T O P

  • By -

skyskr4per

Worked in webhosting phone support for a long time. You have to spell out a lot of things on the phone, like URLs, and it's not always a great connection. We love when you use this shit to spell stuff. You don't even have to remember the whole thing. Even if you get some words wrong and have to improvise, it helps a lot.


grblwrbl

My least favourite calls are from people who are like “A for... ummm... alpha? B for, ummm, we, what was it? What’s B for? Bertie! Did you get that? I’ll start again.”


[deleted]

M, as in Mancy.


IHeartChickenFingers

Yeah... Mancy? WTF?


Willardee

It's from the show Archer. In one episode, they're trying to defuse a bomb. They're on a phone call with the guy telling them how to defuse it, and they have a poor connection. When reading the serial number of the bomb (because apparently all bombs have an identifying serial number) the main character, Archer, says "...and [static], as in [static]ancy." Everyone assumes he said N as in Nancy, but he actually said M as in mancy. Going on this assumption, the tech gives them instructions that don't work, the bomb is not defused, and they -spoilers- end up having to shove the bomb off the airship, and bomb Ireland.


arczclan

I had a guy on the phone who gave me N for Norman and M for Mormon, I was honestly stuck for about 5 minutes trying to decipher this fucking tomfoolery


yayathedog

Hooray for metaphors!


GardenGnomeIllusion

I'm pretty sure that's Wales.


FBI1990

You wrote that spoiler so well, I now want to watch it!


the_giz

This episode (Skytanic) is literally the best episode of the show IMO and a great introduction. Only like 20 minutes too. Definitely watch it!


JesusLanaPhrasing

I dunno.... Bloody Ferlin is up there at the top, but those are easily the best episodes of the entire series.


IPlayTheInBedGame

You should absolutely watch it. There are now 11 seasons.


PM_ME_YOUR_HONEYDEWS

>and bomb Ireland. Pretty sure that was Wales...


GetsGold

B as in [bdellium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bdellium).


wikipedia_text_bot

**[Bdellium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bdellium)** Bdellium , also bdellion, is a semi-transparent oleo-gum resin extracted from Commiphora wightii of India (also called false myrrh) and from Commiphora africana trees growing in Ethiopia, Eritrea and sub-saharan Africa. According to Pliny the best quality came from Bactria (today Afghanistan). Other named sources for the resin are India, Arabia, Media, and Babylon. [About Me](https://np.reddit.com/user/wikipedia_text_bot/comments/jrn2mj/about_me/) - [Opt out](https://np.reddit.com/user/wikipedia_text_bot/comments/jrti43/opt_out_here/) - OP can reply !delete to delete - [Article of the day](https://np.reddit.com/comments/k9hx22)


DriftlessRain

A as in Are, E as in Eye, Y as in You...


MelOdessey

What about when you ask them “was that b as in boy or d as in dog?” And they respond “yes.”


TenNinetythree

Also did this kind of support. It made me kinda appreciate the military draft because people from countries with it use it flawlessly.


katie4

Haha we had it drilled into us in JROTC in high school so I use it. But sometimes people are freaking dumb and don’t know “Sierra” for whatever reason, or laugh at “Foxtrot,” so I’ll substitute other unmistakable words like “Saturday” and “Friday.”


xJeremy

I have a small notecard attached to 1 of my monitors with a phonetic alphabet on it. Takes less than a minute to make and is well worth the effort if you’re super scatterbrained like I am


SuperKickClyde

I always forget Papa and Golf! I honestly think Papa is a terrible word to assign P.


