Zodiac Signs in Hindi (राशि): All 12 Rashi Names in Hindi & English
The 12 zodiac signs in Hindi are: मेष (Mesh/Aries), वृषभ (Vrishabh/Taurus), मिथुन (Mithun/Gemini), कर्क (Kark/Cancer), सिंह (Singh/Leo), कन्या (Kanya/Virgo), तुला (Tula/Libra), वृश्चिक (Vrishchik/Scorpio), धनु (Dhanu/Sagittarius), मकर (Makar/Capricorn), कुम्भ (Kumbh/Aquarius) and मीन (Meen/Pisces). In Hindi, a zodiac sign is called a राशि (rashi) and the zodiac as a whole is the राशिचक्र (rashi chakra).
This guide gives you every rashi name in Hindi and English, with symbols, order, dates in both the Western and Vedic systems, name letters, ruling planets and gemstones, plus a month-by-month lookup so you can find your sign in under a minute.
There is one catch that most lists skip: your Hindi rashi may not be the same sign as your Western star sign. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, anchored to the spring equinox. Indian astrology (Jyotish, often called Vedic astrology) uses the sidereal zodiac, anchored to the fixed stars. The two have drifted about 23 to 24 degrees apart over roughly two thousand years, so Vedic dates run around three weeks later. Someone born on 5 April is an Aries in London and a Meen (Pisces) by the sidereal reckoning most Indian astrologers use. That is not a translation issue. It is two systems using the same twelve names.
All 12 Zodiac Signs in Hindi (Rashi Names in Hindi and English)
The Hindi word for a zodiac sign is राशि (rashi, also written rasi or raashi in English letters). All twelve rashi names are Sanskrit.
| No. | Symbol | English | Hindi | In English letters | Literal meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ♈ | Aries | मेष | Mesh (Mesha) | ram | |
| 2 | ♉ | Taurus | वृषभ | Vrishabh (Vrishabha) | bull | |
| 3 | ♊ | Gemini | मिथुन | Mithun (Mithuna) | a pair, a couple | |
| 4 | ♋ | Cancer | कर्कं | Kark (Karka) | crab | |
| 5 | ♌ | Leo | सिंह | Singh (Simha) | lion | |
| 6 | ♍ | Virgo | कन्या | Kanya | maiden, young woman | |
| 7 | ♎ | Libra | तुला | Tula | scales, balance | |
| 8 | ♏ | Scorpio | वृश्चिक | Vrishchik (Vrishchika) | scorpion | |
| 9 | ♐ | Sagittarius | धनु | Dhanu | bow | |
| 10 | ♑ | Capricorn | मकर | Makar (Makara) | Makara, a sea-monster | |
| 11 | ♒ | Aquarius | कुम्भ (कुंभ) | Kumbh (Kumbha) | pot, pitcher | |
| 12 | ♓ | Pisces | मीन | Meen (Meena) | fish |
Read the table from right to left for rashi Hindi to English: सिंह राशि is Leo, कन्या राशि is Virgo and मकर राशि is Capricorn. The symbol column shows the zodiac emoji you can copy and search with.
Zodiac Meaning in Hindi: What Is a Rashi?
“Zodiac” in Hindi is राशिचक्र (rashi chakra), literally “the wheel of signs”. One sign of that wheel is a राशि (rashi), so “zodiac sign” in Hindi is simply राशि. In everyday Hindi राशि also means a heap or an amount (as in धनराशि, a sum of money). In astrology it means one of the twelve 30-degree divisions of the sky.
English has several words for the same idea. Hindi sorts them by which body you are talking about:
| English term | Hindi | In English letters | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zodiac | राशिचक्र | rashi chakra | The full circle of twelve signs |
| Zodiac sign, star sign, astrological sign, horoscope sign | राशि | rashi | One of the twelve signs; everyday Hindi uses this one word for all four |
| Sun sign | सूर्य राशि | surya rashi | The sign the Sun was in at your birth, which is the Western “star sign” |
| Moon sign | चंद्र राशि | chandra rashi | The sign the Moon was in at your birth; this is what Indian astrologers mean by “your rashi” |
| Ascendant, rising sign | लग्न | lagna | The sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth |
| Horoscope, forecast | राशिफल | rashiphal | The daily, weekly or yearly prediction for a sign |
| Birth chart | कुंडली | kundali | The full chart calculated from your birth date, time and place |
| Astrology | ज्योतिष | jyotish | The Indian system of astrology |
| Astrologer | ज्योतिषी | jyotishi | A person who practises Jyotish |
| Lunar mansion | नक्षत्र | nakshatra | One of the 27 divisions of the sky, a finer layer beneath the twelve rashi |
Rashi Order: 1st to 12th Rashi
The rashi order starts at Mesh and ends at Meen:
Mesh → Vrishabh → Mithun → Kark → Singh → Kanya → Tula → Vrishchik → Dhanu → Makar → Kumbh → Meen
- The 1st rashi is Mesh (Aries).
