Zodiac Sign Symbols & Their Meanings

Have you ever wondered what the zodiac sign symbols mean? Discover what each one means and what the accompanying astrology sign represents.

Aries Symbol (21 March – 19 April)

Aries, also known as the Ram, is represented by a V, with the tips of the V curling down to resemble the horns of a ram. Sometimes the V is closed, and looks more like a line with two curling points coming out from the top.

As well as representing the horns, the image is also meant to reference the female reproductive organs, which are a similar shape.

Aries traits: Bold, courageous, enthusiastic, and impulsive.

Taurus Symbol (20 April – 20 May)

Taurus, also known as the Bull, is another character with distinctive horns. This time the horns protrude out from a circle, so it seems like the face and horns on a bull.

Taurus traits: Practical, persistent, sensual, and stubborn.

Gemini (21 May – 20 June)

Gemini, also known as the twins, is represented by two individual upright lines parallel to one another, but joined together with a line at the top and the bottom. It kind of looks like the symbol of Pi (mathematical pie not edible pie) but with an extra line at the bottom.

Gemini traits: Intelligent, light-hearted, communicative, and indecisive.

Cancer (21 June – 22 July)

Cancer, also known as the crab, basically looks like the number 69, but on its side so that one is on top of the other (so many jokes to be made here, but all would require parental guidance). Rather than looking anything like a crab, the symbol is a reference to the connection between the material and the spiritual worlds: as above so below.

Cancer traits: Caring, sensitive, empathic, and fearful.

Leo Symbol (23 July – 22 August)

Leo, the Lion, is another symbol that doesn’t really resemble its animal, but looks more like a tadpole, or a sperm It is a small circle with a long tail that swirls out, circling up and then down.

While it could be taken to represent a lion’s head and mane, it is also supposed to represent a snake or sperm, which is easier to see.

Leo traits: Warm, inventive, playful, and egotistical.

Virgo Symbol (23 August – 22 September)

Virgo, the virgin, looks like an M with an extra loop on the end. It is no coincidence that it looks like a letter of the alphabet as it is derived from the Greek letters ΠΑΡ. These are the first three letters of the Greek word Parthenos, which means virgin.

Virgo traits: Analytical, helpful, and neurotic.

Libra Symbol (23 September – 22 October)

Libra, the scales, looks like the Greek character for Omega Ω but with the arms extended and an extra line underneath. You can see how it resembles a set of scales with items being placed on either side of the Omega arms in order to be weighed against one another.

Libra traits: Gracious, charming, diplomatic, and manipulative.

Scorpio Symbol (23 October – 21 November)

Scorpio, the Scorpion, is very similar to the Virgo symbol. It also looks like an M, but the end of the M has an arrow pointing off into the distance. This is meant to represent the stinger of the Scorpion.

Scorpio traits: Passionate, intense, resourceful, and secretive.

Sagittarius Symbol (22 November – 21 December)

Sagittarius, the archer, is represented by an arrow pointing upwards on a diagonal from left to right, with its main line transected by a smaller line at a right angle. This is meant to represent the arrow of the Centaur, which it is aiming upwards at a higher realm.

Sagittarius traits: Independent, spontaneous, impatient

Capricorn Symbol (22 December – 19 January)

Capricorn, the goat, or more accurately a sea goat. Capricorn is represented by the zodiac sign text symbol N with the end curling into a circle and then doubling back underneath itself.

This is meant to represent the head of a goat, with the V symbol that starts the N similar to the symbol for Aries. Its curling end is then the fish tail of the sea goat.

Capricorn traits: Disciplined, thoughtful, ambitious, stubborn

Aquarius Symbol (20 January – 18 February)

Aquarius, the Waterbearer, uses a symbol that is also used in Egyptian hieroglyphics. There are two parallel jagged lines, one on top of each other. They represent the ripples of rough waters, and as such also reference disruption.

Aquarius traits: Independent, energetic, rebellious, arrogant

Pisces Symbol (19 February – 20 March)

Pisces, the fish, is represented by two parallel convex lines curling into each other that are then joined by a single line across the middle. It is meant to represent two fish that are tied together, but also swimming in opposite directions.

Pisces traits: Sociable, genuine, creative, overly trusting

Also read: Zodiac Sign Text Symbols