In astrology, the twelve signs are grouped into four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. This division comes from ancient Greek philosophy, which saw the physical world as made up of these four basic principles, later folded into astrology as a way of describing temperaments.

Fire — Aries, Leo and Sagittarius

Fire signs are associated with energy, action, and enthusiasm. They're described as spontaneous, passionate, and driven by goals and challenges.

Earth — Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn

Earth signs point to the concrete, the practical, and the material. They're linked to stability, patience, and a strong sense of responsibility.

Air — Gemini, Libra and Aquarius

Air signs are associated with intellect, communication, and social relationships. They're often described as curious, sociable, and idea-driven.

Water — Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces

Water signs represent the emotional world: sensitivity, intuition, and emotional depth.

How this classification is used

Beyond the sun sign, astrologers usually look at the balance (or imbalance) of elements across a person's full chart — someone with many planets in water tends to process the world more emotionally, while a chart dominated by air tends to favor reason and communication.