Meaning & use
Aries
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproper
The first sign of the zodiac, covering people born between about March 21 and April 19.
Grammar: Used as a name, so it takes a capital letter and no article: She is Aries, not She is an Aries.
Patterns
- be Aries
- an Aries
- Aries is ...
My sister is Aries, so her birthday is in early April.
People often say Aries are confident and energetic.
He doesn't believe in star signs, but he knows he's Aries.
proper nounpropertechnical
A group of stars in the northern sky that looks like a ram.
Grammar: Names a constellation; used with the definite article when referring to the pattern: the constellation Aries.
Patterns
- the constellation Aries
- Aries is visible
Aries is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac.
You can see Aries in the autumn sky if you know where to look.
Common combinations
- Aries rising
- In astrology, Aries rising means the sign Aries was coming up at your birth.
- Aries moon
- She has an Aries moon, which supposedly makes her emotional and direct.
- the sign of Aries
- The sign of Aries is linked with the ram.
- Aries the Ram
- Aries the Ram is easy to remember because of its shape.
Synonyms and how they differ
- the Ram
- A descriptive name for the same constellation or sign, used especially in astronomy and older texts.
Word family
- Arian adjective
- Relating to Aries; much less common than simply using Aries as a noun.
Commonly confused: Aries or Ares? Aries or Aryan?
Aries vs Ares
Ares is the Greek god of war, while Aries is the zodiac sign and constellation. They sound similar but are different words.
Aries vs Aryan
Aryan is a completely different word with historical and racial meanings; do not mix it up with Aries.
Practice
Which sentence uses Aries correctly?
Choose one answer.
Aries is a proper noun and a zodiac sign, so we say 'an Aries' when talking about a person. 'A Aries' is wrong because it needs 'an' before a vowel sound, and 'the Aries' suggests a specific one rather than a person's sign.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Aries”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.