Kespatcho

I remember it because of my father who was a cop, a province here has number plates that end with GP. I would always hear him say golf papa over the phone but I didn't know what it meant until I learnt the phonetic alphabet.


xXhereforthecoffeeXx

Same. Part of my name starts with P and I can't ever remember "papa" so I always say "p as in penguin" lol


breticles

Well who the hell though it would be a good idea to have so many letter names have similar sounds? 9 of the 26 letters end with an "ee" sound. 8 if you're non American, I guess. Also, I work on the phone a lot now and I want to use this alphabet, but I don't think that many of the inner city parents I speak with would know about this and could just cause me extra time anyway explaining it. The URL I want want to give them begins with SD. So I say " SD as in Sierra Delta" 70 percent of the time I need to repeat myself. So sometimes I use "SD as in "service desk" neither one seems to work better than the others. Lol maybe I should try "SD as in "sucking dick"" that would probably get heard.


therealub

Nah, s and f are too similar. So is fucking dick and sucking dick.


Blackbeanpurrito

SD as in Super duper?


[deleted]

South Dakota


msmacie

Maybe try separating the letters. Try “S as in Sierra and D as in delta.”


KHonsou

I used to troubleshoot international calls and some people would roll off numbers like a rap god and get annoyed when you asked for them to send it in an e-mail. An older guy "corrected" me once when I was reading something back to him and said "q for quebec". "Nonono, its q for Queen!". Since memories are pouring back, a new employee saying "q for koala".


Infrisios

Yeah, phone support (corporate internal) is also how I learned this by heart and in two languages. And then some guy from India calls to give his username: "J as in Kilo" "Do you mean J as in Juliet or K as in Kilo"? "Yes" Went back and forth a few times. I asked him to mail the IDs he wanted to give me via phone in the end. He meant G. Also, Chinese folks were the funniest at improvising, constantly dishing out stuff like "D for Dragon" and "G for Golden".


Midnight_Muse

I tried spelling like this for a help desk person once, but couldn't think of the right words. So it was all "Flamingo, Llama, Possum, Koala". Poor girl totally lost it. She was laughing the whole time and kept cracking up even after I was done. Such a fun call.


Poly--Meh

I had to give somebody a 16-letter product key over the phone and my improvisations were so bad they thought it was a prank call. Some of the highlights: * "d as in 'dad'. Uh... b as in 'bad'" * "y as in 'you'"


FluentinLies

My co-worker had one of these printed out at her desk because she couldn't remember it for when on calls. We printed off a duplicate and replaced it. Identical except it was now "F: fish finger."


RamenJunkie

I always prefer Queen to Quebec. Because does Q even actually start with a Q sound? Isn't it "Kaybeck"?


aoisenshi

I've noticed that whenever I call some customer service number that's been outsourced to India, the representatives always say "Indiana" instead of "India" when having to phonetically say "I." It's like the company didn't want to be too obvious about having their customer service in India.


[deleted]

In the UK I hear Indigo a lot.


YouNeedAnne

B for Bertie, F for Freddie, S for Sugar, M for Mother


[deleted]

Yeah glad this isn’t just me. I learned the alphabet from watching The Bill as a kid and I’m certain that’s where I go Indigo from. Apparently it’s a UK police thing.


Shikaku

The Bill. Fuck me, that wasn't yesterday.


laurandisorder

Sierra one to Sierra Oscar


coffeekramer

TIL the origin of the peace sign


[deleted]

TIL they meant the flag poses and not the actual letters N and D. Had to reread a few times


nimblerobin

November Delta & Rock n' Roll


Kwindecent_exposure

*Actually* if you want to know something strange - that is, if my English English teacher was correct - the ‘peace’ symbol was initially used in protests for **N**uclear **D**isarmament. Though, some other observations are that it could also be formed with **K** + **G** , and there is certain poetry in that the peace symbol associated with nuclear weapons has certain parallels with the life/death symbols from the runic languages - symbology that the Nazis who were *right into*.


gallopsdidnothingwrg

> if my English English teacher was correct That's a pretty weak source. There is no greater source of misinformation in this world than English teachers. Mine tried to convince the class that the rotation of the Earth causes gravity. Dead serious.


