Roman Numerals
How to read and write Roman numerals, from I to MMMCMXCIX, including years and dates.
Translator
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Why Roman Numerals Have No Zero
Roman numerals have no zero because they are additive, not positional. Zero is only needed as a placeholder in place-value systems like decimal notation.
Roman Numerals for Years and Dates
To write a year in Roman numerals, break it into thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones. 2026 = MMXXVI. 1999 = MCMXCIX. Common on films, buildings, and broadcasts.
How to Read Roman Numerals
Roman numerals use 7 letters: I=1, V=5, X=10, L=50, C=100, D=500, M=1000. Add values left to right; subtract when a smaller value comes before a larger one.