2012 in Roman Numerals
The number 2012 is written MMXII in Roman numerals. Click the numeral below to copy it, or use the converter to try any other number.
2012 is a common year to write this way: people use Roman numerals for dates on tattoos, wedding stationery, building cornerstones, book copyright lines and film credits.
MMXII is purely additive: every symbol is worth what it says and you simply add them together from left to right.
2012 in Roman numerals
Also written in words as two thousand twelve, and read aloud as M M X I I.
Roman numeral converter
Convert a number into Roman numerals, or read a Roman numeral back into a number. Works for 1 to 3999, the range the seven standard symbols can express.
How 2012 breaks down into Roman numerals
2000 + 10 + 2 = 2012, so MM + X + II = MMXII.
| Place value | Roman numeral | Why | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | MM | M is 1000, written 2 times | |
| 10 | X | X is 10 | |
| 2 | II | I is 1, written 2 times |
No symbol on this page matches that search. Try a shorter word.
Numbers either side of 2012
- 2007 = MMVII
- 2008 = MMVIII
- 2009 = MMIX
- 2010 = MMX
- 2011 = MMXI
- 2013 = MMXIII
- 2014 = MMXIV
- 2015 = MMXV
- 2016 = MMXVI
- 2017 = MMXVII
Related numbers
Browse the full charts: Roman numerals hub, 1 to 100, years 1900 to 2100.
How to write 2012 in Roman numerals, step by step
Roman numerals are built from largest value to smallest. Split 2012 into place values first: 2000 + 10 + 2.
Now swap each part for its symbols: 2000 becomes MM, 10 becomes X, 2 becomes II. Written together that is MMXII.
No subtraction is needed here, so the symbols are simply added in descending order.
- 2000 = MM (M is 1000, written 2 times)
- 10 = X (X is 10)
- 2 = II (I is 1, written 2 times)
Is MMXII written correctly?
Yes. MMXII is the standard modern form of 2012. A valid Roman numeral never repeats a symbol more than three times in a row, never repeats V, L or D at all, and only ever subtracts I, X or C, and only from the next two larger symbols.
Those rules are what keeps a number to a single accepted spelling, so a reader never has to guess.
How to type MMXII on a keyboard
Roman numerals are ordinary capital letters, so you can type MMXII directly: M, M, X, I, I. Nothing special is required and it will work in any font, any document and any web form.
Unicode also contains dedicated Roman numeral characters such as Ⅰ, Ⅴ, Ⅹ, Ⅼ, Ⅽ, Ⅾ and Ⅿ. They exist for typesetting East Asian text and they look almost identical, but search engines, spell checkers and screen readers handle the plain letters better, so the letters are usually the right choice.
Using 2012 as a date
Written as a full date, 2012 usually appears at the end: 4 July 2012 becomes IV • VII • MMXII, with dots or dashes separating day, month and year.
If you are having MMXII engraved or tattooed, check the spacing and the character shapes with the artist first. Roman numerals are long, and MMXII is 5 characters, so it needs more room than the four digits do.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write 2012 in Roman numerals?
2012 is written MMXII. Break it into 2000 + 10 + 2, then write MM + X + II, which joins up as MMXII.
What number is MMXII?
MMXII is 2012, or two thousand twelve in words.
Is there another way to write 2012 in Roman numerals?
MMXII is the standard form. Any other arrangement of the same symbols would break the rule that values are written from largest to smallest.
How do I copy MMXII?
Click the large numeral at the top of this page. It copies straight to your clipboard, ready to paste anywhere.
Do Roman numerals have a zero?
No. The system has no symbol for zero and no way to write a negative number or a fraction of one, which is one reason it was replaced for arithmetic.