- The 4th rashi is Kark (Cancer).
- The 6th rashi is Kanya (Virgo).
- The 12th rashi is Meen (Pisces).
The numbers in the names table above give every position from 1 to 12. The sequence follows the Sun’s yearly path, and in the Indian solar calendar the cycle begins when the Sun enters Mesh in mid-April.
Zodiac Sign Dates in Hindi: Western and Vedic Rashi Dates
Every rashi has two sets of dates. The Western column is the tropical zodiac you see in English horoscopes. The Vedic column is the sidereal zodiac used in Indian astrology, shown here as approximate sun-sign dates.
| Hindi | English | Western dates | Vedic dates (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| मेष (Mesh) | Aries | 21 Mar – 19 Apr | 14 Apr – 14 May |
| वृषभ (Vrishabh) | Taurus | 20 Apr – 20 May | 15 May – 14 Jun |
| मिथुन (Mithun) | Gemini | 21 May – 20 Jun | 15 Jun – 16 Jul |
| कर्क (Kark) | Cancer | 21 Jun – 22 Jul | 17 Jul – 16 Aug |
| सिंह (Singh) | Leo | 23 Jul – 22 Aug | 17 Aug – 16 Sep |
| कन्या (Kanya) | Virgo | 23 Aug – 22 Sep | 17 Sep – 17 Oct |
| तुला (Tula) | Libra | 23 Sep – 22 Oct | 18 Oct – 16 Nov |
| वृश्चिक (Vrishchik) | Scorpio | 23 Oct – 21 Nov | 17 Nov – 15 Dec |
| धनु (Dhanu) | Sagittarius | 22 Nov – 21 Dec | 16 Dec – 14 Jan |
| मकर (Makar) | Capricorn | 22 Dec – 19 Jan | 15 Jan – 12 Feb |
| कुम्भ (Kumbh) | Aquarius | 20 Jan – 18 Feb | 13 Feb – 14 Mar |
| मीन (Meen) | Pisces | 19 Feb – 20 Mar | 15 Mar – 13 Apr |
The Vedic dates shift by about a day from year to year, and different schools use slightly different correction values (ayanamsha). Treat them as approximate.
Which set of dates should you use?
- Reading a newspaper horoscope in English, or an app built in the West? Use the Western dates. Your sign is the one you already know.
- Consulting an Indian astrologer, or having a kundali prepared? Use the Vedic dates, and expect the astrologer to work from your moon sign rather than your sun sign.
- Reading a Hindi-language horoscope column? It is almost certainly Vedic, though some Hindi media now run translated Western columns.
Neither system is a mistranslation of the other. They are separate traditions that happen to share twelve names.
Rashi in Indian astrology is your Moon sign
In Jyotish, “your rashi” normally means the sign the Moon was in when you were born, your chandra rashi. The Moon changes sign roughly every two and a quarter days, so it cannot be read from a date table alone. It needs your date, time and place of birth. The Vedic dates above show the Sun’s sign. To find your exact Moon sign and rising sign, use the birth chart calculator.
Zodiac signs by month in Hindi
Find your birth month, then your birth day, to see your sign in both systems. Each month contains a switch from one sign to the next.
| Month | Western sign (Hindi name) | Vedic rashi |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1–19 Capricorn (Makar), 20–31 Aquarius (Kumbh) | 1–14 Dhanu, 15–31 Makar |
| February | 1–18 Aquarius (Kumbh), 19–29 Pisces (Meen) | 1–12 Makar, 13–29 Kumbh |
| March | 1–20 Pisces (Meen), 21–31 Aries (Mesh) | 1–14 Kumbh, 15–31 Meen |
| April | 1–19 Aries (Mesh), 20–30 Taurus (Vrishabh) | 1–13 Meen, 14–30 Mesh |
| May | 1–20 Taurus (Vrishabh), 21–31 Gemini (Mithun) | 1–14 Mesh, 15–31 Vrishabh |
| June | 1–20 Gemini (Mithun), 21–30 Cancer (Kark) | 1–14 Vrishabh, 15–30 Mithun |
| July | 1–22 Cancer (Kark), 23–31 Leo (Singh) | 1–16 Mithun, 17–31 Kark |
| August | 1–22 Leo (Singh), 23–31 Virgo (Kanya) | 1–16 Kark, 17–31 Singh |
| September | 1–22 Virgo (Kanya), 23–30 Libra (Tula) | 1–16 Singh, 17–30 Kanya |
| October | 1–22 Libra (Tula), 23–31 Scorpio (Vrishchik) | 1–17 Kanya, 18–31 Tula |
| November | 1–21 Scorpio (Vrishchik), 22–30 Sagittarius (Dhanu) | 1–16 Tula, 17–30 Vrishchik |
| December | 1–21 Sagittarius (Dhanu), 22–31 Capricorn (Makar) | 1–15 Vrishchik, 16–31 Dhanu |
Popular birth dates: what is the zodiac sign in Hindi?
| Birth date | Western sign | Vedic rashi |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Capricorn (Makar) | Dhanu |
| 12 March | Pisces (Meen) | Kumbh |
| 11 April | Aries (Mesh) | Meen |
| 8 May | Taurus (Vrishabh) | Mesh |
| 17 June | Gemini (Mithun) | Mithun |
| 2 September | Virgo (Kanya) | Singh |
| 20 November | Scorpio (Vrishchik) | Vrishchik |
When both columns agree, as with 17 June and 20 November, your sign is the same in either system. For the full Western date ranges of each sign, see the horoscope dates pages.