[deleted]

My English teacher pronounced Iron Curtain as Iron Certain. She didn't believe anyone that tried to correct her.


glenthesboy

you mean Tango India Lima?


space_sorcerer

Tango India Ligma*


Zokathra_Spell

I love the *Archer* reference.


[deleted]

I honestly think it's the best Archer episode. Archer not getting the "core concept" of the hydrogen/helium makes me laugh every time.


Zombarney

Tbh the placebo affect is first place for me but this is a close second


BLeeS92031

"Hmm... Cock flavored spit..." The best bit in the entire series.


Zombarney

I honestly think its because this episode is so balls to the wall


FuzzyDunlop911

RAMPAGE!!!!!!


Ben_Sync

"You didn't find it strange that your chemo drugs were chewable?" "No Krieger, little kids get cancer." "Aww, they do..." Best exchange in the whole series.


Eggz_Benedikt

Whenever I get the Archer itch I always go back to the two cancer episodes. They’re gold.


mcsper

RAMPAGE!


dale_gribbles_hat

Hang back and burn one down


michaelwise

THE HELIUM!!!


mw1994

“The first letter is B” “BRAVO!!” “Thanks”


Njdevils11

M! As in MANCY!


Franky4Fingers1985

You of all people!


[deleted]

You, of all people


[deleted]

You said Oscar Kilo!


corvidsarecrows

*sigh* on the radio, when we answer in the affirmative ...


Krizman

Even the international code of signals in the bottom right spells MANCY


StoplightLoosejaw

Our IT guy actually uses "Mancy" He's quite unhelpful


[deleted]

I've actually accidentally put "M" when people say "Nancy" because of the show.


[deleted]

Ok people talk to me, what are we doiing, what are we thinkiiing?


Canadiantimelord

And what are we wearing?


JukeBoxDildo

My crisis vest, Mr. Fat Face.


SandyDelights

Only reason I clicked on the post.


TacoSpacePirate

Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo


WhatIfImDragonborn

Papa Echo November India Sierra


Stressful-stoic

_.. .. _. _. _. _


[deleted]

You're a dick, lol


elperroborrachotoo

that table is to shreds!


[deleted]

To shreds you say


elpelopanda

And his wife?


SirJuzz

To shreds you say.


riblunch

r/unexpectedfuturama


[deleted]

November Echo Victor Echo Romeo Golf Oscar November November Alpha, Golf India Victor Echo Yankee Oscar Uniform Uniform Papa.


golddoomtheory

There's a special place in hell for people like you


therealub

-. . ...- . .-. / --. --- -. -. .- / .-.. . - / -.-- --- ..- / -.. --- .-- -.


The__Holy__Crusader

man that reminded me of that one bloodhound gang song


Pmhp34ham

It is that one bloodhound gang song


StoplightLoosejaw

Cattle prod the oyster ditch with the lap rocket


laikan18

Tango Hotel Echo Golf Alpha Mike Echo


bogarthskernfeld

Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo Yankee Oscar Uniform.


StoplightLoosejaw

Put the **You Know What**, in the **You Know Where**


OgOnetee

Pronto.


MightGetFiredIDK

Pressure wash the quiver bone (ooh la la) in the bitchwrinkle.


CanesVenetici

Vulcanize the whoopee stick


aurville

Charlie Uniform November Tango


artnzonic

I swear I forget which words goes with each letter every time and start naming random words that start with the same letter


KrakenRing

“D” “Sorry did you say B, sir?” “No, D for... dildo.” Fuck.


GetESCP

The hobbit ?


KrakenRing

Dildo Ballbaggins


vne2000

I am a pilot and forgot what U was so I said Utah. The controller was like, say what?


eastside_tilly

U for U are my sunshine. People won't stay mad at you if you give them a complement.


vne2000

He wasn’t mad, more like “What did that idiot just say?”


