6 in Roman numerals
6 is written VI. In chunks: V (5) + I (1) = 6.
The answer
VI
6 in Roman numerals is VI.
How VI is built
To write it, 6 is less than 10, so there are no tens to write: 6 is VI.
To read it, VI has 2 chunks, and none of them is a take-away pair, so every chunk is added.
| Chunk | Worth | Why |
|---|---|---|
| V | 5 | Add |
| I | 1 | Add |
The mistake to watch for
Writing 6 as IV
Wrong: IV
IV has the same letters in a different order, and order matters. A smaller letter before a bigger one means take away, so IV is 4, not 6. 6 is VI.
Check it with the converter
Type IV to see why IV is not 6. The rule numbers it gives are the three rules on the Roman numerals page.
Converter set to VI (6).
Keep going
Questions parents ask
What is 6 in Roman numerals?
6 is VI.
What comes before and after VI?
5 is V and 7 is VII.
Does VI use subtraction?
No. Every letter in VI is the same size as, or smaller than, the letter before it, so you just add them all.
What is the biggest letter in VI?
V, which is 5. VI has 2 letters.
Where might you see VI?
On clock faces, where the hours from I to XII go round the dial, and in the name of King George VI.
When do children learn VI?
In England, Year 3 children learn to tell the time on clocks with Roman numerals from I to XII, so VI is one of the first numerals in the curriculum. Year 4 reads numerals to 100.
Want to practise more?
Explore the diagnostic for more practice activities.