Rashi by Name Letter: All Rashi Letters in Hindi and English
In Indian tradition a baby’s name often starts with a syllable assigned to the rashi, called the naam akshar (नाम अक्षर, “name letter”). Each rashi owns nine syllables, which come from the lunar mansions (nakshatra) that fall inside it. Find the first sound of your name below to see your name rashi (नाम राशि).
| Rashi | Name letters (English letters) | Name letters (हिंदी) |
|---|---|---|
| मेष (Mesh, Aries) | Chu, Che, Cho, La, Li, Lu, Le, Lo, A | चु, चे, चो, ला, ली, लू, ले, लो, आ |
| वृषभ (Vrishabh, Taurus) | I, U, E, O, Va, Vi, Vu, Ve, Vo | इ/ई, उ/ऊ, ए, ओ, वा, वी, वू, वे, वो |
| मिथुन (Mithun, Gemini) | Ka, Ki, Ku, Gha, Ng, Chha, Ke, Ko, Ha | का, की, कू, घ, ङ, छ, के, को, हा |
| कर्कं (Kark, Cancer) | Hi, Hu, He, Ho, Da, Di, Du, De, Do | ही, हू, हे, हो, डा, डी, डू, डे, डो |
| सिंह (Singh, Leo) | Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo, Ta, Ti, Tu, Te | मा, मी, मू, मे, मो, टा, टी, टू, टे |
| कन्या (Kanya, Virgo) | To, Pa, Pi, Pu, Sha, Na, Tha, Pe, Po | टो, पा, पी, पू, ष, ण, ठ, पे, पो |
| तुला (Tula, Libra) | Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro, Ta, Ti, Tu, Te | रा, री, रू, रे, रो, ता, ती, तू, ते |
| वृश्चिक (Vrishchik, Scorpio) | To, Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No, Ya, Yi, Yu | तो, ना, नी, नू, ने, नो, या, यी, यू |
| धनु (Dhanu, Sagittarius) | Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi, Bhu, Dha, Pha, Dhha, Bhe | ये, यो, भा, भी, भू, धा, फा, ढा, भे |
| मकर (Makar, Capricorn) | Bho, Ja, Ji, Khi, Khu, Khe, Kho, Ga, Gi | भो, जा, जी, खों, खू, खे, खो, गा, गों |
| कुम्भ (Kumbh, Aquarius) | Gu, Ge, Go, Sa, Si, Su, Se, So, Da | गू, गे, गो, सा, सी, सू, से, सो, दा |
| मीन (Meen, Pisces) | Di, Du, Tha, Jha, Yna, De, Do, Cha, Chi | दी, दू, थ, झ, ज, दे, दो, चा, ची |
Quick lookup by first letter
Some English letters appear under more than one rashi, because Hindi has separate sounds (for example soft t and hard t, or d and dh). Check the full syllable in the table above.
| First letter | Rashi |
|---|---|
| A | Mesh |
| B | Dhanu (Bha, Bhi, Bhu, Bhe) or Makar (Bho) |
| C, Ch | Mesh (Chu, Che, Cho) or Meen (Cha, Chi) |
| D | Kark (Da, Di, Du, De, Do with hard d), Kumbh (Da) or Meen (Di, Du, De, Do with soft d) |
| Dh | Dhanu |
| E, I, O, U | Vrishabh |
| F | Dhanu (Pha) |
| G | Makar (Ga, Gi), Kumbh (Gu, Ge, Go) or Mithun (Gha) |
| H | Mithun (Ha) or Kark (Hi, Hu, He, Ho) |
| J | Makar (Ja, Ji) or Meen (Jha) |
| K | Mithun (Ka, Ki, Ku, Ke, Ko) or Makar (Khi, Khu, Khe, Kho) |
| L | Mesh |
| M | Singh |
| N | Vrishchik (Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No) or Kanya (Na) |
| P | Kanya (Pa, Pi, Pu, Pe, Po) or Dhanu (Pha) |
| R | Tula |
| S | Kumbh (Sa, Si, Su, Se, So) or Kanya (Sha) |
| T | Tula, Singh, Kanya, Vrishchik or Meen, depending on the full syllable |
| V, W | Vrishabh |
| Y | Vrishchik (Ya, Yi, Yu) or Dhanu (Ye, Yo) |
Examples: Lata (ला) is Mesh, Indra (इ) is Vrishabh, Mohan (मो) is Singh, Pooja (पू) is Kanya, Rahul (रा) is Tula, Yash (या) is Vrishchik.
