2004 in Roman numerals at a glance
- Roman numeral
- MMIV
- Lowercase
- mmiv
- Letters
- 4
- Parts
- M · M · IV
- Subtractive pairs
- IV
- Read aloud
- two thousand four
- Leap year?
- Yes
How MMIV is built
Roman numerals are written one decimal place at a time, from the largest place to the smallest. Converting each digit of 2004 separately and joining the pieces gives MMIV:
| Place | Digit | Value | Numeral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thousands | 2 | 2,000 | MM |
| Hundreds | 0 | 0 | — (zero has no symbol) |
| Tens | 0 | 0 | — (zero has no symbol) |
| Ones | 4 | 4 | IV |
Reading it back, left to right:
- M = 1,000 → running total 1,000
- M = 1,000 → running total 2,000
- IV = 4 (V minus I) → running total 2,004
Why MMIV has 4 letters
Every year from 2000 to 2099 begins with MM (2,000); the rest of MMIV after MM — IV — spells out 4. Of the 201 years from 1900 to 2100, 178 have a longer numeral and 7 a shorter one.
The rules MMIV follows
- Largest to smallest. MMIV uses the symbols M, I and V (4 characters in all), and the values never increase from left to right except inside a subtractive pair.
- Subtraction. IV (4) is a subtractive pair: a smaller symbol in front of a larger one is taken away from it. Only six pairs are allowed — IV, IX, XL, XC, CD and CM — and MMIV uses one of them.
- Repetition. MM repeats M two times. I, X, C and M may repeat up to three times in a row; V, L and D never repeat.
Common mistakes when writing 2004
- MMIIII — wrong because standard numerals never repeat a symbol four times; 4 is written IV. The correct form is MMIV.
The year 2004 in Roman numerals: where it appears
- Credits, diplomas and keepsakes. Many productions still print the copyright year as a numeral, and recent dates such as MMIV are popular for wedding bands, tattoos and anniversary gifts.
- An Olympiad year. 2004 is the year of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad — Athens.
- Championship numbering. The pro football championship played in early 2004 was game XXXVIII (38), since the series began with game I in January 1967.
- On a calendar. 2004 was a leap year, with 366 days, and January 1 fell on a Thursday. A full date such as July 4, 2004 is often written VII · IV · MMIV.
To turn a complete birth date or wedding date into numerals — with dots, dashes or spaces in US or day-first order — use the Roman numeral date converter.
Years around 2004 in Roman numerals
| Year | Roman numeral | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | MCMXCIX | 7 |
| 2000 | MM | 2 |
| 2001 | MMI | 3 |
| 2002 | MMII | 4 |
| 2003 | MMIII | 5 |
| 2004 | MMIV | 4 |
| 2005 | MMV | 3 |
| 2006 | MMVI | 4 |
| 2007 | MMVII | 5 |
| 2008 | MMVIII | 6 |
| 2009 | MMIX | 4 |
Frequently asked questions
How do you write 2004 in Roman numerals?
2004 is written MMIV. Break it into M (1000), M (1000), IV (4) and add the parts: 1000 + 1000 + 4 = 2004.
Is MMIIII a correct way to write 2004?
No. MMIIII is wrong because standard numerals never repeat a symbol four times; 4 is written IV. The standard numeral for 2004 is MMIV.
How do you say MMIV?
Read the value, not the letters: MMIV is the year 2004, said “two thousand four.” Spelling out the letters one by one is only useful when checking a carving or engraving.
What year comes after MMIV?
2005, written MMV. The year before, 2003, is MMIII.