The 12 Zodiac Signs: Dates, Elements, Traits, Love Style and Best Matches for Every Sign

The short answer: there are 12 zodiac signs, each covering about 30 days of the year, and your sign (Sun sign) is the one the Sun was in when you were born. Aries (March 21–April 19), Taurus (April 20–May 20), Gemini (May 21–June 20), Cancer (June 21–July 22), Leo (July 23–August 22), Virgo (August 23–September 22), Libra (September 23–October 22), Scorpio (October 23–November 21), Sagittarius (November 22–December 21), Capricorn (December 22–January 19), Aquarius (January 20–February 18) and Pisces (February 19–March 20). Each belongs to one of four elements (fire, earth, air, water), which is the quickest guide to temperament and compatibility.

Sign	Symbol	Dates	Element	Modality	Ruling planet	In a word
Aries	♈ Ram	Mar 21 – Apr 19	Fire	Cardinal	Mars	Brave
Taurus	♉ Bull	Apr 20 – May 20	Earth	Fixed	Venus	Steady
Gemini	♊ Twins	May 21 – Jun 20	Air	Mutable	Mercury	Curious
Cancer	♋ Crab	Jun 21 – Jul 22	Water	Cardinal	Moon	Caring
Leo	♌ Lion	Jul 23 – Aug 22	Fire	Fixed	Sun	Radiant
Virgo	♍ Maiden	Aug 23 – Sep 22	Earth	Mutable	Mercury	Devoted
Libra	♎ Scales	Sep 23 – Oct 22	Air	Cardinal	Venus	Harmonious
Scorpio	♏ Scorpion	Oct 23 – Nov 21	Water	Fixed	Mars (modern: Pluto)	Intense
Sagittarius	♐ Archer	Nov 22 – Dec 21	Fire	Mutable	Jupiter	Free
Capricorn	♑ Goat	Dec 22 – Jan 19	Earth	Cardinal	Saturn	Ambitious
Aquarius	♒ Water Bearer	Jan 20 – Feb 18	Air	Fixed	Saturn (modern: Uranus)	Original
Pisces	♓ Fish	Feb 19 – Mar 20	Water	Mutable	Jupiter (modern: Neptune)	Intuitive

Dates are for the tropical zodiac used in Western astrology and can shift by a day from year to year (see below).

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The Four Elements and Three Modalities

Elements describe temperament:

Element	Signs	Temperament	Natural partners
Fire	Aries, Leo, Sagittarius	Passionate, energetic, bold	Fire and air
Earth	Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn	Practical, reliable, sensual	Earth and water
Air	Gemini, Libra, Aquarius	Intellectual, social, communicative	Air and fire
Water	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces	Emotional, intuitive, deep	Water and earth

Modalities describe pace: cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) begin each season and start things; fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) sit mid-season and sustain things; mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) end each season and adapt.

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All 12 Signs in Detail

♈ Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Fire · Cardinal · Ruled by Mars. The first sign of the zodiac and its natural pioneer: brave, direct, competitive and quick to act.

• Strengths: courage, honesty, energy, enthusiasm for new starts.
• Growth edge: patience; finishing what it starts.
• In love: passionate, playful and wholehearted; loves the chase and wants a partner who can keep up.
• Best matches: Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, Aquarius.

♉ Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Earth · Fixed · Ruled by Venus. Grounded, sensual and loyal, Taurus builds slowly and lasts.

• Strengths: reliability, patience, devotion, an eye for beauty and comfort.
• Growth edge: flexibility; letting go of what’s familiar.
• In love: steady, affectionate and physical; shows love through presence, food and touch.
• Best matches: Virgo, Capricorn, Cancer, Pisces.

♊ Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Air · Mutable · Ruled by Mercury. The zodiac’s communicator: witty, curious, social and endlessly interested.

• Strengths: adaptability, humour, quick thinking, connecting people.
• Growth edge: focus and follow-through.
• In love: needs mental chemistry; conversation is its love language.
• Best matches: Libra, Aquarius, Aries, Leo.

♋ Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

Water · Cardinal · Ruled by the Moon. Nurturing, protective and deeply feeling; home and family are its anchors.

• Strengths: empathy, loyalty, intuition, caring for others.
• Growth edge: not taking things personally; letting others care for it.
• In love: devoted and tender; wants emotional safety and commitment.
• Best matches: Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Virgo.

♌ Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Fire · Fixed · Ruled by the Sun. Warm, generous and expressive, Leo shines and wants others to shine too.

• Strengths: confidence, creativity, generosity, loyalty.
• Growth edge: sharing the spotlight; hearing feedback.
• In love: romantic, big-hearted and proud; loves to adore and be adored.
• Best matches: Aries, Sagittarius, Gemini, Libra.

♍ Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Earth · Mutable · Ruled by Mercury. Thoughtful, precise and helpful; Virgo improves everything it touches.

• Strengths: analysis, reliability, kindness through action, attention to detail.
• Growth edge: self-criticism; accepting “good enough”.
• In love: shows love through acts of service; loyal and attentive once it trusts.
• Best matches: Taurus, Capricorn, Cancer, Scorpio.

♎ Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Air · Cardinal · Ruled by Venus. Charming, fair and relationship-minded; Libra seeks balance and beauty.

• Strengths: diplomacy, grace, a strong sense of justice, partnership.
• Growth edge: decisiveness; voicing its own needs.
• In love: romantic and partnership-oriented; thrives in an equal, harmonious bond.
• Best matches: Gemini, Aquarius, Leo, Sagittarius.