Name rashi and birth rashi are not always the same
The chart above is the traditional Jyotish list. It gives your naam rashi (name sign). Your janma rashi (birth sign, the Moon’s sign at birth) is what astrologers use for a kundali and for marriage matching. The two match when the name was chosen from the syllables of the baby’s own nakshatra. If the name was chosen for another reason, they can differ.
Zodiac Signs and Their Lords in Hindi: Planets, Elements, Stones and Numbers
Every rashi has a ruling planet, called its rashi swami (राशि स्वामी, “lord of the sign”). The lord is the starting point for a sign’s element, traditional gemstone and lucky number.
| Rashi | Lord (स्वामी) | Element (तत्व) | Traditional gemstone (रत्न) | Lucky number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| मेष (Mesh) | मंगल (Mangal, Mars) | Fire (अग्नि) | मूँगा (Moonga, red coral) | 9 |
| वृषभ (Vrishabh) | शुक्र (Shukra, Venus) | Earth (पृथ्वी) | हीरा (Heera, diamond) | 6 |
| मिथुन (Mithun) | बुध (Budh, Mercury) | Air (वायु) | पन्ना (Panna, emerald) | 5 |
| कर्क (Kark) | चंद्र (Chandra, Moon) | Water (जल) | मोती (Moti, pearl) | 2 |
| सिंह (Singh) | सूर्य (Surya, Sun) | Fire (अग्नि) | माणिक (Manik, ruby) | 1 |
| कन्या (Kanya) | बुध (Budh, Mercury) | Earth (पृथ्वी) | पन्ना (Panna, emerald) | 5 |
| तुला (Tula) | शुक्र (Shukra, Venus) | Air (वायु) | हीरा (Heera, diamond) | 6 |
| वृश्चिक (Vrishchik) | मंगल (Mangal, Mars) | Water (जल) | मूँगा (Moonga, red coral) | 9 |
| धनु (Dhanu) | गुरु (Guru, Jupiter) | Fire (अग्नि) | पुखराज (Pukhraj, yellow sapphire) | 3 |
| मकर (Makar) | शनि (Shani, Saturn) | Earth (पृथ्वी) | नीलम (Neelam, blue sapphire) | 8 |
| कुम्भ (Kumbh) | शनि (Shani, Saturn) | Air (वायु) | नीलम (Neelam, blue sapphire) | 8 |
| मीन (Meen) | गुरु (Guru, Jupiter) | Water (जल) | पुखराज (Pukhraj, yellow sapphire) | 3 |
The lucky number is the number of the ruling planet in Indian numerology: Sun 1, Moon 2, Jupiter 3, Mercury 5, Venus 6, Saturn 8 and Mars 9. Gemstones are traditional associations only. Astrologers normally advise choosing a stone from the whole kundali rather than from the sun sign or name alone.
Each Zodiac Sign in Hindi: Aries to Pisces
Use these short entries if you only need one sign. Each gives the Hindi name, both date ranges, the lord, the element and the name letters.
Aries in Hindi: मेष राशि (Mesh Rashi)
Aries in Hindi is मेष (Mesh), the 1st rashi. Western dates: 21 Mar – 19 Apr. Vedic dates: 14 Apr – 14 May. Lord: Mangal (Mars). Element: fire. Name letters: Chu, Che, Cho, La, Li, Lu, Le, Lo, A. Mesh is energetic, courageous and quick to act. See the Aries profile.
Taurus in Hindi: वृषभ राशि (Vrishabh Rashi)
Taurus in Hindi is वृषभ (Vrishabh), also written Vrishabha, the 2nd rashi. Western dates: 20 Apr – 20 May. Vedic dates: 15 May – 14 Jun. Lord: Shukra (Venus). Element: earth. Name letters: I, U, E, O, Va, Vi, Vu, Ve, Vo. Vrishabh is steady, patient and fond of comfort and beauty. See the Taurus profile.
Gemini in Hindi: मिथुन राशि (Mithun Rashi)
Gemini in Hindi is मिथुन (Mithun), the 3rd rashi. Western dates: 21 May – 20 Jun. Vedic dates: 15 Jun – 16 Jul. Lord: Budh (Mercury). Element: air. Name letters: Ka, Ki, Ku, Gha, Ng, Chha, Ke, Ko, Ha. Mithun is curious, talkative and quick-witted. See the Gemini profile.
Cancer in Hindi: कर्क राशि (Kark Rashi)
Cancer in Hindi is कर्क (Kark), also written Karka, the 4th rashi. Western dates: 21 Jun – 22 Jul. Vedic dates: 17 Jul – 16 Aug. Lord: Chandra (Moon). Element: water. Name letters: Hi, Hu, He, Ho, Da, Di, Du, De, Do. Kark is caring, emotional and deeply attached to home. See the Cancer profile.
