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Capricorn
Dec 22 – Jan 19 · Earth · Cardinal · ruled by Saturn
Ambitious, disciplined and patient — the zodiac's architect of the long game.
Capricorn quick facts
- Dates
- Dec 22 – Jan 19
- Symbol
- ♑ The Sea-Goat
- Element
- Earth
- Modality
- Cardinal
- Ruling planet
- Saturn
- Opposite sign
- Cancer
- Natural house
- Tenth house
- Keywords
- ambitious, disciplined, reserved, patient
Capricorn personality
Capricorn is the cardinal earth sign, ruled by Saturn, and it opens at the winter solstice, the darkest point of the year. It is the sign of ambition, responsibility, structure and mastery over time.
Capricorn people are serious about their goals and willing to work for them longer than almost anyone. They often feel old when young and grow lighter with age, as their efforts pay off. Under the reserved, competent exterior is a dry sense of humor and a deep sense of duty to the people who depend on them.
Capricorn strengths
- Discipline and persistence
- Responsibility and reliability
- Strategic long-term thinking
- Calm under pressure
Capricorn challenges
- Workaholism
- Emotional reserve that reads as coldness
- Pessimism and harsh self-judgment
- Measuring worth by achievement
Capricorn in love
Capricorn approaches love seriously — they want a partner they can build a life with. They are slow to open up but deeply committed, and they show love by providing stability and keeping promises. Capricorn needs a partner who respects their ambition and helps them relax. Their lesson in love is allowing themselves to be cared for, not just to care.
Capricorn at work
Capricorn is built for the climb. They excel in management, finance, law, engineering, government and any role where long-term effort is rewarded with authority. They respect hierarchy and competence. Disorganized environments with no path forward frustrate them deeply.
Careers that suit Capricorn: Executive management · Law · Engineering · Finance and accounting · Public administration
Capricorn as a friend
Capricorn is the friend who will help you make a plan and actually stick to it. They are loyal for decades and give honest, practical advice. They appreciate friends who can make them laugh and remind them to take a day off.
How Capricorn grows
Capricorn grows by recognizing that rest and joy are not rewards to be earned but part of a well-built life. Softening their self-judgment lets their hard-won success actually feel like success.
Capricorn compatibility
How Capricorn pairs with every sign, by element and modality.
- ♏Scorpio88%
- ♑Capricorn88%
- ♓Pisces88%
- ♉Taurus85%
- ♍Virgo85%
- ♋Cancer76%
- ♊Gemini60%
- ♒Aquarius60%
- ♌Leo55%
- ♐Sagittarius55%
- ♎Libra48%
- ♈Aries43%
Not a textbook Capricorn?
Your Sun sign is one planet of ten. Your Moon, Rising and the rest of your chart explain the parts of you this page doesn't.
Cast my chart — freeOther placements in Capricorn
Your Sun isn't the only planet that can be in Capricorn. Here's what Capricorn means for the rest of the chart.
Capricorn FAQ
What are the Capricorn dates?
Capricorn season runs Dec 22 – Jan 19. The exact start and end can shift by a day from year to year, because the moment the Sun enters each sign changes. If you were born on a cusp, your birth chart — which uses your exact time and place — settles which sign your Sun is in.
What is Capricorn's ruling planet?
Capricorn is ruled by Saturn. A sign's ruler colors how it expresses itself, so the condition of Saturn in your own chart says a lot about how your Capricorn energy plays out.
What element and modality is Capricorn?
Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign. Earth signs trust what they can touch and build. They are practical, patient and loyal to what has proven itself. Cardinal signs open each season — they initiate, lead and set things in motion.
Who is Capricorn most compatible with?
By element and modality, Capricorn's most natural matches are Scorpio, Pisces and Taurus. Sun-sign compatibility is only a starting point, though — comparing two full birth charts (synastry) shows where the real chemistry and friction are.
What is the opposite sign of Capricorn?
Cancer sits directly across the zodiac from Capricorn. Opposite signs share a theme from different angles, which is why they often attract — and why each holds qualities the other is learning.