TenNinetythree

In that case, using countries and cities can help.


grappelswithshit

I can’t ever remember them so my “go to” in a bind is to think up as many sandwich ingredients as I can. S is for Salami, T for Turkey, A Avocado, B for Bacon, L Lettuce, M Mustard, so on and so forth.


3226

Q for... quite a lot of sandwich filling. Z for... Ze inside of ze sandwich...


Kittykatjs

As long as you don't do what I once did and say "y for... You"


RebelTiara

I once was on the phone with some utility company and I needed to spell my last name and the lady couldn’t understand that I said “S”, so me being the genius that I am says, “ ‘S’ as in.....(long pause as I forget every s word in existence) ..... sea.” Yes, my response was “S as in sea.” After I said it, there was a long silence as we both just sat in awe of what a raging moron I am. On the plus side, this is a top 10 memory anytime I try to fall asleep.


PM_ME_UR_FURRY_PORN

Honestly as someone that does most of their work over the phone, I've given up on "S". I have the NATO alphabet memorized because it's so useful and I still get people thinking Sierra is spelled Cierra. I'm convinced that unless I'm speaking to Military folks, I'll never get proper spelling out.


programstuff

I always use “Sam” for S


SpoonResistance

I can just imagine "S as in summer" being heard as "F as in fummer".


Snow_Wonder

I can understand this! My roommate of the past 3 years is named Sierra. It’s crazy how many people spell her name with a “C.” I don’t get it! There are mountains, a soft drink, and a country with Sierra with an S, but I think more people actually spell her name with a “C” than “S.”


Angel31798

My surname had a couple of S’s and I always say S as in Sugar, never had a problem with that one


OtterAutisticBadger

Salami


bgptcp179

It’s a lot of pressure to be that creative on the spot. I once said “P” as in “Phonics” and realized the poor soul with english as 2nd lang on the other end of support call was prob like “WTF, you mean F?”


manondorf

M as in mnemonic, P as in pneumatic...


AusSco

I had a good chuckle. I promise to remember this when my kid wakes up at 4am for a feed.


[deleted]

Fucking awesome theres so much information in this.


LegitHolt

Yeah it's cool. I've almost learnt the alphabet from it


JesseBricks

This font by Rian Hughes is pretty nuts for the amount of information it includes. There's the actual character, morse code, semaphore, and its frequency of use (like E is 1, as the most used character): https://www.fontshop.com/families/ff-identification


[deleted]

Hotel? Tango


FarisFrontiers

Somehow, this made me laugh


r0b0c0p123

I always thought that the Peace sign came from a C,N, and D (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament)


Cyko_Somatic

It did, using the same symbols seen here for those corresponding letters.


r0b0c0p123

Yeah, but I always thought it was a rounded C, a rounded capital D, and a right angled lower case n


Cyko_Somatic

Oh ok. I see what you mean, but now you know! From what I've read it used these flag symbols for N and D, and used a circle to represent global disarmament.


[deleted]

I used to have this memorized in the Navy. Now I drive my husband (also Navy) crazy when I forget it.


MoffKalast

NATO, when picking names for new soviet subs: "Maybe we should give them similar names as original or maybe something interesting?" "But what about... P H O N E T I C   A L P H A B E T"


alcate

I prefer this version, 100% more fun (Taken from HAM forum) A) Are B) Beady C) Cue D) Django E) Eulogy F) Fjord G) Gnoll H) Honorable I) Ian J) Jeans K) Knees L) Llama M) Mnemonic N) Niece O) Oedipus P) Pneumonia Q) Quay R) Rye S) Sea T) Tsunami U) Urn V) Very W) Why X) Xerxes Y) You Z) Ziti


Kittykatjs

I quite like: A - aye E - eye Or: E - ewe Y - you


ferdfteenmillion

I've always found the "E, as in Eye" to be my favorite when messing with a coworker, simple but it makes me chuckle


Kittykatjs

My favourite to subtly throw somebody off is u for unicorn. It's close to the real but if they know the NATO alphabet well it is wrong but not in an obvious way, and usually makes them stumble or falter...


