Military Alphabet · Letter L
L in the Military Alphabet: Lima
Code word, pronunciation, history, and how to use it when spelling out loud
In the military alphabet, the letter L is Lima, pronounced LEE-mah — like the capital of Peru, not like the bean. It has been the code word for L since the NATO alphabet took effect in March 1956, carried over from ICAO's 1951 list.
Why "Lima"?
Lima is the capital of Peru, and as a place name it was known to speakers of all three of ICAO's working languages — English, French, and Spanish — with essentially the same spelling in each. Short, open-voweled words transmit well through static, and Lima's two crisp syllables fit that requirement. It entered ICAO's alphabet in 1951 and came through the pre-1956 testing intact while five other code words were swapped out.
L Across Spelling Alphabets
| Alphabet | Word for L |
|---|---|
| NATO/ICAO | Lima |
| LAPD | Lincoln |
| Western Union | Lincoln |
| German (Classic) | Ludwig |
| German (DIN 5009:2022) | Leipzig |
| French | Louis |
| Spanish | Lorenzo |
| Italian | Livorno |
| Able Baker (WWII, historical) | Love |
| RAF 1924 (historical) | London |
L has changed character with each alphabet: the RAF spelled it "London" from 1924, the WWII Able Baker alphabet made it "Love," and 1956 settled on Lima — a return to a place name, just a different hemisphere.
Lima in the Field
Ask any veteran what "Lima Charlie" means and you will get the same answer: loud and clear, the standard reply to a radio check. Lima Company serves in the 3rd Battalion of a US Marine regiment, following India and Kilo. In civil aviation the word appears wherever letters are read aloud — taxiway Lima in ground instructions, or a registration like N45L acknowledged as "November Four Five Lima."
"L as in Lima" on the Phone
The street name starts with L as in Lima — Lima like the city in Peru — then E as in Echo.
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
In Malay and Indonesian, "lima" is the word for the number five — an awkward collision for a code word that is supposed to sound like a letter, never a numeral.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is L in the military alphabet?
L is Lima, pronounced LEE-mah. It is the twelfth code word of the NATO/ICAO phonetic alphabet, in use since March 1956.
How do you pronounce Lima?
The ICAO pronunciation is LEE-mah, stress on the first syllable — the same as the Peruvian capital. It is not pronounced LY-mah, the way Americans say the bean.
What was L before it was Lima?
The RAF's 1924 alphabet used "London," and the WWII US-UK Able Baker alphabet used "Love." Lima replaced Love when the current NATO alphabet was adopted in 1956.
What does "Lima Charlie" mean on the radio?
Lima Charlie spells L-C, shorthand for "loud and clear." It is the customary answer to a radio check confirming that a transmission is coming through at full strength and readability.
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