Leo in Hindi: सिंह राशि (Singh Rashi)
Leo in Hindi is सिंह (Singh), also written Simha, the 5th rashi. Western dates: 23 Jul – 22 Aug. Vedic dates: 17 Aug – 16 Sep. Lord: Surya (Sun). Element: fire. Name letters: Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo, Ta, Ti, Tu, Te. Singh is confident, generous and a natural leader. See the Leo profile.
Virgo in Hindi: कन्या राशि (Kanya Rashi)
Virgo in Hindi is कन्या (Kanya), the 6th rashi. Western dates: 23 Aug – 22 Sep. Vedic dates: 17 Sep – 17 Oct. Lord: Budh (Mercury). Element: earth. Name letters: To, Pa, Pi, Pu, Sha, Na, Tha, Pe, Po. Kanya is analytical, practical and careful with detail. See the Virgo profile.
Libra in Hindi: तुला राशि (Tula Rashi)
Libra in Hindi is तुला (Tula), the 7th rashi. Western dates: 23 Sep – 22 Oct. Vedic dates: 18 Oct – 16 Nov. Lord: Shukra (Venus). Element: air. Name letters: Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro, Ta, Ti, Tu, Te. Tula is fair-minded, sociable and always looking for balance. See the Libra profile.
Scorpio in Hindi: वृश्चिक राशि (Vrishchik Rashi)
Scorpio in Hindi is वृश्चिक (Vrishchik), also written Vrischika, the 8th rashi. Western dates: 23 Oct – 21 Nov. Vedic dates: 17 Nov – 15 Dec. Lord: Mangal (Mars). Element: water. Name letters: To, Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No, Ya, Yi, Yu. Vrishchik is intense, determined and private. See the Scorpio profile.
Sagittarius in Hindi: धनु राशि (Dhanu Rashi)
Sagittarius in Hindi is धनु (Dhanu), the 9th rashi. Western dates: 22 Nov – 21 Dec. Vedic dates: 16 Dec – 14 Jan. Lord: Guru (Jupiter). Element: fire. Name letters: Ye, Yo, Bha, Bhi, Bhu, Dha, Pha, Dhha, Bhe. Dhanu is optimistic, freedom-loving and philosophical. See the Sagittarius profile.
Capricorn in Hindi: मकर राशि (Makar Rashi)
Capricorn in Hindi is मकर (Makar), also written Makara, the 10th rashi. Western dates: 22 Dec – 19 Jan. Vedic dates: 15 Jan – 12 Feb. Lord: Shani (Saturn). Element: earth. Name letters: Bho, Ja, Ji, Khi, Khu, Khe, Kho, Ga, Gi. Makar is disciplined, ambitious and patient. See the Capricorn profile.
Aquarius in Hindi: कुम्भ राशि (Kumbh Rashi)
Aquarius in Hindi is कुम्भ (Kumbh), also spelled कुंभ and Kumbha, the 11th rashi. Western dates: 20 Jan – 18 Feb. Vedic dates: 13 Feb – 14 Mar. Lord: Shani (Saturn). Element: air. Name letters: Gu, Ge, Go, Sa, Si, Su, Se, So, Da. Kumbh is independent, inventive and humanitarian. See the Aquarius profile.
Pisces in Hindi: मीन राशि (Meen Rashi)
Pisces in Hindi is मीन (Meen), also written Meena, the 12th rashi. Western dates: 19 Feb – 20 Mar. Vedic dates: 15 Mar – 13 Apr. Lord: Guru (Jupiter). Element: water. Name letters: Di, Du, Tha, Jha, Yna, De, Do, Cha, Chi. Meen is compassionate, imaginative and intuitive. See the Pisces profile.
What the Twelve Rashi Names Mean
The twelve rashi names are Sanskrit words, and most are ordinary nouns for an animal or an object rather than astrological coinages. Most historians trace the zodiac itself to Mesopotamian astronomy, passed on through Greek astronomy, which reached India in the early centuries CE. The Sanskrit names are largely translations of those older figures, which is why so many match the Western symbols. The differences are the interesting part.
| Rashi | Hindi meaning | Western figure | How they differ |
|---|---|---|---|
| मेष (Mesh) | ram | Ram | Same figure |
| वृषभ (Vrishabh) | bull | Bull | Same figure; vrishabha also means “the best” or “chief” in Sanskrit compounds |
| मिथुन (Mithun) | pair, couple | Twins | Broader than twins; often shown as a man and a woman |
| कर्क (Kark) | crab | Crab | Same figure |
| सिंह (Singh) | lion | Lion | Same figure; the same word as the surname Singh |
| कन्या (Kanya) | girl, young woman | Maiden (Virgin) | Means a young woman, not specifically a virgin |
| तुला (Tula) | scales, balance | Scales | Same figure |
| वृश्चिक (Vrishchik) | scorpion | Scorpion | Same figure |
| धनु (Dhanu) | bow | Archer | Names the weapon, not the archer who holds it |
| मकर (Makar) | Makara, a sea-monster | Sea-goat | Shown in Indian art as a crocodile-like sea creature, not a goat with a fish tail |
| कुम्भ (Kumbh) | pot, pitcher | Water-bearer | Names the pot, not the person; linked to the nectar pot of the Kumbh Mela legend |
| मीन (Meen) | fish | Two fish | Singular in Hindi; the Western symbol is a pair of fish |
A simple way to remember the names is through their meanings: Mesh is the ram, Singh is the lion and Meen is the fish. The notes below explain the most interesting cases.
