I is a single Roman symbol group for 1.
How 1 is written in Roman numerals
The number 1 is written I in Roman numerals. Roman numerals use seven letters — I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500) and M (1000) — combined from largest to smallest, with subtractive pairs such as IV (4) and IX (9). Need another number? Use the Roman numeral converter or see the 1–100 chart.
Building I step by step — take the largest value that fits, write its symbol, subtract, repeat.
| Write | Value | Remaining before | Remaining after |
|---|
| I | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Where you see I
On a clock face, the 1st hour is marked I. Regnal and papal names use it the same way — a 1st ruler of a name is styled I, as in Louis I or Pope John I. The 1st Super Bowl was Super Bowl I; the NFL has used Roman numerals for every edition except Super Bowl 50.
Nearby numbers
Popular numbers in Roman numerals
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 1 in Roman numerals?
1 in Roman numerals is I. It is written as one value group, I, worth 1 on its own, so nothing has to be added to it. The next numbers up are II for 2 and III for 3, and the run of I symbols stops at three, because 4 is written IV.
How do you write 1 in Roman numerals?
Write 1 as I, a single Roman symbol group worth 1. Roman numerals are built by taking the largest value that still fits, writing its symbol and subtracting it, which reduces 1 in 1 step: I leaves 0. Every symbol keeps the same value wherever it stands, so the order is fixed and I is the only standard spelling of 1.
Which letters make up I?
I is a single letter, one of the seven Roman symbols, and it is worth 1 on its own. Nothing is added to it and nothing is subtracted from it, which is what makes it one of the shortest numerals there is. The full set of symbols is I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500) and M (1000), and every other numeral is built by combining them.
How is I read out loud?
I is read as the number it stands for, one, and never letter by letter. Roman numerals are a way of writing values rather than a separate set of names, so the spoken form is the same whether the page shows 1 or I. A chapter or volume numbered I, for instance, is simply chapter one.