Struggling to type Roman numerals on your iPhone for chapters, dates or fancy numbering to show off your classical knowledge? “Seven hundred and fifty-three” is not the only way to write 753 with letters after all. Roman numbers let you do the same more succinctly. Find out here how to type Roman numerals on an iPhone.
First, How Not to Get Clipped
Search engines like Google do not count characters when they show a headline. They count pixels.
So, if you want to cram a lot into a precious search engine result page’s space,
- your web site had better be “l.li” and
- its headline something like Build Skill in Filling Lines with Inky Links.
For the most part, you would also, of course, avoid Roman numerals. They are notoriously wasteful of space — but a joy to behold. With proper Unicode Roman numbers, you can also save a pixel here and there perhaps:
How to Enter and Type Roman Numerals on an iPhone
Time needed: 2 minutes
To enter any number in Roman numerals on an iPhone:
- Establish how to represent the desired number in Roman numerals.
Here’s how: See below for a brief overview.
Example: The number 753 of Rome’s mythical founding, for instance, is ⅮⅭⅭⅬⅢ in Roman numerals.
Shortcut: Use the decimal number to Roman numeral converter to instantly get the Roman numeral representation for copying. - Use the table below to copy the Roman digits for pasting on iPhone in succession.
Shortcuts: If you use certain Roman numbers often, you can set up text expansion for them; see below.
The alphabet: The table below uses the Unicode characters specifically for Roman numerals. You can use capital letters from the Latin alphabet instead, but screen readers will have more trouble recognizing these as numbers.
Calculations: The Unicode Roman number characters are all the same width, which makes calculations in a table much clearer, but can make these numbers stand out typographically in body text.
Suntne perfecti numeri?
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Unicode Roman Numerals to Copy and Paste
| Value | Roman Numeral | Copy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ⅰ | |
| 2 | Ⅱ | |
| 3 | Ⅲ | |
| 4 | Ⅳ | |
| 5 | Ⅴ | |
| 6 | Ⅵ | |
| 7 | Ⅶ | |
| 8 | Ⅷ | |
| 9 | Ⅸ | |
| 10 | Ⅹ | |
| 11 | Ⅺ | |
| 12 | Ⅻ | |
| 50 | Ⅼ | |
| 100 | Ⅽ | |
| 500 | Ⅾ | |
| 1 000 | Ⅿ | |
| 5 000 | ↁ | |
| 10 000 | ↂ | |
| 50 000 | ↇ | |
| 100 000 | ↈ |
The upper 5 000: Most fonts will not include the characters for 5 000 and up. You can always use multiple Ⅿ’s instead.
The lower numerals: Unicode also includes lowercase versions of the numerals, which you can use for page numbers in prefaces, for instance.
Quick Way to Convert from Arabic to Roman Numbers
For a fast way to find the Roman numeral equivalent for an Arabic number:
- Starting from the bottom in the table above, find the first (i.e. largest) number that fits into the Arabic number.
Exception: Ignore 12 and 11 until you are at either of the numbers directly. - Write that number down in its Roman numeral form.
- Subtract the Roman numeral you just wrote down from the Arabic number.
- Continue at step 1 with the new Arabic number until you have reached zero.
Even faster: Roman Numerals Converter (for Years, Chapters, etc.)
Roman Numeral Conversion Example
The largest Roman numeral that fits into 753 is Ⅾ for 500. 753 minus 500 is 253.
The largest Roman numeral that fits into 253 is Ⅽ for 100. 253 minus 100 is 153.
The largest Roman numeral that fits into 153 is Ⅽ for 100. 153 minus 100 is 53.
The largest Roman numeral that fits into 53 is Ⅼ for 50. 53 minus 50 is 3.
The largest Roman numeral that fits into 3 is Ⅲ for 3. 3 minus 3 is 0. (Ⅲ is a separate Unicode character. You can also use Ⅰ three times, of course.)
753 as a Roman numeral is ⅮⅭⅭⅬⅢ.
Set up Text Expansion for Roman Numerals
To add a shortcut that lets you enter Roman numbers directly on an iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Select General.
- Now pick Keyboard.
- Open Text Replacement.
- Tap +.
- Paste the Roman numeral you want to insert with a shortcut under Phrase.
Example: PasteⅮⅭⅭⅬⅢfor 753. - Now type a character combination you want iPhone to replace with the Roman numerals.
Example: Use753r, for instance, for ⅮⅭⅭⅬⅢ, and1rfor Ⅰ.
- Tap Save.
How to Type Roman Numerals on an iPhone: FAQ
Does the iPhone keyboard include the Roman numerals?
No.
You can use upper case letters from the Latin alphabet to stand for Roman numerical characters. To get the Unicode characters, resort to pasting or using text expansion.
How do I pronounce Roman numerals?
Do pronounce the Roman numeral as the number it represents, not the individual letters.
Example: ⅮⅭⅭⅬⅢ is pronounced “seven hundred and fifty-three.”
So… how do I pronounce Roman numerals in Latin?
In Latin, likewise, do pronounce the numerals not as letters but as numbers.
Example: ⅮⅭⅭⅬⅢ is pronounced “septingenti et quinquaginta tres.”
(Tested with iOS 16–18 and 26; first published April 2023, last updated November 2025)