Your astrological birth chart can reveal a lot about your love life, identity, motivations, and special quirks. If you celebrate your birthday between March 20 and April 19, your zodiac sign is the trendsetting spitfire Aries.

Fire signs are passionate, gutsy, spontaneous, competitive, and seize any opportunity to prove themselves. While they can be impulsive and confrontational, you can count on Aries to be honest and speak from the heart — even when it’s not easy.

How much do you identify with Aries’s gutsy attitude and quick wit? PS spoke with professional astrologers Tamerri Ater-Ntonni and Tara Nichols to get to the bottom of the zodiac sign’s most iconic personality traits.

Experts Featured in This Article:

Tamerri Ater-Ntonni is a certified professional astrologer and modern mystic.

Tara Nichols is a professional astrologer, teacher, and spiritual guide.

What Is an Aries?

Fun fact: Aries is the first astrological sign in the zodiac, so Aries season kicks off the astrological new year. Following Pisces and right before Taurus, Aries is represented by the mighty ram, which is fitting given their big personality. “Aries is symbolized by the ram — the fast, horned male sheep that’s not afraid to go head to head with an opponent,” Ater-Ntonni says.

As one of the three fire signs in the zodiac, Aries are known for being, well, fiery. They can be short-tempered and impulsive, but they can also be bold and passionate. “This native has a strong sense of their identity,” Nichols says. Ruled by Mars, this also makes Aries “unstoppable in their pursuit of creating the life they envision with a fiery passion,” according to a previous PS article.

What Are Aries Personality Traits?

Aries are leaders. Aries zodiac signs thrive as captains. They have a confident mentality that makes them equipped to lead their team to victory. “As the first sign of the western zodiac that kicks off each new astrological year, many Aries like to be ‘first’ and ahead of the pack,” Ater-Ntonni says. “From home to the workplace, Aries would rather be the boss than be bossed around.”

Aries are daring. Aries are passionate, brave, and headstrong. Even in the midst of conflict or upheaval, Aries zodiac signs stand their ground. “With stellar balance and hooves made for rough mountain terrain, they’re not afraid to do what it takes to get to the top,” Ater-Ntonni says.

Aries are competitive. As a fire sign, Aries are fueled by intensity. They love to challenge others to friendly competition and jump at the chance to come in first place. “Aries’s planetary ruler is Mars, named after the Roman god of war. Mars represents vigor and action, so many Aries have a natural drive to win at all costs,” Ater-Ntonni says.

What Are Aries Weaknesses?

Aries are impulsive. In terms of emotions, Aries are often seen as being reactive and having a temper. When it comes to decision-making, Aries zodiac signs tend to respond hastily. If they have an objective or goal, they’re prone to having tunnel vision and making decisions without weighing the pros and cons first. “They’re not known for their patience and would rather get things moving — even without the proper planning,” Ater-Ntonni says.

Aries can be selfish. For an Aries, their way is always the best way. “They need to get their way and have a hard time seeing things from another perspective,” Nichols says. They often put themselves first, and they may not take other people’s needs or wants into consideration if it goes against their own needs or wants.

What Is an Aries Like in Love?

From a dating perspective, when an Aries knows what they want, they have to have it. “Aries wants things to move forward quickly,” Nichols says. “They might seem overly direct and to the point about what they desire.” Though this may be intimidating to some people, you will never not know where you stand with an Aries.

When it comes to being in a relationship with an Aries, you might have a hard time compromising on things, since they like to be right and in charge. However, they are great partners to have on your team. “They are who you want on your side to launch a new initiative,” Nichols says. In turn, they will be your biggest support system. They may also need some alone time here and there, as Aries often find themselves needing their freedom so they don’t lose themselves in a relationship, Nichols adds.

Lastly, on a sexual level, Aries are one of the most sexual zodiac signs. Given that they’re a fire sign, they enjoy being assertive, aggressive, and in charge during bedroom activity.

Brittany Beringer-Tobing is a freelance writer, mystic, and creator and a full-time Aquarius based in San Diego. She’s contributed to PS, Bustle, Well+Good, Frenshe, Thought Catalog, and more. She was an astrology writer at Bustle, where she covered all things mystical — from lunar forecasts and numerology to manifestation rituals and retrograde dos and don’ts. Brittany’s work lives in the lifestyle space and includes topics like astrology, wellness, sex, dating, and the intersections between them.

Taylor Andrews (she/her) is the balance editor at PS, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With seven years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.