12 in Roman numerals
XII
The number 12 is written XII in Roman numerals.
How XII breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
X | 10 |
II | 2 × 1 = 2 |
XII | 12 |
Every symbol here is written in descending order and simply added together — no subtractive pairs are involved.
Nearby numbers
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 7 | VII |
| 8 | VIII |
| 9 | IX |
| 10 | X |
| 11 | XI |
| 12 | XII |
| 13 | XIII |
| 14 | XIV |
| 15 | XV |
| 16 | XVI |
| 17 | XVII |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
12 in other notations
| Roman | XII |
| Binary | 1100 |
| Hexadecimal | C |
| Octal | 14 |
| Written out | twelve |
Writing it by hand
Work down through the symbol values, taking as many of each as will fit before moving to the next. For 12:
X = 10 remaining: 2
2 × I = 2 remaining: 0The result reads XII — 3 characters, against 2 digits in Arabic numerals.
Frequently asked questions
What is 12 in Roman numerals?
XII
How do you read XII?
Work left to right, adding each symbol — except where a smaller symbol precedes a larger one, in which case it is subtracted. X is 10, II is 2, giving 12 in total.
How do you write 12 in words?
twelve.
Why is there no zero?
Roman numerals have no symbol for zero. The concept reached Europe only with Hindu-Arabic numerals, centuries after the system was in use — which is a large part of why it was eventually replaced for arithmetic.