The four that match the Latin exactly
मेष (ram), वृषभ (bull), कर्क (crab) and सिंह (lion) are direct equivalents of Aries, Taurus, Cancer and Leo. Singh is the same word behind the surname Singh, and behind Singapore, Simhapura, the lion city. See the Aries, Taurus, Cancer and Leo profiles.
The three that name the object, not the person
तुला is a balance, the instrument. धनु is the bow itself, not an archer or a centaur, just the weapon. कुम्भ is a pot or pitcher, which makes Aquarius a vessel rather than a water-bearer. Kumbh is also the name of the Kumbh Mela, the mass pilgrimage timed by the positions of Jupiter and the Sun. See the Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius profiles.
The two that differ interestingly from the Latin
मिथुन does not mean “twins”. It means a pair or a couple, and in Sanskrit usage often a male-and-female pair, which is why classical Indian pictures of this sign show a man and a woman rather than two identical brothers. Latin Gemini is specifically twins; Mithun is broader.
कन्या means a girl or an unmarried young woman, not specifically a virgin. It is closer to the English “maiden” than to Latin Virgo. See the Gemini and Virgo profiles.
The one that travelled the furthest
मकर is Makara, the Sanskrit sea-monster, part land animal and part fish. This is the Sanskrit form. Chinese borrowed it as 摩羯 through Buddhist scripture and Vietnamese inherited it as Ma Kết, while European languages replaced it with a goat or an ibex. Makar Sankranti, the festival marking the Sun’s entry into this sign in mid-January, is one of the few Indian festivals fixed to the solar calendar. See the Capricorn profile.
And the two remaining
वृश्चिक is a scorpion, and its consonant cluster is the hardest of the twelve for English speakers to pronounce. मीन is fish, singular in form where Latin Pisces is plural. See the Scorpio and Pisces profiles.
Sankranti, the Hindi Calendar and Chinese Zodiac Animals
What is Sankranti?
A Sankranti (संक्रांति) is the day the Sun moves into a new rashi. It happens once a month, so there are twelve in a year. The twelve rashi follow the Sun, so each rashi begins on its own Sankranti. The Hindi lunar months follow the Moon instead, which is why a rashi cannot be matched to a Hindi month one-to-one.
Sankranti dates for each rashi
| Rashi | Sankranti | Approximate date |
|---|---|---|
| मेष (Mesh) | Mesh Sankranti | 14 April |
| वृषभ (Vrishabh) | Vrishabh Sankranti | 15 May |
| मिथुन (Mithun) | Mithun Sankranti | 15 June |
| कर्क (Kark) | Kark Sankranti | 16 July |
| सिंह (Singh) | Singh Sankranti | 17 August |
| कन्या (Kanya) | Kanya Sankranti | 17 September |
| तुला (Tula) | Tula Sankranti | 18 October |
| वृश्चिक (Vrishchik) | Vrishchik Sankranti | 17 November |
| धनु (Dhanu) | Dhanu Sankranti | 16 December |
| मकर (Makar) | Makar Sankranti | 14 January |
| कुम्भ (Kumbh) | Kumbh Sankranti | 13 February |
| मीन (Meen) | Meen Sankranti | 14 March |
These dates move by a day from year to year, depending on the calendar used. Two Sankrantis are major festivals. Makar Sankranti (मकर संक्रांति), around 14 January, is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Uttarayan in Gujarat. Mesh Sankranti (मेष संक्रांति), around 14 April, is known as Baisakhi in Punjab and Vishu in Kerala, and the solar new year begins on it in many parts of India.
Hindi lunar months (Chaitra to Phalgun)
The Hindi calendar, or panchang, has twelve lunar months: चैत्र (Chaitra), वैशाख (Vaishakh), ज्येष्ठ (Jyeshtha), आषाढ़ (Ashadh), श्रावण (Shravan, also called Sawan), भाद्रपद (Bhadrapad), आश्विन (Ashwin), कार्तिक (Kartik), मार्गशीर्ष (Margashirsha), पौष (Paush), माघ (Magh) and फाल्गुन (Phalgun). Chaitra begins the Hindu new year in much of northern India.
Do not mix these up with rashi names. Vaishakh is a lunar month, while Vrishabh is a sign. A lunar month usually overlaps parts of two rashi months, so the two lists never line up one-to-one.
