The genius logic of the NATO phonetic alphabet

RobWords October 11, 2025
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RobWords

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Word facts and language fun. This is a channel for lovers and learners of English. It'll tell you where the words we use come from and why we say the things we say. YouTube sponsorships: [email protected] Rob's Agent: Antony Topping [email protected]

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Let’s uncover the secrets of the NATO phonetic alphabet! 🌏 And you can get an exclusive NordVPN deal + 4 months extra here → https://nordvpn.com/robwordsvpn It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌️ The NATO phonetic alphabet is not a phonetic alphabet and wasn't invented by NATO. However, it has a fascinating story to tell. It is the result of years of linguistic experimentation in the wake of the violence of World War II. So let's explore its development, from ALFA to ZULU. In this episode, we'll uncover the surprising story of how this alphabet – used by everyone from pilots to police officers – came to be. And look at the strange words that almost made the cut. Thank you very much to Derby Aero Club at Derby Airfield for kindly allowing us to film. You can find out more about them here: https://www.derbyaeroclub.com/ 👕COOL TSHIRTS: https://robwords.com/shop ⭐️PATREON COMMUNITY: https://patreon.com/robwords 📝FREE NEWSLETTER: https://www.robwords.com/newsletter Check me out on the web, on Twitter & TikTok: https://robwords.com https://x.com/robwordsYT https://tiktok.com/@robwords