A line over a numeral multiplies it by 1,000.
Written in Roman numerals, the year 1990 becomes MCMXC. Read it place by place from the left: M (1000) + CM (900) + XC (90). It is a common choice for birth-year and anniversary tattoos.
How to use
- Type a number such as 1999 to get MCMXCIX, or type a Roman numeral to get its value. The direction is detected automatically.
- Tap any result row to copy it: the numeral, lowercase, Unicode characters or the breakdown.
- Switch to Date to turn a birthday or wedding date into Roman numerals, with your choice of order and separator.
- Open Chart for every numeral from 1 to 100 or 1 to 1000.
- Basic symbols: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500, M = 1000.
- A smaller symbol before a larger one is subtracted, but only in six pairs: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900).
- From 4,000 the vinculum is used: a line over a numeral multiplies it by 1,000, so 5,000 is V̅. Copied text uses the combining overline character.
- Invalid numerals such as IIII, VV or IC are flagged with the rule they break and the correct spelling.
How Roman numerals work
Seven symbols carry the values: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500 and M = 1000. You write a number place by place from the largest value, so 2024 = MM (2000) + XX (20) + IV (4) = MMXXIV.
A smaller symbol in front of a larger one is subtracted, but only in six pairs: IV (4), IX (9), XL (40), XC (90), CD (400) and CM (900). That is why 99 is XCIX and not IC, and 1990 is MCMXC rather than MXM.
Common mistakes
No symbol repeats more than three times in a row in the standard form, so 4 is IV and 40 is XL. V, L and D are never repeated or subtracted. Clock faces that show IIII and some old inscriptions break these rules on purpose; the converter accepts them only with a warning and the standard spelling.
Large numbers and dates
Classical numerals stop at MMMCMXCIX (3,999). For larger values a line over a numeral multiplies it by 1,000, so 5,000 is V̅ and 10,000 is X̅. Dates are converted part by part, which is why a wedding date such as 21.06.2025 becomes XXI.VI.MMXXV.
Frequently asked questions
What is 2025 in Roman numerals?
2025 is MMXXV: MM for 2000, XX for 20 and V for 5.
Why is 4 written IV and not IIII?
Standard notation uses subtraction for 4 and 9, so I before V means 5 − 1. IIII is an older additive form still seen on many clock faces.
What is the largest Roman numeral?
Without special marks the largest is MMMCMXCIX, 3,999. With the vinculum, a bar that multiplies by 1,000, this converter goes up to 3,999,999.
Is there a Roman numeral for zero?
No. The Romans had no symbol for zero; medieval writers sometimes used the word nulla or the letter N. The converter accepts numbers from 1.
How do I write a date in Roman numerals?
Convert the day, month and year separately and join them with dots or dashes: 14.02.2015 is XIV.II.MMXV. Use the Date mode to choose the order and separator.
How do I read a long numeral like MCMLXXXIV?
Split it into place values from the left: M (1000), CM (900), LXXX (80), IV (4). Adding them gives 1984.