Numbers With Letters on Phone
Letters map to digits on the telephone keypad — 2 is ABC, 3 is DEF and so on — which is how Phonewords spell words. See the mapping and what a word costs.
How letters work on a telephone keypad
The digits on a phone keypad each carry letters: 2 corresponds to ABC, 3 to DEF, 4 to GHI, 5 to JKL, 6 to MNO, 7 to PQRS, 8 to TUV and 9 to WXYZ. That mapping is what lets a phone number spell a word — the product listed here as a Phoneword.
A working example from this site's own number: 1300 327 934 spells 1300 EASY DIAL. A Phoneword can be built on a 13, 1300 or 1800 number.
- 13 Phonewords: up to 4 letters.
- 1300 Phonewords: up to 6 letters.
- 1800 Phonewords: up to 6 letters.
Why businesses use letter numbers
A word is easier to hold onto than a digit string, which is the practical case: the number doubles as the brand. When a customer hears "call 1300 FLOWERS", the word does the remembering. That is a design advantage of the format — not a promise of more calls, which depends on the business behind the number.
Dialling stays ordinary. The caller keys in the letters as digits using the same keypad mapping, or dials the numeric equivalent; either way the call arrives the same.
Checking whether your word is available
Not every word can be had — the pool of available 1300/1800 Phonewords is finite and desirable words go first. Use Find a Number to search, and treat a result as a starting point: availability and the exact price are confirmed through sign-up, with Phoneword pricing starting from $40 per month and the desirability of the word affecting it. Published 1300 and 1800 plans start at $10 per month — see the pricing page for the current tables.
Letter number questions
Which letters go with which number?
2 is ABC, 3 DEF, 4 GHI, 5 JKL, 6 MNO, 7 PQRS, 8 TUV and 9 WXYZ. Q and Z sit on 7 and 9 respectively in that layout.
How many letters can a Phoneword use?
Published guidance puts 13 Phonewords at up to 4 letters and 1300/1800 Phonewords at up to 6.
Do callers dial the letters or the digits?
Either — the letters key in as their digits, so the call arrives the same way as the numeric number.
How much does a word number cost?
From $40 per month, with the desirability and availability of the word affecting the price. A specific word's price is confirmed through sign-up.
What if my word is taken?
Search alternatives with Find a Number — a shorter word, a variation, or a related term — or ask the team on 1300 327 934 for help.
Phonewords explained
Turn your number into a word
Search available 1300/1800 Phonewords, or contact the team about what is available.