Roman Numerals Game for Kids
Roman Numerals is a free game that helps kids read and write numbers the Roman way, from I to XX all the way up to MMMCMXCIX (3,999).
Roman Numerals
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- Ages
- 8–12
- School years
- Primary 3–Primary 6
- Skills
- Knowing the values of I, V, X, L, C, D and M, Reading Roman numerals by adding letter values, The subtractive pairs IV, IX, XL, XC, CD and CM
- Time
- 2–5 minutes a round
- Cost
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
How to play Roman Numerals
- Choose a level: I to XX, up to C (100), up to M (1,000), Hard (to 3,999) or Mixed.
- Choose the questions: Roman numeral to number, number to Roman numeral, or both ways.
- Tap an answer, or choose Typing to type the number or the Roman numeral yourself (capital or small letters both work).
- Use the key of letter values under each question, and read the explanation if you get one wrong.
What your child learns
- Knowing the values of I, V, X, L, C, D and M
- Reading Roman numerals by adding letter values
- The subtractive pairs IV, IX, XL, XC, CD and CM
- Writing numbers as Roman numerals using place value
- Spotting common mistakes such as IIII, IC and VX
About Roman Numerals
Roman numerals still appear on clock faces, book chapters, film credits and the names of kings and queens. Reading them is a great place value workout: children split a number into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, and write each part with the seven Roman letters.
Every question shows the right way to break the number down, such as XLIV = XL (40) + IV (4) = 44. The wrong answers are the mistakes children really make, like writing IIII instead of IV, or IC for 99, so each round teaches the rules as well as testing them. I to XX suits Primary 3, numbers to 100 suit Primary 4, and the Hard level, up to 3,999, stretches children in Primary 5–6.
Which level should my child play?
| School year | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Primary 3 | I to XX |
| Primary 4 | Up to C (100) |
| Primary 5 | Up to M (1,000) |
| Primary 6 | Hard (to 3,999) & Mixed |
Move up a level after getting three stars two or three times in a row.
🏆 Leaderboard
Full leaderboard →Play a round to get on the board! Create a free account to save your scores.
🎯 Practise one skill
Jump straight to a level, with tricks, examples and a printable worksheet for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
How do Roman numerals work?
Each letter has a value: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500 and M = 1,000. Add the values from left to right, except when a smaller letter comes before a bigger one: then subtract it, so IV is 4 and IX is 9.
Why is 4 written IV and not IIII?
In standard Roman numerals the same letter is never used more than three times in a row. Instead, 4 is written as 1 before 5 (IV), and 9 as 1 before 10 (IX). Some clock faces still show IIII, but IV is the standard form.
Why is 99 written XCIX and not IC?
Only six subtractive pairs are allowed: IV, IX, XL, XC, CD and CM. So 99 is split into 90 + 9, which is XC + IX = XCIX.
What is the biggest number in Roman numerals?
Using standard letters, the biggest number is 3,999, written MMMCMXCIX, because M can only be repeated three times.
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Help your child shine in maths
Practice at home is a great start. Success Tutoring offers personalised tutoring to build skills and confidence.