Walkie Talkie Codes: Basic & Advanced Lingo

Walkie-talkie lingo is a form of shorthand radio communication. If you want two-way radio communication to be more interesting and secretive, you should know some select phrases to sound like a true pro.

Walkie-talkie communication is a fun way to contact on a set and an essential tool in survival when natural disasters hit or you get lost in the wild. If this device is within transmission signal, you can talk to people through it using normal language or the walkie-talkie lingo.

So get your walkie talkies and radio check it so you can get started with using these words to relay messages to people quickly, even when mobile phones don’t work!

What is it?

Walkie talkie lingo is basically a code language that makes the sentences shorter so they are conveyed more easily. This is useful because long sentences sometimes get cut off due to poor signals.

Everyone using it needs to have the same radio channel, and the devices should be within the radio transmission for the message to be delivered. There is some radio etiquette that has to be used when talking to people on this device as well. The two-way radio lingo is not hard to understand at all if you know the common walkie talkie codes. Lucky for you, you can learn most of the common codes in this article to have a smooth walkie talkie conversation.

Why is this lingo used?

Although there are no rules to who can use the walkie-talkie language, this device has some common uses. The walkie-talkie dictionary is available online for anyone to use, so these phrases are not exactly a secret. So, here are some uses that this device has.

• Believe it or not, this is a commonly used code on film sets by the movie crew to transmit messages quickly, as the time of arrival and whatnot.
• A police officer uses the radio lingo as well to communicate clearly and quickly at the correct time.
• It is a good way to communicate during natural disasters so used by common people who are in such danger.
• Another important use is by wildlife explorers who can get lost while hiking, camping, or hunting.
• They are used for fun among friends who don’t want to get their messages being heard by others.
• Airplane pilots use them to communicate with other pilots.
• They are commonly used in the military by civilian pilots and many other people.

As you can see, it has many uses. When a report in person is difficult due to any issues, these lingo terms can save lives as well as time. This is why police officers, as well as the military, use them.

Ten Codes: what are they?

These are codes that the Illinois State Department developed in 1937 to decrease ambiguity over the radio. These codes sometimes vary from department to department and are used mainly by the police force. Some of the codes are listed below if you are interested in using these walkie talkie phrases. All of them have the number 10 at the beginning and then some random number to form meaning.

• 10-1= Transmission unreadable
• 10-2 = Receiving well
• 10-3 = Stop transmitting
• 10-4 = Message received
• 10-5 = Relay message to ___
• 10-6 = Busy, please stand by
• 10-7 = Out of service, leaving the air
• 10-8 = In service, subject to call
• 10-9= Please repeat the message
• 10-20= Please state your location
• 10-21 = Call by telephone
• 10-22 = Report in person to
• 10-23 = Stand by
• 10-24 = Completed last assignment
• 10-25 = Can you contact _____
• 10-26 = Disregard last information
• 10-85 = My address is _____
• 10-91 = Talk closer to the microphone
• 10-93 = Check my frequency on this channel

There are many more signals for things like “all units within range report” or “emergency traffic” and “negative contact”, but all of these are not as commonly used by anyone other than the police force.

Most Important Walkie Talkie Phrases

Now let’s look at some other phrases that people most commonly use. These are used by a film crew while filming movies for urgent business. So let’s look at some phrases that you can use.

• Copy= Message understood
• Go again= Did not understand the message
• Disregard= Ignore the previous message
• Eyes on= Spotted something
• Negative= No
• Lock it up= Don’t let anyone enter
• On it= Doing what you asked me to
• Flying in= Something ( you asked for) is coming
• Roger/ roger that= Understood the message
• Walkie check= To see if your walkie talkie is working
• Stand by= Busy at the moment
• Going of walkie= Won’t use the walkie talkie anymore
• What’s your 20= Where are you?
• Wilco= message was received and understood.

Standard Walkie Talkie Codes

These codes are standardized to make it more efficient, simple, and clear to understand the message. All the codes are standardized, like the phrases mentioned above.

The same lingo changes from industry to industry, but their core meaning is the same. Since so many different industries use it, like filmmakers, police officers, and the military, since the core meaning is still the same, you can understand them no matter what the field is.

Phrases like “come in” and “over” are standardized codes for are you there and delivered the message. Also, “go ahead” and “go for (name)” are pretty common and easy phrases for individual conversation.

Before starting, many people like to check their mic by saying “mic check” or “initial check” so these are all examples of standard walkie talkie codes that you can easily remember. Not only are these fun but also useful in case of emergency.

Examples of advanced lingo

This advanced lingo is used mainly by people who use walkie talkies for professional reasons. These are used in movie sets mainly.

• Martini shot = The last shot of the day
• Choker = A tight close-up of eyes only.
• Baby legs = The legs of a camera tripod.
• Bogey = It’s someone not supposed to be on set.
• Four-banger = A large trailer with four doors, a production room, a dressing room, and a crew bathroom
• Hot Brick = A battery with a full charge

These are only used by the film crew set as they have very definitive meanings.

Film Set Lingo

There is a lot of on-set lingoes that are available on the internet. These are easy and simple to use and great if you want to get into this industry.

• 10-1= Need to go to the bathroom
• First team= The principal actors in a scene
• Second team= the stand-ins for the principal actors
• Go for= Ask for someone
• Keying= When someone is accidentally holding down the “talk” button on their walkie
• Spin that= When something is said on channel 1 that needs to be passed along to other channels
• Standing by= Completed the task and waiting for further instructions
• Strike= When something needs to be removed
• Kill= When something needs to be turned off

There are many more lingoes used on sets, but these are specifically for the filmmaking crew. Of course, very useful if you are planning to major in this field.

