Convert numbers to and from Roman numerals
Numbers above 3,999 use vinculum notation: a line above a numeral multiplies its value by 1,000.
So XLIXDCLXXVI = 49,676.
Did you know?
Before Rome: Etruscan Tally Marks
Roman numerals didn't start in Rome. The system evolved from Etruscan tally marks used in central Italy centuries before the Roman Republic. The stroke I for one finger, V for an open hand, X for two hands crossed — these were counting gestures turned into written symbols. Rome adopted and formalized what was already a working system.
Read more →Why Movies Use Roman Numerals in Credits
Look at the end credits of almost any film and you'll see the year in Roman numerals: MMXXVI instead of 2026. This tradition started as a way to make the copyright year less obvious — studios didn't want audiences to know immediately how old a film was during reruns. The practice stuck, and now it's just how it's done.
Read more →Where do Roman numerals come from?
It is thought Roman numerals come from hand signals and tally marks. The stroke I represents a finger, the V represents the gap between thumb and fingers for five, and the X represents hands crossed for ten. The L, C, D, and M come from modifications of Greek letters like chi, theta, and phi to represent 50, 100, 500, and 1,000. Over time, these marks changed into the Latin letters people recognize today. There is no 0 in the Roman alphabet, as the concept for the number 0 didn't fully develop until India invented it around 600 CE / 10600 HE.