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August zodiac sign: Leo or Virgo?

Emily HartBy Emily Hart, professional astrologer
The Leo and Virgo constellations side by side in golden line art on a violet night sky — the month's two zodiac signs
The short answer
LeoBorn August 1–22LeoVirgoBorn August 23–31Virgo

August is split between two zodiac signs: the Sun finishes its run through Leo and enters Virgo around August 23. So your August zodiac sign depends on the day — and, if you're born right at the boundary, on the year and hour too.

Born around the boundary?
The Sun doesn't change signs at midnight sharp: the exact moment shifts by up to a day depending on the year and your time zone. If your birthday is August 22–23, don't guess — check your exact sign by date of birth.

What August people have in common

August is fire at its zenith and the earth of harvest: Leo creates, Virgo perfects. August people share a high bar: doing things halfway isn't in them — one needs scale, the other flawless execution.

Within each sign the flavor shifts by decan — ten-degree thirds of the sign. Born the 1st–9th, you're in the second decan of Leo: its core with a shade of Sagittarius. The 10th–22th is the third decan, tinted by Aries. From the 23th you're in the first, purest decan of Virgo. That's why people of the same month, born ten days apart, can feel so different.

August's birthstone is the peridot: a light-green stone of the sun, traditionally guarding against heavy thoughts.

The Leo in short

LeoLeoJuly 23 – August 22
Leos bring the sun with them: warm, generous, born for the stage. They give grandly and expect sincere applause — and can spot the fake kind from across the room. In love they adore loudly and need sincere applause back; Aries, Sagittarius and Libra enjoy the show honestly. Ruled by the Sun, fire element: celebrate them specifically and be celebrated royally in return.
The full Leo portrait

The Virgo in short

VirgoVirgoAugust 23 – September 22
Virgos are practical intelligence in person: precise, helpful, X-ray vision for details. They love by fixing things and quietly make everything around them work better. In love they serve quietly and notice everything; Taurus, Capricorn and Cancer read the care correctly. Ruled by Mercury, earth element: thank them for the invisible work and watch devotion compound.
The full Virgo portrait

Frequently asked questions

What zodiac sign is August?+
August covers two signs: Leo from the 1st through the 22th, and Virgo from the 23th through the 31th. The boundary day can shift by one day depending on the year — a birth chart settles it exactly.
What sign is August 23?+
On the average year, August 23 is the first full day of Virgo — but in some years the Sun crosses the line a few hours earlier or later. If that's your birthday, the free calculator on our dates page resolves it from your exact date.
Why does August have two zodiac signs?+
Zodiac signs follow the Sun's position, not the calendar: the Sun spends about 30 days in each sign, entering a new one around the 20th–23rd of every month. That's why every calendar month is shared by two signs.
Who are August-born people compatible with?+
It depends which of the month's two signs is yours. Leo is a Fire sign: it pairs most easily with its own element and its complement. Virgo runs on Earth — a different circle entirely. The two sign cards above link to the full compatibility breakdown of each with all 12 signs; for a specific couple, a synastry of both full charts settles it.

Zodiac sign by month

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