How to Read Roman Numerals: From Clocks to Page Numbers
Roman numerals use I(1), V(5), X(10), L(50), C(100), D(500), M(1000). The same symbol appears at most three times in a row; a smaller symbol to the right adds, to the left subtracts.
Common examples
- IV = 4, IX = 9, XL = 40, XC = 90
- MMXXVI = 2026
- Clock faces often use IV rather than IIII by tradition
When you'll need them
Movie years, book chapters, clocks, and monument inscriptions still use Roman numerals — handy to read and write.
💡 When unsure, use a Roman numeral converter to verify both ways and avoid writing the year wrong.