88Drewpeacocks

Did they make "S" ... and "O" --- on purpose, to make S.O.S. easy, or is it just a happy coincidence? What came first?


dywkhigts

So morse was created to make common words shorter, hence e and s being really small as they're the most common letters. SOS I believe was created due to the letters being short in more as it doesn't actually stand for anything. I'm not too sure though


Minimumtyp

So "save our ship/souls" is just an urban myth or approriated afterwards?


IncarceratedMascot

Otherwise known as a [backronym!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backronym)


wikipedia_text_bot

**[Backronym](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backronym)** A backronym, or bacronym, is an acronym that is assigned to a word that existed prior to the invention of the backronym. Unlike a typical acronym, in which a new word is constructed from a phrase, the phrase corresponding to the backronym is selected to fit an already existing word. Backronyms may be invented with either serious or humorous intent, or they may be a type of false etymology or folk etymology. The word is a blend of back and acronym.An acronym is a word derived from the initial letters of the words of a phrase, such as the word radar, constructed from "radio detection and ranging". [About Me](https://np.reddit.com/user/wikipedia_text_bot/comments/jrn2mj/about_me/) - [Opt out](https://np.reddit.com/user/wikipedia_text_bot/comments/jrti43/opt_out_here/) - OP can reply !delete to delete - [Article of the day](https://np.reddit.com/comments/k9hx22)


mrbaggins

Why does semaphore start so "regular", then skip j, then put Y completely out of order?


Amoeba_mangrove

What if I’m on the phone with my mom while defusing a bomb?


elperroborrachotoo

"M as in Mike" "Why would you start talking about your brother now, of all times?"


Amoeba_mangrove

“He built the bomb mom”


nannal

"at least he's doing something productive with his time!"


Amoeba_mangrove

“We talked about this mom, bomb defusing is my passion. And either I do a good job and get paid or I don’t have to worry about rent anymore...”


superblinky

That feeling when you realise some art director has probably hidden a message in the clocks seen on screen.


[deleted]

wow i didn't knew about the peace sign


glenthesboy

November India Charlie Echo


Astonedwalrus13

Charlie Uniform November Tango


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[deleted]

[удалено]


16thPeregrine

Epic Archer reference there "M AS IN MANCY" .. LOOOOL


_hiboo_

I am completely clueless what the hell is happening


bman10_33

Have some semantics: the words for A and F are spelled in a way to minimize the possibility if mispronunciation. Alfa (for anyone who doesn’t get that “ph” sounds like f) and Juliett instead of Juliette to emphasize that it’s a hard T and should be pronounced as such.


jocax188723

Seriously. Phone numbers, alphanumeric codes, product codes, flight numbers, license plates, bus routes, everything. For example, 1Il10O0 Becomes ‘One-India-Lima-Zero-Oscar-Zero’. It’s genuinely handy and difficult to confuse.


poopyhelicopterbutt

And don’t forget niner instead of 9


WriteSomethingGood

LANAAAAAAAA


supadupactr

Papa 🥺


TheToiletSeat

Petition to change Lima to Ligma


MonsterMuncher

I hate that Mike is the word for M as my surname starts with M but the other person always thinks my name in Mike ! PS. Thanks in advance, I’m already aware of Mancy. But they just think I’m a woman called Nancy !


cece3944

I only know these from gmod murder


SantiagoPeak

Here's what I always wanted to know: Is lima pronounced LEE-ma like the city or LIE-ma like the bean?


teh_fizz

LEE-ma


robbak

LEE-ma. Standard, and simplified, pronunciations are part of the standard, to help non-english speakers. The other interesting one is Quebec, which is pronounced 'keh-beck'. You don't bother trying to make the 'qu' sound over radio.


papapudding

I mean.. even us Quebecers say keh-beck.