Chinese Zodiac Animals in Hindi
The Chinese zodiac is a different system from the rashi. It has twelve animals that change by birth year, not by birth date. Hindi has no traditional names for them, so they take ordinary Hindi animal words. For the Chinese names, see zodiac signs in Chinese.
| Animal | Hindi | Roman spelling |
|---|---|---|
| Rat | चूहा / मूषक | Chuha / Mushak |
| Ox | बैल | Bail |
| Tiger | बाघ | Baagh |
| Rabbit | खरगोश | Khargosh |
| Dragon | ड्रैगन | Dragon |
| Snake | साँप | Saanp |
| Horse | घोड़ा | Ghoda |
| Goat | बकरी | Bakri |
| Monkey | बंदर | Bandar |
| Rooster | मुर्गा | Murga |
| Dog | कुत्ता | Kutta |
| Pig | सूअर | Suar |
So the rooster zodiac sign in Hindi is मुर्ग़ा. It is a Chinese zodiac year sign, not one of the twelve rashi.
How to Find Your Rashi
- By birth date (sun sign): find your date in the Vedic column of the dates table, or in the month-by-month table above.
By birth time and place (moon sign): this is the rashi Indian astrologers mean. Enter your exact details in the birth chart calculator.
By name: use the name-letter table to find your naam rashi.
If the three answers differ, that is normal. They answer three different questions.
Useful Hindi Phrases About Zodiac Signs
These phrases are useful in conversation, in comments and when comparing birth charts. English-letter spellings are given for readers who type in Roman script.
| English | Hindi | In English letters |
|---|---|---|
| What is your sign? | आपकी राशि क्या है? | Aapki rashi kya hai? |
| Which sign are you? | आपकी राशि कौन सी है? | Aapki rashi kaun si hai? |
| What is my sign? | मेरी राशि क्या है? | Meri rashi kya hai? |
| My sign is Mesh (Aries). | मेरी राशि मेष है। | Meri rashi Mesh hai. |
| What is your moon sign? | आपकी चंद्र राशि क्या है? | Aapki chandra rashi kya hai? |
| How do I find my rashi? | मेरी राशि कैसे पता करें? | Meri rashi kaise pata karein? |
| Which is the 4th rashi? | चौथी राशि कौन सी है? | Chauthi rashi kaun si hai? |
| Today’s horoscope | आज का राशिफल | Aaj ka rashifal |
| According to my sign | मेरी राशि के अनुसार | Meri rashi ke anusar |
| Are our signs compatible? | क्या हमारी राशियाँ मेल खाती हैं? | Kya hamari rashiyan mel khati hain? |
| Zodiac sign symbol | राशि चिह्न | Rashi chihn |
Two terms are worth understanding beyond the sign names. कुंडली (kundali) is the birth chart, and it carries real social weight: kundali matching is still common practice in arranged marriages. नक्षत्र (nakshatra) refers to the 27 lunar mansions, a layer of Indian astrology with no Western equivalent, which sits underneath the twelve rashi.
Rashi and Rashiphal in India
Rashi is more than a fun label in India. It shapes everyday decisions:
Naming: Many families choose a child’s name from the syllable linked to the birth rashi, known as the naam akshar (नाम अक्षर). See the name-letter table above.
Marriage: Kundali milan, or horoscope matching, traditionally compares the Moon signs and nakshatras of both partners. The common Ashtakoot system scores compatibility out of 36 points. For a quick sun-sign comparison, try the love compatibility calculator.
Timing: Many families consult an astrologer for a muhurat (मुहूर्त), an auspicious time for a wedding, a housewarming or the start of a business.
Daily life: Hindi newspapers, television channels and apps publish daily, weekly and monthly rashifal, or horoscope forecasts.
Because the rashi is tied to the Moon’s position, a Hindi-speaking reader who asks “what is my rashi?” often wants more than a Western star sign. They usually want their moon sign, and often their rising sign too.
Frequently Asked Questions about Zodiac Signs in Hindi
How do you say “zodiac sign” in Hindi?
राशि (rashi). The zodiac as a whole is राशिचक्र (rashi chakra), a horoscope is राशिफल (rashiphal) and a birth chart is कुंडली (kundali).
What are the 12 zodiac signs in Hindi?
मेष, वृषभ, मिथुन, कर्क, सिंह, कन्या, तुला, वृश्चिक, धनु, मकर, कुम्भ and मीन (Mesh, Vrishabh, Mithun, Kark, Singh, Kanya, Tula, Vrishchik, Dhanu, Makar, Kumbh and Meen).
What are the rashi names in English and Hindi?
The twelve rashi in English are: Mesh (Aries), Vrishabh (Taurus), Mithun (Gemini), Kark (Cancer), Singh (Leo), Kanya (Virgo), Tula (Libra), Vrishchik (Scorpio), Dhanu (Sagittarius), Makar (Capricorn), Kumbh (Aquarius) and Meen (Pisces). So Mesh rashi in English is Aries, and Aries in Hindi is Mesh.
Why are Hindi zodiac dates different from Western dates?
