Zodiac Signs and the Words That Describe Them

The study of astrology centers on the 12 signs of the Zodiac. Each sign has its own established set of characteristics and associations that are presumed descriptive of people born under them. Learning about these signs and their corresponding traits is a great way to quickly improve your vocabulary—you'll find yourself with a whole set of adjectives to describe personalities! Read on to learn more about the 12 Zodiac signs and the words that go with them.

Aries (Born March 21–April 19)

Aries

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Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac. It is associated with fresh vigor and new beginnings. Individuals born under this sign are said to have an enthusiastic, adventurous, and passionate character. They are usually ambitious, humorous, and pioneering. On the less positive side, they're also said to be prone to selfishness, boastfulness, intolerance, impulsiveness, and impatience.

  • Positive Adjectives
    Adventurous and energetic
  • Pioneering and courageous
  • Enthusiastic and confident
  • Dynamic and quick-witted
  • Negative Adjectives
    Selfish and quick-tempered
  • Impulsive and impatient
  • Foolhardy and daredevil

Taurus (Born April 20–May 20)

Taurus

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Taurus is the second sign of the Zodiac and is associated with material pleasure. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a calm, patient, reliable, loyal, affectionate, sensuous, ambitious, and determined character. They are also prone to hedonism, laziness, inflexibility, jealousy, and antipathy.

  • Positive Adjectives
    Patient and reliable
  • Warmhearted and loving
  • Persistent and determined
  • Placid and security loving
  • Negative Adjectives
    Jealous and possessive
  • Resentful and inflexible
  • Self-indulgent and greedy

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Gemini

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Gemini is the third sign of the Zodiac and is associated with youth and versatility. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a sociable, fun-loving, versatile, lively, communicative, liberal, intelligent, mentally active, and friendly character. They are also thought to be prone to moodiness, inconsistency, superficiality, restlessness, and laziness.

  • Positive Adjectives
    Adaptable and versatile
  • Communicative and witty
  • Intellectual and eloquent
  • Youthful and lively
  • Negative Adjectives
    Nervous and tense
  • Superficial and inconsistent
  • Cunning and inquisitive

Cancer (June 22–July 22)

Cancer

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Cancer is the fourth sign of the Zodiac. It is associated with family and domesticity. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a kind, emotional, romantic, imaginative, sympathetic, nurturing, and intuitive character. They are also supposed to be prone to changeability, moodiness, hypersensitivity, depression, and clinginess.

  • Positive Adjectives
    Emotional and loving
  • Intuitive and imaginative
  • Shrewd and cautious
  • Protective and sympathetic
  • Negative Adjectives
    Changeable and moody
  • Overemotional and touchy
  • Clinging and unable to let go

Leo (July 23–August 22)

Leo

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Leo is the fifth sign of the Zodiac and is associated with the keywords magnanimous, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, and open. Leos are typically pictured as very dignified and regal. They are hard-working, ambitious, and enthusiastic, however, they are supposedly prone to laziness, often choosing to take "the easy way out." They are known to be exuberant, extroverted, and generous. They have a natural dramatic flair and are very creative. They are typically very self-assured and love taking center-stage in whatever arena they are in.

  • Positive Adjectives
    Generous and warmhearted
  • Creative and enthusiastic
  • Broad-minded and expansive
  • Faithful and loving
  • Negative Adjectives
    Pompous and patronizing
  • Bossy and interfering
  • Dogmatic and intolerant

Virgo (August 23–September 22)

Virgo

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Virgo is the sixth sign of the Zodiac. It is associated with purity and service. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a diligent, analytical, self-sufficient, controlled, orderly, and modest character. But they are also prone to fussiness, perfectionism, harsh criticism, coldness, and hypochondria.

