4 in Roman Numerals
4 in Roman numerals is IV. It is built from one part: 4 = IV. Read it from left to right and add the values to get 4. Copy it below, see why it is written this way, and check the numbers before and after. The converter handles any number from 1 to 3,999.
4 in Roman numerals is IV.
4 in Roman numerals: the breakdown
| Place value | Numeral | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | IV | 4 |
| Total | IV | 4 |
4 is a single place value, so IV on its own is 4.
Why IV and not IIII?
IV uses the subtractive pair IV. Written by adding only, 4 would be IIII, but a letter may repeat only three times in a row, and IIII repeats I four times.
How to read IV
- IV is 5 minus 1, which is 4.
- There is nothing else to add, so IV is 4.
The numbers around 4
Facts about 4
- 4 is an even number.
- 4 is not prime: 4 = 2 x 2.
- 4 is a perfect square: 2 x 2 = 4.
- The digits of 4 add up to 4.
- IV is 2 letters long. It uses the symbols V and I.
Convert another number
What number is IV?
IV is the number 4. It is a single place-value part, so reading it from left to right gives 4 straight away.
Questions and answers
What is 4 in Roman numerals?
4 in Roman numerals is IV. It is made of one part: 4 = IV. Read IV from left to right, add the parts, and you get 4. Use the converter on this page to check any other number from 1 to 3,999.
How do you write 4 in Roman numerals?
Split 4 into its place values, write each one in Roman numerals, and join them from largest to smallest. For 4 there is only one place value, so the answer is IV. Check that no letter repeats more than three times in a row.
What number is IV?
IV is 4. Read it from left to right: it is a single place-value part, IV, which is 4, so there is nothing else to add. Letters after a larger or equal letter are added, and a smaller letter before a larger one is subtracted. You can also type IV into the converter to read the number back.
Why is 4 written IV and not IIII?
IV is the standard form. IIII breaks a rule: a letter may repeat only three times in a row, and IIII repeats I four times. Writing IV keeps every letter within those limits and makes 4 easy to read at a glance.