Why Do People Say 'Roger That' Instead of 'Understood'?

Why do pilots, soldiers, and radio operators say “Roger” instead of “Okay” or “Understood”? Who is Roger… and why is everyone talking to him?

In this video, we dive into the surprising history behind one of the most iconic words in communication. From crackly early radios and Morse code to wartime aviation and modern pop culture, “Roger” has a story that goes back over a century. What started as a simple shorthand for “Received” became standard language for the military, pilots, and even astronauts — and eventually made its way into movies, TV shows, and everyday slang.

You’ll learn how old phonetic alphabets turned the letter “R” into “Roger,” how the system evolved into the modern North Atlantic Treaty Organization phonetic alphabet, and why words like “copy,” “over,” and “roger” all mean slightly different things. Once you know the difference, you’ll never hear radio chatter the same way again.

Short word. Long history. Let’s break it down.