
| French | Célestin |
| Spanish | Carmen |
| Italian | Como |
| Able Baker (WWII, historical) | Charlie |
| RAF 1924 (historical) | Charlie |
C is a rare thread of continuity: Charlie in the RAF's 1924 alphabet, Charlie in WWII's Able Baker, and Charlie today. The only interruption was ICAO's 1951 alphabet, which briefly substituted Coca before the 1956 revision brought Charlie back.
Charlie in the Field
Checkpoint Charlie, the Friedrichstrasse crossing between East and West Berlin, was literally the third Allied checkpoint after Alpha and Bravo — the name is pure phonetic alphabet, made famous by Cold War standoffs and a half century of spy fiction. In Vietnam, US troops spelled VC (Viet Cong) as 'Victor Charlie' and shortened it to just 'Charlie.' The letter also designates the UTC+3 zone in military timekeeping, and pilots read C-taxiways and C-registrations with it every day.
"C as in Charlie" on the Phone
It's Chen with a C — C as in Charlie, H as in Hotel, E as in Echo, N as in November.
More on spelling out names and codes call-side in the phone spelling guide, and every letter's "as in" word is on the letters-as-words page. To convert whole words instantly, use the free military alphabet translator.
ONE TO REMEMBER
Of the 26 words in the RAF's 1924 alphabet, only two survive in today's NATO alphabet: Charlie and X-ray.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is C in the military alphabet?
C is Charlie, pronounced CHAR-lee. It is the third word of the NATO phonetic alphabet and one of the few code words carried over from the alphabets that preceded it.
How do you pronounce Charlie?
CHAR-lee, stress on the first syllable. ICAO's official guidance lists both CHAR LEE and SHAR LEE, so the softer French-style pronunciation is also correct.
Has C always been Charlie?
Nearly. Charlie served in the RAF's alphabet from 1924 and in the WWII Able Baker alphabet. ICAO's 1951 alphabet replaced it with Coca, but Charlie returned in the final revision that took effect on 1 March 1956.
Why was the Viet Cong called Charlie?
US forces spelled the abbreviation VC as 'Victor Charlie' in the phonetic alphabet, and the second word stuck as shorthand for the enemy.
Every Letter A–Z
Make It Automatic
Reading is recognition; games are recall. Drill all 26 letters until Charlie answers itself.