  • Positive Adjectives
    Modest and shy
  • Meticulous and reliable
  • Practical and diligent
  • Intelligent and analytical
  • Negative Adjectives
    Fussy and a worrier
  • Overcritical and harsh
  • Perfectionist and conservative

Libra (September 23–October 22)

Libra

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Libra is the seventh sign of the Zodiac. It is associated with justice. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a pleasant, articulate, charming, social, charismatic character. They are artistic. But they also possess a fair, refined, diplomatic, even-tempered and self-sufficient character. On the negative side, they are thought to be indecisive, lazy, aloof, flirtatious, and shallow. They are also supposedly extravagant, frivolous, impatient, envious, and quarrelsome.

Positive Adjectives

  • Diplomatic and urbane
  • Romantic and charming
  • Easygoing and sociable
  • Idealistic and peaceable

Negative Adjectives

  • Indecisive and changeable
  • Gullible and easily influenced
  • Flirtatious and self-indulgent

Scorpio (October 23–November 21)

Scorpio

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Scorpio is the eighth sign of the Zodiac. It is associated with intensity, passion, and power. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a complex, analytical, patient, keenly perceptive, inquisitive, focused, determined, hypnotic, and self-contained character. They are also prone to extremity, jealousy, envy, secretiveness, possessiveness, cruelty, and cunning.

Positive Adjectives

  • Determined and forceful
  • Emotional and intuitive
  • Powerful and passionate
  • Exciting and magnetic

Negative Adjectives

  • Jealous and resentful
  • Compulsive and obsessive
  • Secretive and obstinate

Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)

Sagittarius

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Sagittarius is the ninth sign of the Zodiac. It is associated with travel and expansion. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a straight-forward, dynamic, highly intelligent, extremely clever, ethical, humorous, generous, open-hearted, compassionate, and energetic character. They are also prone to restlessness, impulsiveness, impatience, and recklessness.

Positive Adjectives

  • Optimistic and freedom-loving
  • Jovial and good-humored
  • Honest and straightforward
  • Intellectual and philosophical

Negative Adjectives

  • Blindly optimistic and careless
  • Irresponsible and superficial
  • Tactless and restless

Capricorn (December 22–January 19)

Capricorn

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Capricorn is the 10th sign of the Zodiac and is associated with hard work and business affairs. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have an ambitious, modest, patient, responsible, stable, trustworthy, powerful, intellectual, perspicacious, and persistent character. They are also prone to coldness, conservatism, rigidity, materialism, and dullness.

Positive Adjectives

  • Practical and prudent
  • Ambitious and disciplined
  • Patient and careful
  • Humorous and reserved

Negative Adjectives

  • Pessimistic and fatalistic
  • Miserly and grudging

Aquarius (January 20–February 18)

Aquarius

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Aquarius is the 11th sign of the Zodiac and is associated with future ideas and the unusual. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a modest, creative, challenging, inquisitive, entertaining, progressive, stimulating, nocturnal, and independent character. They are also prone to rebelliousness, coldness, erraticism, indecisiveness, and impracticality.

Positive Adjectives

  • Friendly and humanitarian
  • Honest and loyal
  • Original and inventive
  • Independent and intellectual

Negative Adjectives

  • Intractable and contrary
  • Perverse and unpredictable
  • Unemotional and detached

Pisces (February 19–March 20)

Pisces

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Pisces is the 12th and last sign of the Zodiac and is associated with human emotions. Individuals born under this sign are thought to be tolerant, modest, dreamy, romantic, humorous, generous, emotional, receptive, and affectionate. They are thought to have an honest character. But they are also prone to exaggeration, fickleness, passiveness, hypersensitivity, and paranoia.

Positive Adjectives

  • Imaginative and sensitive
  • Compassionate and kind
  • Selfless and unworldly
  • Intuitive and sympathetic

Negative Adjectives

  • Escapist and idealistic
  • Secretive and vague
  • Weak-willed and easily led
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Beare, Kenneth. "Zodiac Signs and the Words That Describe Them." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/zodiac-personality-4122956. Beare, Kenneth. (2023, April 5). Zodiac Signs and the Words That Describe Them. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/zodiac-personality-4122956 Beare, Kenneth. "Zodiac Signs and the Words That Describe Them." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/zodiac-personality-4122956 (accessed March 19, 2024).