2,008 in Roman numerals
MMVIII
The number 2,008 is written MMVIII in Roman numerals. As a year it appears in copyright lines and cornerstones written this way.
How MMVIII breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
MM | 2 × 1,000 = 2,000 |
V | 5 |
III | 3 × 1 = 3 |
MMVIII | 2,008 |
Every symbol here is written in descending order and simply added together — no subtractive pairs are involved.
Nearby numbers
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 2,003 | MMIII |
| 2,004 | MMIV |
| 2,005 | MMV |
| 2,006 | MMVI |
| 2,007 | MMVII |
| 2,008 | MMVIII |
| 2,009 | MMIX |
| 2,010 | MMX |
| 2,011 | MMXI |
| 2,012 | MMXII |
| 2,013 | MMXIII |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
2,008 in other notations
| Roman | MMVIII |
| Binary | 11111011000 |
| Hexadecimal | 7D8 |
| Octal | 3730 |
| Written out | two thousand and eight |
Writing it by hand
Work down through the symbol values, taking as many of each as will fit before moving to the next. For 2,008:
2 × M = 2000 remaining: 8
V = 5 remaining: 3
3 × I = 3 remaining: 0The result reads MMVIII — 6 characters, against 4 digits in Arabic numerals.
Frequently asked questions
What is 2,008 in Roman numerals?
MMVIII
How do you read MMVIII?
Work left to right, adding each symbol — except where a smaller symbol precedes a larger one, in which case it is subtracted. MM is 2,000, V is 5, III is 3, giving 2,008 in total.
How do you write 2,008 in words?
two thousand and eight.
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.