8 in Roman numerals
VIII
The number 8 is written VIII in Roman numerals.
How VIII breaks down
| Symbols | Value |
|---|---|
V | 5 |
III | 3 × 1 = 3 |
VIII | 8 |
Every symbol here is written in descending order and simply added together — no subtractive pairs are involved.
Nearby numbers
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 3 | III |
| 4 | IV |
| 5 | V |
| 6 | VI |
| 7 | VII |
| 8 | VIII |
| 9 | IX |
| 10 | X |
| 11 | XI |
| 12 | XII |
| 13 | XIII |
The seven symbols
I | 1 | C | 100 |
V | 5 | D | 500 |
X | 10 | M | 1,000 |
L | 50 |
8 in other notations
| Roman | VIII |
| Binary | 1000 |
| Hexadecimal | 8 |
| Octal | 10 |
| Written out | 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 8:
V = 5 remaining: 3
3 × I = 3 remaining: 0The result reads VIII — 4 characters, against 1 digit in Arabic numerals. The verbosity at numbers like this is precisely why positional notation replaced the system for arithmetic.
Frequently asked questions
What is 8 in Roman numerals?
VIII
How do you read VIII?
Work left to right, adding each symbol — except where a smaller symbol precedes a larger one, in which case it is subtracted. V is 5, III is 3, giving 8 in total.
How do you write 8 in words?
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.