Born in April: zodiac sign and personality

April holds two signs. Those born from 1 to 19 April are Aries, cardinal fire ruled by Mars, and those born from 20 to 30 April are Taurus, fixed earth ruled by Venus. The month moves from the sign that starts things to the sign that makes them last.

April's people are born with force and a direction for it. The Aries born have the push of early spring, when everything breaks through at once; the Taurus born have the patience of a field that knows its harvest will come. Both have a strong will, both are physical and present, and neither gives ground easily.

Born 1 to 19 April: Aries

April Aries belong to the second and third decans of their sign. In the first ten days of the month the Sun colours the decan through Leo: these natives are warm, proud and born to lead, with a generosity that matches their nerve. From around the eleventh, Jupiter enters through Sagittarius and the fire widens into purpose: these are the crusaders and wanderers of the sign, restless for a cause and a far horizon.

All of them are brave and honest to a fault. They act first and explain later, and they recover from defeat faster than any other sign.

Born 20 to 30 April: Taurus

Those born from 20 April to the end of the month are Taurus of the first decan, where Venus rules both sign and decan and the senses lead. They love beauty, good food, fine cloth and the land itself, and they trust what they can touch. Calm on the surface and immovable underneath, they take their time over every decision and then keep to it. April Taureans are loyal, affectionate and stubborn, and their presence steadies a room.

The Aries Taurus cusp: 17 to 22 April

The Sun passes from Aries into Taurus around 20 April, and births in the few days either side of the crossing carry both natures. This stretch is known as the cusp of power. People born here join Aries drive to Taurus endurance: they start with energy and finish with persistence, and once they want something, little stands in their way.

April born in love and marriage

Aries falls in love fast and says so. They want a partner with spirit, someone who answers back and keeps pace. Leo and Sagittarius share their fire, Gemini and Aquarius keep them curious, and Libra, the opposite sign, teaches them to listen.

Taurus loves slowly, physically and for keeps. They show affection through care, meals and time, and they expect the same constancy in return. Virgo and Capricorn share their earth, Cancer and Pisces bring tenderness, and Scorpio, their opposite, gives them a passion as deep as their own. A Taurus marriage is built like a house, one stone at a time, and meant to stand.

April born at work and with money

Aries works best in charge or on the move: running a business, leading a team, sport, the forces, travel and publishing for the Sagittarius decan. They start well and need others to keep the routine. Money comes to them through initiative and goes out just as quickly.

Taurus is the sign of earned and lasting wealth. Finance, banking, property, farming, gardening, food, design and music all suit them. They save steadily, buy quality and hold on to it, and over a lifetime they end up with more than those who earned faster.

April birthstone and colours: diamond

The April birthstone is the diamond, from the Greek adamas, the unconquerable. It is the hardest of stones, and tradition made it the stone of constancy: in 1477 Maximilian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy the first recorded diamond betrothal ring. For the April born it stands for a will that does not break and a promise that does not fade.

April's colours are clear white, silver and the pale green of new leaves. Aries adds bright red; Taurus adds deep green and rose.

The spiritual meaning of April

April's name comes from the Latin aperire, to open, the month when buds unfold and the earth softens under rain. Its spiritual reading is emergence: what was planted in the dark of winter now breaks the surface, and those born in April carry that impulse to show themselves and grow.

In the tarot, Aries answers to the Emperor, the card of the founder on his throne of stone, and Taurus to the Hierophant, the card of tradition, teaching and what is handed down. The April soul learns to lead and then to keep what it has founded, so that the spark of spring becomes the harvest of later years.

What zodiac sign is April?

April has two signs. Those born from 1 to 19 April are Aries, and those born from 20 to 30 April are Taurus.

Is 20 April Aries or Taurus?

Our table makes 20 April the first day of Taurus and leaves 19 April with Aries. The crossing moves by some hours each year, so a birth on the day of the change needs its hour to be read correctly.

What is the birthstone for April?

The April birthstone is the diamond, the hardest of all stones, traditionally worn as a sign of constancy, courage and lasting love.

What are people born in April like?

April people are determined, direct and full of energy. The Aries born are bold and quick to lead; the Taurus born are patient, loyal and devoted to comfort and beauty.

Which signs are compatible with people born in April?

April Aries match best with Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini and Aquarius. April Taureans match best with Virgo, Capricorn, Cancer and Pisces.