♏ Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

Water · Fixed · Ruled by Mars and, in modern astrology, Pluto. Intense, private and magnetic; Scorpio goes deep or not at all.

• Strengths: loyalty, perception, resilience, emotional courage.
• Growth edge: trust; letting go of control and old hurts.
• In love: all-in, passionate and protective; needs honesty and depth.
• Best matches: Cancer, Pisces, Virgo, Capricorn.

♐ Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

Fire · Mutable · Ruled by Jupiter. The adventurer and philosopher: optimistic, honest and freedom-loving.

• Strengths: enthusiasm, generosity, humour, a big-picture view.
• Growth edge: tact; commitment to the everyday.
• In love: fun, open and honest; wants a partner who’s also a travel companion and best friend.
• Best matches: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius.

♑ Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

Earth · Cardinal · Ruled by Saturn. Ambitious, disciplined and dependable; Capricorn plays the long game.

• Strengths: responsibility, patience, practical wisdom, dry humour.
• Growth edge: rest; showing vulnerability.
• In love: serious about commitment; shows love through reliability and building a future.
• Best matches: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces.

♒ Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

Air · Fixed · Ruled by Saturn and, in modern astrology, Uranus. Original, independent and humanitarian; Aquarius thinks about the future.

• Strengths: vision, open-mindedness, loyalty to friends, inventiveness.
• Growth edge: emotional openness; flexibility in its own ideas.
• In love: friendship first; needs freedom, honesty and a meeting of minds.
• Best matches: Gemini, Libra, Aries, Sagittarius.

♓ Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Water · Mutable · Ruled by Jupiter and, in modern astrology, Neptune. Imaginative, compassionate and intuitive; the zodiac’s dreamer and healer.

• Strengths: empathy, creativity, spiritual sensitivity, kindness.
• Growth edge: boundaries; staying grounded.
• In love: romantic, devoted and soulful; seeks a deep spiritual connection.
• Best matches: Cancer, Scorpio, Taurus, Capricorn.

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Quick Compatibility Guide

The traditional rule of thumb: signs of the same element understand each other, and fire–air and earth–water pairs complement each other. Signs opposite each other on the wheel (Aries–Libra, Taurus–Scorpio, Gemini–Sagittarius, Cancer–Capricorn, Leo–Aquarius, Virgo–Pisces) often feel a strong pull of attraction and balance.

Sun signs are only the first layer. Real compatibility comes from comparing whole charts (Moon, Venus, Mars and the Rising sign included); see Venus signs in love, zodiac compatibility readings and the Eastern system in Chinese zodiac compatibility.

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Why Zodiac Dates Shift by a Day Some Years

Sign dates are set by the moment the Sun enters each sign, and that moment shifts slightly from year to year because the calendar year (365 days, with leap years) doesn’t line up exactly with the Sun’s cycle. That’s why you’ll see Leo starting on July 22 in one source and July 23 in another.

Born on the cusp? If your birthday falls within a day or two of a sign change, check a chart calculator with your birth year, time and place. You belong to one sign; people born near a cusp often relate to traits of both, and the rest of the chart usually explains why.

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Ophiuchus, the “13th Sign”, and the Sidereal Zodiac

The Sun’s path also crosses the constellation Ophiuchus, which is why “13th zodiac sign” stories resurface every few years. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac: 12 equal 30° signs tied to the seasons, beginning with Aries at the spring equinox, so it doesn’t change. Vedic (sidereal) astrology ties signs to the constellations instead, which today places most people’s Sun about one sign earlier: many tropical Aries are sidereal Pisces. Both are valid systems; they simply measure from different starting points. Curious about the Vedic view of your chart? Kasamba has several Vedic specialists, such as VedicGuru.

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Beyond Your Sun Sign

Your Sun sign is the headline. Your Moon sign (emotional needs) and Rising sign (outer style) complete the picture, and they’re often why two people of the same sign seem so different. Start with Sun, Moon and Rising signs explained, then how to read your birth chart. For a personal reading from an astrologer, see best online astrology readers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 12 zodiac signs in order?

Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, starting with Aries at the March equinox.

What are the dates for each zodiac sign?

Aries Mar 21–Apr 19, Taurus Apr 20–May 20, Gemini May 21–Jun 20, Cancer Jun 21–Jul 22, Leo Jul 23–Aug 22, Virgo Aug 23–Sep 22, Libra Sep 23–Oct 22, Scorpio Oct 23–Nov 21, Sagittarius Nov 22–Dec 21, Capricorn Dec 22–Jan 19, Aquarius Jan 20–Feb 18 and Pisces Feb 19–Mar 20. Boundaries can shift by a day in some years.

What are the four elements of the zodiac?

Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) and water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces).

Which zodiac signs are most compatible?

Traditionally, signs of the same element, plus fire with air and earth with water. For example, Aries pairs well with Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini and Aquarius. Full compatibility depends on the whole birth chart, especially the Moon, Venus and Mars.

Is Ophiuchus a real zodiac sign?

Ophiuchus is a real constellation on the Sun’s path, but Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac of 12 equal signs tied to the seasons, so it isn’t one of the 12 signs. Your Western sign doesn’t change.

What if I was born on the cusp of two signs?

You belong to one sign, determined by the exact moment the Sun changed signs in your birth year. Enter your birth date, time and place into a chart calculator to confirm it.

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Related Guides

• Sun, Moon and Rising signs explained
• How to read your birth chart
• Venus signs in love
• Chinese zodiac compatibility
• Zodiac compatibility and psychic readings