Indian astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, fixed to the stars. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, fixed to the equinox. The two have drifted roughly 23 to 24 degrees apart, so Vedic sign dates fall about three weeks later.
Is my Hindi rashi the same as my Western star sign?
Often not. Anyone born in roughly the first three weeks of a Western sign falls into the previous sign under the Vedic system. Indian astrologers also usually work from the moon sign rather than the sun sign, which can change the answer again.
How do I find my rashi from my date of birth?
Use the month-by-month table above. The Western column gives your star sign, and the Vedic column gives the sidereal sign used in Indian astrology. For your exact moon sign you need your birth time and place, so use the birth chart calculator.
How do I find my rashi from my name?
Take the first syllable of your name and find it in the name-letter table. For example, Lata starts with ला, which belongs to Mesh, and names starting with Y fall under Vrishchik (Ya, Yi, Yu) or Dhanu (Ye, Yo). Your name rashi may differ from your birth rashi, as explained above.
Which is the 4th, 5th, 6th or 12th rashi?
The 4th rashi is Kark (Cancer), the 5th is Singh (Leo), the 6th is Kanya (Virgo) and the 12th is Meen (Pisces). The full order runs from Mesh (1st) to Meen (12th).
Which planet rules each rashi?
Mangal (Mars) rules Mesh and Vrishchik. Shukra (Venus) rules Vrishabh and Tula. Budh (Mercury) rules Mithun and Kanya. Chandra (Moon) rules Kark. Surya (Sun) rules Singh. Guru (Jupiter) rules Dhanu and Meen. Shani (Saturn) rules Makar and Kumbh.
What does “Makar” mean?
Makara, a Sanskrit sea-monster with a fish’s tail. It is the Sanskrit source that Chinese 摩羯 and Vietnamese Ma Kết both borrowed, and that European languages replaced with a goat.
What is the difference between rashi and nakshatra?
The twelve rashi divide the zodiac into twelve parts. The 27 nakshatra divide it into twenty-seven lunar mansions, a finer layer used in Indian astrology with no Western counterpart. Each rashi contains two and a quarter nakshatras.
What are sun sign, star sign, moon sign and rising sign in Hindi?
Sun sign is surya rashi (सूर्य राशि) and moon sign is chandra rashi (चंद्र राशि). Star sign is usually just राशि (rashi) in everyday Hindi, and rising sign is lagna (लग्न). Western astrology leads with the sun sign. Indian astrology leads with the moon sign and the lagna.
What is the difference between rashi and zodiac sign?
Rashi is the Hindi word for zodiac sign. In everyday Indian astrology, “your rashi” usually means your moon sign. The Western “zodiac sign” usually means your sun sign, and it uses different dates.
Is Ophiuchus a 13th zodiac sign?
No. Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, is a constellation the Sun passes through from late November to mid-December. Neither Western nor Vedic astrology counts it among the twelve signs, which are equal 30-degree divisions of the zodiac.
Is the Chinese zodiac the same as rashi?
No. The Chinese zodiac is a cycle of twelve animal years based on the lunar calendar. The rashi are twelve signs tied to the position of the Sun or Moon. See the Chinese zodiac animals in Hindi above.
Zodiac Signs in Hindi and the Languages Around It
Hindi shares its Sanskrit sign names with much of South Asia, but not its script or its vocabulary route. The zodiac signs in Urdu come from Arabic astronomy instead, so the two languages of northern India and Pakistan use entirely different names for the same twelve signs. Further east, Hindi’s Makar is the source of Chinese 摩羯: see the Chinese list and the Vietnamese list.
The word for “zodiac sign” in other Indian languages
Many Indian languages use the same Sanskrit-based sign names, though each writes the word for “sign” in its own script. Urdu is the exception, with entirely different names.
| Language | Word for sign | Script | In English letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hindi | राशि | Devanagari | rashi |
| Punjabi | ਰਾਸ਼ੀ | Gurmukhi | rashi |
| Gujarati | રાશિ | Gujarati | rashi |
| Bengali | রাশি | Bengali | rashi |
| Marathi | रास | Devanagari | raas |
| Urdu | برج | Nastaliq | burj |
All languages: zodiac signs in different languages.
- Zodiac Signs in English: Names, Meanings & Plurals
- Zodiac Signs in Chinese: All 12 Names & Meanings
- The 12 Zodiac Signs in Spanish and English: Names, Meanings & Pronunciation
- Zodiac Signs in Norwegian: All 12 Names, Symbols, and the Norse Zodiac Difference
- Zodiac Signs in Urdu
- Zodiac Signs in Vietnamese
Related Pages
- Birth chart calculator: find your moon sign and rising sign from your birth details.
- Horoscope dates: full Western date ranges for every sign.
- Zodiac signs: profiles of all twelve signs.
- Love compatibility calculator: compare two birth dates.
About this guide: Written for educational purposes. The Vedic dates are approximate and the Western dates follow standard tables. For a personal reading or a kundali, consult a qualified jyotishi.