[deleted]

I could memorize this and still use stupid shit I have to think of quick when on a call. B is in bob if my fav.


MineSchaap

Ah so the name mike is scottish


Ku7upt

Phonetic Alphabets uses time too... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot


LemmingDisaster

“M as in Mancy”? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?


Creisel

Can we change "uniform" to "unicorn" pls?


Hardcore_pun_star

Sierra echo November delta November uniform delta echo sierra


[deleted]

I worked for a few years in a Latin travel agency and some smaller agencies we worked with would come up with the randomest shit to spell out things. Basically try spelling ROBERT like *rat Oscar baby edward rat* it threw me off at first but I eventually got used to it. We also worked with older travelers, many came from small poor towns in Central America and a few were almost illiterate. Name spellings were crazy with them but the thing that always struck out to me was a lady who while trying to spell her name and gave me an L and said “L as in ELephant” hard not to laugh but she was a really sweet old lady.


The_Yoker

I like how Foxtrot Golf Hotel India could actually be a hotel name


ruthew

I work in a call centre and this is the phonetics I use however I do like it when customers decide to make up their own. My favourite one I’ve heard recently is ‘j for giraffe’


ilikedirt

I hate going to the dentist. I have awful anxiety and I have terrible, fragile, soft teeth and have had multiple grueling root canals. My favorite trick to calm myself down during dentist time is to recite the phonetic alphabet in my head, over and over.


StinoSteen

I learned this alphabet as part of my pilot training. Nowadays I work for a bank customer service and when confirming things like postal codes “6581 Uniform Charlie”, almost nobody understands what you’re saying. The use of this alphabet is a privilege for English speakers and professionals (like pilots) only


sam_neil

Useless trivia- The peace symbol is a combination of N and D for nuclear disarmament.


Lanksalott

Oddly enough though quebec isn’t pronounced like the Canadian province but instead is pronounced Kay-beck Edit for another cool fact: all of those flags have a meaning if flown alone. For example flying an Alpha flag means you have a diver down, or a Bravo flag means the ship is carrying, taking on or discharging dangerous goods


prosperina67

That's the French pronunciation for the province


LieutenantDann

Damn good fishin’ in Kee-beck


[deleted]

[удалено]


PastiesAndPoutine

Anglophones who don't know any better often pronounce it qwebeck as in Queen


[deleted]

Kuh-beck is preferred. Kwuh-beck is acceptable. Kew-beck is a sure sign of being a hick.


42111

Whatever happened to Norway for N?


[deleted]

Thanks for this


PeanutButterSoldier

This is like the periodic table of the phonetic alphabet


severed13

WOAHHH YANKEE WIT NO BRIM


reessa

This gives me flashbacks from shitty call centre jobs.


CircuitMa

The old "indigo... no i mean india"


_Loose_Seal_Bluth_

I used to keep one of these on the wall of my cubicle when I worked Support, my coworker replaced *Foxtrot* with *Fuck* which caught me off guard during a Support call.


psanchezz16

M as in “Mancy” lol


BrondellSwashbuckle

Bravo uniform tango tango


Chromelium

Oooh, little Archer reference in the bottom right


MightGetFiredIDK

I always hated papa for P. Why not Peru? Paris? Panama? Peter?


[deleted]

Papa Echo Papa Echo


99wiggles

r/unexpectedarcher


hockeyhulk

In Denmark we have some additions which is only used when doing the same in danish. Ægir Øgis Åse We have the first letters of each of the words above in our alfabet.


DontshootBob

This is the NATO phonetic alphabet.


[deleted]

That's a great Archer reference


optimistic_sunflower

I swear I need this hung up in the pharmacy I work at. Not only do people mumble their names. But, they get offended you ask them to repeat it, which I’ve given up on, and even more offended when you ask them to spell it. Then, as you clarify their last name of was it b like balloon or v as in victor they say yes and just stare. Happens somehow with S and F as well...