How do you write 1 to 10 in Roman numerals?

I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X for 1 through 10.

Reference chart · 1 → 100

Roman Numerals 1 to 100

Q: What is 100 in Roman numerals?

100 is written C, the Latin letter for centum (hundred).

Q: What is 49 in Roman numerals?

49 is XLIX: XL is 40 and IX is 9. It is never IL, because only the next two larger letters may be subtracted.

Updated: June 2026

Whether you are decoding a chapter heading, a film copyright line or a school worksheet, the numbers from 1 to 100 cover almost everything you will meet day to day. This page lists every value in full and shows the simple repeating pattern that lets you read any of them without memorising the lot.

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The seven building blocks

Every Roman numeral up to 100 is assembled from just five symbols: I for 1, V for 5, X for 10, L for 50 and C for 100. You write the largest values first and move down, adding as you go. The only twist is the subtractive rule: when a smaller symbol sits immediately before a larger one, you subtract it. That gives IV for 4 and IX for 9, and at the tens level XL for 40 and XC for 90.

Once you see that 4 mirrors 40 (one unit before five units, one ten before five tens) and that 9 mirrors 90, the whole range collapses into one repeating shape. Counting the ones from 1 to 9 follows exactly the same rhythm as counting the tens from 10 to 90.

Chart: 1 to 50

#	Roman	#	Roman	#	Roman	#	Roman	#	Roman
1	I	11	XI	21	XXI	31	XXXI	41	XLI
2	II	12	XII	22	XXII	32	XXXII	42	XLII
3	III	13	XIII	23	XXIII	33	XXXIII	43	XLIII
4	IV	14	XIV	24	XXIV	34	XXXIV	44	XLIV
5	V	15	XV	25	XXV	35	XXXV	45	XLV
6	VI	16	XVI	26	XXVI	36	XXXVI	46	XLVI
7	VII	17	XVII	27	XXVII	37	XXXVII	47	XLVII
8	VIII	18	XVIII	28	XXVIII	38	XXXVIII	48	XLVIII
9	IX	19	XIX	29	XXIX	39	XXXIX	49	XLIX
10	X	20	XX	30	XXX	40	XL	50	L

Chart: 51 to 100

#	Roman	#	Roman	#	Roman	#	Roman	#	Roman
51	LI	61	LXI	71	LXXI	81	LXXXI	91	XCI
52	LII	62	LXII	72	LXXII	82	LXXXII	92	XCII
53	LIII	63	LXIII	73	LXXIII	83	LXXXIII	93	XCIII
54	LIV	64	LXIV	74	LXXIV	84	LXXXIV	94	XCIV
55	LV	65	LXV	75	LXXV	85	LXXXV	95	XCV
56	LVI	66	LXVI	76	LXXVI	86	LXXXVI	96	XCVI
57	LVII	67	LXVII	77	LXXVII	87	LXXXVII	97	XCVII
58	LVIII	68	LXVIII	78	LXXVIII	88	LXXXVIII	98	XCVIII
59	LIX	69	LXIX	79	LXXIX	89	LXXXIX	99	XCIX
60	LX	70	LXX	80	LXXX	90	XC	100	C

Reading any number in seconds

Split the number into tens and ones, then write each part and join them. For 47, the tens are 40 (XL) and the ones are 7 (VII), giving XLVII. For 88, the tens are 80 (LXXX) and the ones 8 (VIII), giving LXXXVIII — the longest numeral in this whole range at eight letters. This place-by-place method is exactly how the converter builds its answer, and its breakdown view makes the two halves visible.

Common mistakes to avoid

Writing 4 as IIII instead of IV — apart from some clock faces, four identical letters are not standard.
Writing 49 as IL. You can only subtract I from V or X, so 49 is XLIX, not IL.
Writing 99 as IC. The correct form is XCIX — ninety plus nine, each built with its own subtraction.
Repeating V, L or D. These five-based symbols never double up; you would use the next ten instead.

Frequently asked questions

What is 100 in Roman numerals?

100 is C, from the Latin centum. It is the single largest symbol you need for this range.

What is 49 in Roman numerals?

XLIX — forty (XL) plus nine (IX). It is never IL, because only the next two larger letters may be subtracted.

Which number from 1 to 100 has the longest numeral?

88 (LXXXVIII) ties at eight characters, the longest you will find under 100.

Can I convert past 100?

Yes. The converter handles every number up to 3,999,999, and the 1-to-1000 chart covers the next range in detail.