Military Alphabet · Letter W
W in the Military Alphabet: Whiskey
Code word, pronunciation, history, and how to use it when spelling out loud
In the military alphabet, the letter W is Whiskey, pronounced WISS-key. It has been the NATO/ICAO code word for W since 1951, chosen because the word is recognized in virtually every country.
The official code word is spelled Whiskey with an e — the Irish and American spelling — not whisky as on a bottle of Scotch.
Why "Whiskey"?
The word whiskey comes from the Gaelic uisce beatha, 'water of life,' and by the twentieth century the drink had carried its name around the world. That global recognition is what earned it a place in the alphabet: like Hotel and Golf, Whiskey is a trade word that speakers of many languages already knew. It entered with ICAO's 1951 alphabet, displacing William, and came through the 1956 revision untouched.
W Across Spelling Alphabets
| Alphabet | Word for W |
|---|---|
| NATO/ICAO | Whiskey |
| LAPD | William |
| Western Union | William |
| German (Classic) | Wilhelm |
| German (DIN 5009:2022) | Wuppertal |
| French | William |
| Spanish | Washington |
| Italian | Washington |
| Able Baker (WWII, historical) | William |
| RAF 1924 (historical) | William |
W had been William for decades — in the RAF's 1924 alphabet and again in the WWII Able Baker alphabet. ICAO retired the name in 1951 in favor of Whiskey, a word far more widely recognized outside English-speaking countries.
Whiskey in the Field
NATO used Whiskey as the reporting name for the Soviet Project 613 submarines, a class built in the hundreds during the 1950s. Pilots know the word from the 'whiskey compass,' the nickname for the liquid-filled magnetic compass that backs up an aircraft's instruments. In routine radio traffic, Whiskey turns up in call signs and position reports — and in 'Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,' the alphabet's polite way of spelling out disbelief.
"W as in Whiskey" on the Phone
The street is Wren Way — W as in Whiskey, R as in Romeo, 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
When the Soviet Whiskey-class submarine S-363 ran aground near Sweden's Karlskrona naval base in 1981, the press could not resist the headline the alphabet handed them: 'Whiskey on the Rocks.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What is W in the military alphabet?
W is Whiskey in the NATO phonetic alphabet, the standard spelling alphabet for military, aviation, and maritime radio.
How do you pronounce Whiskey?
WISS-KEY, with the stress on the first syllable — the same as the everyday word for the drink.
What was W before Whiskey?
William. Both the RAF's 1924 alphabet and the WWII Able Baker alphabet used William for W; Whiskey replaced it when ICAO introduced its new alphabet in 1951.
Why is it spelled Whiskey and not Whisky?
Official ICAO and NATO tables print the code word as Whiskey, using the spelling with an e that is standard in Ireland and the United States, rather than the whisky spelling used in Scotland.
Every Letter A–Z
Previous letter: V — Victor · Next letter: X — X-ray
Make It Automatic
Reading is recognition; games are recall. Drill all 26 letters until Whiskey answers itself.