Spell it phonetically
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NATO / ITU phonetic alphabet
Click a letter to hear it. The small text is the official ITU pronunciation, stressed syllables in capitals.
RST signal report
Q-codes and abbreviations
| Code | Question (with ?) | Statement |
|---|
CW and on-air abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
About this tool
Q-codes
Q-codes began as three-letter shorthand for Morse operators. Followed by a question mark they ask a question; without one they answer or state it. Hams use them on voice too: "QTH" for location, "QSL" for confirming, "QRZ?" for "who's calling?".
Why phonetics?
Letters like B, D, E, G, P, T and V sound alike in a noisy signal. The NATO alphabet is understood worldwide; give your callsign phonetically when signals are weak or when working stations abroad. Learn more about the rules in the licence practice exam and try copying by ear with the Morse trainer.