Roman Numerals vs. Roman Numbers: Is There a Difference?

If you are searching for a converter or a tattoo design, you might have noticed two different terms being used: "Roman Numerals" and "Roman Numbers".

This often leads to confusion. Are they two different systems? Is one older than the other? Which one is correct?

Here is the short answer: They are exactly the same thing.

In this guide, we will explain why these two names exist, the subtle linguistic difference, and provide a quick cheat sheet for the basic Roman numbers.

The Short Answer: No Difference in Meaning

In everyday life, Roman Numerals and Roman Numbers refer to the exact same ancient system of writing numbers using letters from the Latin alphabet (I, V, X, L, C, D, M).

• If you search for "1984 in Roman Numerals", you get MCMLXXXIV.
• If you search for "1984 in Roman Numbers", you get the exact same result: MCMLXXXIV.

So, why do we have two names?

"Numeral" vs. "Number": The Technical Difference

While the system is the same, there is a technical difference in the English language between a number and a numeral.

1. A Number is an abstract idea or value (the concept of "five").
2. A Numeral is the symbol used to write that value.

Think of it like this:

• The Number is the idea of "5" (you can hold up 5 fingers).
• The Numeral is how we write it down.
  • In the Arabic system (modern), the numeral is "5".
  • In the Roman system, the numeral is "V".
  • In the word form, the numeral is "Five".

Therefore: Technically, "Roman Numerals" is the strictly correct term because we are talking about the symbols (I, V, X). However, "Roman Numbers" is widely accepted and used by millions of people globally, especially in non-English speaking countries.

At Roman-Numerals.com, we use both terms interchangeably because our goal is to help you convert and learn, regardless of which word you prefer!

The 7 Basic Roman Numbers

Whether you call them numbers or numerals, the entire system is built on just seven symbols. You don't need to memorize thousands of characters; you just need to know these seven:

Roman Numeral	Roman Number Value	Mnemonic (Memory Aid)
I	1	I looks like 1 finger
V	5	V is half of X
X	10	X marks the spot
L	50	Lucky 50
C	100	Century (100 years)
D	500	Day (half a Millennium)
M	1000	Millennium (1000 years)

Need a complete list? Download our free Printable Roman Numerals Chart (1-100) PDF.

How to Read Roman Numbers

The logic is simple:

1. Addition: If a smaller symbol is after a larger one, you add it.
   • VI = 5 + 1 = 6
   • LX = 50 + 10 = 60
2. Subtraction: If a smaller symbol is before a larger one, you subtract it.
   • IV = 5 - 1 = 4
   • XC = 100 - 10 = 90

If you are struggling to convert a large date (like a birth year), you don't need to do the math manually. Use our Roman Number Converter on the homepage to get an instant, accurate result.

Common Uses for Roman Numbers Today

Even though the Roman Empire fell centuries ago, we still use Roman numbers every day. You will often see them in:

• Tattoos: Birth dates and anniversaries (e.g., MMXXIV for 2024). Check out our Tattoo Design Tool to preview your date.
• Clocks: Many watch faces use Roman numbers (often using IIII instead of IV).
• Super Bowl: The NFL uses Roman numbers for the Super Bowl (e.g., Super Bowl LVIII).
• Movies: Copyright dates in the credits are usually written in Roman numbers.

Summary

• Roman Numerals = The technical term for the symbols (I, V, X).
• Roman Numbers = The common term for the values.
• Are they different? No. They refer to the same system.

Whether you want to write "Roman Numerals" or "Roman Numbers," our tools support both.

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