Roman numeral symbols
| I | V | X | L | C | D | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 100 | 500 | 1000 |
Rules for reading and writing Roman numerals
- Symbols are written from largest to smallest and added: VIII = 5 + 3 = 8.
- A smaller symbol before a larger one is subtracted — only in six combinations: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900).
- I, X, C and M can repeat up to three times in a row; V, L and D never repeat.
Example: 1994 = 1000 (M) + 900 (CM) + 90 (XC) + 4 (IV) = MCMXCIV. Reading it back: M = 1000, CM = 900, XC = 90, IV = 4, total 1994.
Where you’ll still see Roman numerals
Clock faces, book chapters and prefaces (in lowercase), movie copyright years, names of monarchs and popes (Charles III), Super Bowl numbers, and outlines. The converter validates input strictly, so invalid forms such as IIII, VV or IC are flagged.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write 2026 in Roman numerals?
2026 is MMXXVI: MM (2000) + XX (20) + VI (6).
Why is 4 written as IV and not IIII?
Standard Roman numerals use subtractive notation: a smaller numeral placed before a larger one is subtracted. IV = 5 − 1. The same applies to IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900). IIII does appear on some clock faces for visual balance, but it is not standard.
What is the largest Roman numeral?
Using standard symbols, the largest number is 3,999 (MMMCMXCIX). Larger values historically used a bar over a numeral to multiply it by 1,000, which is not supported here.
Is there a Roman numeral for zero?
No. The Roman system had no symbol for zero; medieval scholars sometimes used the word “nulla”.