500 in Roman numerals
500 is written D. D is a letter of its own.
The answer
D
500 in Roman numerals is D.
How D is built
500 has a letter of its own, D. In England, the Year 5 curriculum extends Roman numerals from 100 to 1,000. This page also shows examples within that larger range.
| Letter | Worth | England curriculum |
|---|---|---|
| I | 1 | Year 3 |
| V | 5 | Year 3 |
| X | 10 | Year 3 |
| L | 50 | Year 4 |
| C | 100 | Year 4 |
| D | 500 | Year 5 |
| M | 1,000 | Year 5 |
The mistake to watch for
Writing 500 as M
Wrong: M
In England, Year 5 extends the curriculum range to 1,000, which introduces M. These examples also practise telling D and M apart. D is 500 and M is 1,000, so writing M for 500 doubles it. D is half of M, just as V is half of X and L is half of C.
Reading years in Roman numerals
In England, the Year 5 curriculum includes recognising years written in Roman numerals. You may also see them on foundation stones, old buildings and film credits. To read one, split the year into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones, and write each part.
1066, the year of the Battle of Hastings, is M (1,000) + LXVI (66) = MLXVI. There are no hundreds, and with no zero there is nothing to write for them.
Up to 100, the Roman numerals chart has every number, and the converter there checks each step.
Keep going
Questions parents ask
What is 500 in Roman numerals?
500 is D.
What comes before and after D?
499 is CDXCIX and 501 is DI. The whole numeral changes: CDXCIX becomes D.
Does D use subtraction?
No. D is a single letter, so there is nothing to take away.
What is the biggest letter in D?
D, which is 500. D is a single letter.
Where might you see D?
In years written in Roman numerals: 1500 is MD, with D standing for the 500.
When do children learn D?
In England, Year 5 children learn to read Roman numerals to 1,000 (M) and recognise years written in Roman numerals. Year 4 reads numerals to 100 (C).
Want to practise more?
Explore the diagnostic for more practice activities.