Walkie-Talkie Etiquette

There is some etiquette that needs to be followed and learned. Of course, used in a professional setting as, among friends, no one will really care for etiquette.

First of all, don’t immediately start talking as soon as you turn on the two-way radio as most of the time the initial words will be missed. The radio takes some time to send clear signals. Moreover, think carefully about what you want to say before you press the button, as when you press the button, no one else can speak.

Then, if there is more than one person on the receiving end of the radio, make sure to identify yourself. It is not easy to know who is speaking and can create confusion. Before speaking, you should identify yourself. Along with that, direct the message to a certain person so that they know you are talking to them.

Be patient when waiting for the response. In addition to that, when delivering the message, be loud, clear, and precise. For this, speak slowly and be blunt with no useless words. The other person will usually tell you when they understand the message as well, o you will know when you need to repeat the message.

Lastly, don’t accidentally press the “on” button as it can hinder other people from speaking and can be embarrassing for you. This you will learn through experience, but it is still good to be careful.

So learn this etiquette before you start a job that requires you to use walkie-talkies and lingo.

What Is The NATO Phonetic Alphabet?

These are alphabets that are used when you need to spell out certain important parts of your message. Using the standard alphabet can be hard, and you might mishear some words, so these words make it easy to understand the spelling.

How it’s used

Following are the alternative words for the English alphabets, and you form words by saying these words when necessary. Make sure to be clear when saying them and speak slowly, so the other person understands them.

• A-Alfa
• B-Bravo
• C-Charlie
• D-Delta
• E-Echo
• F-Foxtrot
• G-Golf
• H-Hotel
• I-India
• J-Juliet
• K-Kilo
• L-Lima
• M-Mike
• N-November
• O-Oscar
• P-Papa
• Q-Quebec
• R-Romeo
• S-Sierra
• T-Tango
• U-Uniform
• V-Victor
• W-Whiskey
• X-X-ray
• Y-Yankee
• Z-Zulu

Making Up Your Own Lingo?

This is, in fact, possible and very easy to do. All you need is to find a small and standardized form of longer words that you and your crew or friends use commonly.

After that, you just write these new lingo words and give them to the people with which you will use them. This way, they can use them and remember them, and so can you. This is a very fun activity with your friends and a good way to have a conversation that can not be understood by anyone who might listen in.

In conclusion, walkie-talkie lingo is very easy and fun to learn. It is also used in many fields, so useful to memorize it.

Complete 10 Code List

Here’s a complete 10 code list:

1. 10-28 = Identify your station
2. 10-37 = Wrecker needed at
3. 10-8 = In service, subject to call
4. 10-65 = Awaiting your next message/assignment
5. 10-39 = Your message delivered
6. 10-22 = Report in person to
7. 10-35 = Confidential information
8. 10-84 = My telephone number is ______
9. 10-50 = Break channel
10. 10-6 = Busy, please stand by
11. 10-18 = Anything for us?
12. 10-16 = Make pick up at ___
13. 10-11 = Talking too rapidly
14. 10-19 = Nothing for you, return to base
15. 10-44 = I have a message for you
16. 10-12 = Visitors present
17. 10-99 = Mission completed, all units secure
18. 10-20 = My location is _____
19. 10-38 = Ambulance needed at
20. 10-5 = Relay message to ___
21. 10-10 = Transmission completed, standing by
22. 10-36 = Correct time is
23. 10-94 = Please give me a long count (1-10)
24. 10-93 = Check my frequency on this channel
25. 10-71 = Proceed with transmission in sequence
26. 10-1 = Receiving poorly
27. 10-82 = Reserve room for _____
28. 10-23 = Stand by
29. 10-85 = My address is _____
30. 10-34 = Trouble at this station
31. 10-42 = Traffic accident at
32. 10-9 = Repeat message
33. 10-2 = Receiving well
34. 10-64 = Net clear
35. 10-43 = Traffic tie up at
36. 10-33 = Emergency Traffic
37. 10-67 = All units comply
38. 10-30 = Does not conform to FCC rules
39. 10-24 = Completed last assignment
40. 10-13 = Advise Weather/Road conditions
41. 10-70 = Fire at _____
42. 10-77 = Negative contact
43. 10-25 = Can you contact _____
44. 10-27 = I am moving to channel ____
45. 10-29 = Time is up for contact
46. 10-91 = Talk closer to the microphone
47. 10-81 = Reserve hotel room for ______
48. 10-32 = I will give you a radio check
49. 10-41 = Please turn to channel
50. 10-4 = Message received
51. 10-45 = All units within range please report
52. 10-7 = Out of service, leaving the air
53. 10-63 = Net directed to
54. 10-26 = Disregard last information
55. 10-60 = What is next message number?
56. 10-3 = Stop transmitting
57. 10-200 = Police needed at _____
58. 10-21 = Call by telephone
59. 10-17 = Urgent business
60. 10-62 = Unable to copy, use phone

Alonzo Carter( Walkie Talkie Pro )

I’m a tech enthusiast and I grew up playing with walkie talkies. They were fun when I was a kid and they’re even more fun, and even useful, as an adult. My family uses them when we go camping to stay connected on hikes.