The Excel ARABIC function converts a Roman numeral (as text) into its ordinary Arabic number — the exact inverse of ROMAN.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
text | Required | A Roman numeral as text, e.g. "XIV". Case is ignored. An empty string returns 0; a leading minus sign is allowed for negative results. |
How to use it
ARABIC reads a Roman numeral string and returns the equivalent number. It understands standard subtractive notation, where a smaller numeral before a larger one is subtracted (IV = 4, IX = 9).
Case doesn't matter, so "xiv" and "XIV" both return 14. To go the other direction — turning a number into a Roman numeral — use ROMAN.
Tip: ARABIC pairs naturally with ROMAN for round-trips: =ARABIC(ROMAN(1990)) returns 1990.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a ARABIC example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
Is ARABIC the opposite of ROMAN?
=ARABIC(ROMAN(1990)) returns 1990.Is ARABIC case-sensitive?
"mcmxc", "MCMXC", and any mixed case all return the same value (1990).Does ARABIC understand subtractive notation like IV and IX?
"IV" is 4, "IX" is 9, and "XIV" is 14.What is the largest Roman numeral ARABIC can read?
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