As May nears its final weeks, Gemini season rolls in. Lucky people born between May 21–June 20 can call themselves Geminis. It’s the sign after Taurus and before Cancer in the Zodiac calendar.
An air sign ruled by Mercury, Gemini is the third sign of the Zodiac. Represented by twins, Geminis tend to have a dual nature. They can be unpredictable, and their personalities are fluid. Still, people born under this sign usually have a lot in common.
Geminis are known for their gift of gab and way with words. Famous Geminis include the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Angelina Jolie, Kanye West, Venus Williams, Colin Farrell, Natalie Portman, and politicians like Donald Trump and Boris Johnson. Like them or not, Geminis aren’t shrinking violets; rather they tend to have outsized personalities. Words frequently used to describe Geminis include witty, wise, and whimsical, but there’s so much more to people born under this sign. Let’s take a closer look at what it means to be a Gemini or to have one in your life.
What does Gemini mean?
Gemini is a zodiacal constellation that can be found between Taurus and Cancer. It contains two bright stars: Castor and Pollux. In Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux are the names of identical twin brothers—Castor, the mortal son of King Tyndarus, and Pollux, the immortal son of Zeus. Sailors used to believe that seeing these two stars together was good luck, while seeing only one of them was a sign of bad luck to come.
Gemini entered English around 1350–1400. It’s derived from the Latin word geminī (“twins”). As you can see in the Gemini emoji ♊, the symbol for Gemini depicts the Roman numeral II, which refers to two people (who are twins).
Chart your linguistic stars by taking a closer look at the meaning and usage of the term Gemini.
What’s so great about Geminis?
With the twins representing this Zodiac sign, Gemini personalities can be diverse. Still, there are some traits—both positive and negative—that many tend to possess. Let’s start with the positive.
Here are some great words that describe Geminis:
- Intelligent: Geminis are generally highly intelligent, both intellectually and emotionally. They’re inquisitive and driven to continually learn new and interesting things. They’re genuinely interested in other people and pride themselves on being in the know.
- Adaptable: Geminis are a go-with-the-flow type. No matter what’s thrown at them, they can course-correct and change courses altogether if need be. When faced with adversity, they find their resilience and tend to come out stronger on the other end. They consider it all one big adventure.
- Entertaining: Boring, Geminis are not. They’re lively, fun to be around, and they don’t shy away from being the center of attention. Highly social, they like to be around people, and people tend to like being around them. Many famously entertaining musicians are Geminis, including the likes of Stevie Nicks, Boy Dylan, and Lionel Richie.
- Eloquent: Be they written or spoken words, Geminis tend to have a way with them. They’re excellent communicators, and many find themselves in careers related to the media and writing. Walt Whitman, Rick Riordan, and Anne Frank are among famous Gemini writers, to name a few.
- Curious: Geminis want to be in the know about most everything. They love to read, write, and explore the world through travel. They don’t delve too deep into any given subject, but tend to know a little bit about a lot of things.
Curious to see how well you know Geminis? Then take this quiz about them!
The downsides of Gemini
As amazing as they may be, all that energy can get Gemini in trouble sometimes too.
Here are some not-so-positive aspects of a Gemini’s nature:
- Nosy: Their inquisitive nature can make Geminis a little too curious sometimes. It drives them crazy not knowing who’s doing what, when, where, and why, and they can be prone to gossiping.
- Capricious: While their willingness to jump on the adventure train can be fun, it can also be exhausting when they jump on and off it too often. Geminis tend to be impulsive and flighty. Their plans may change on a dime, which can be frustrating for those trying to keep up with them.
- Superficial: Geminis aren’t overly emotional and often tend to keep things at a surface level with people. Sometimes they come off as shallow.
- Indecisive: Trying to pin a Gemini down can be like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. They tend to change their minds, then change them again. They often hem and haw over even the smallest decisions and can come off as wishy-washy.
- Nervous: Geminis tend to overthink things, which can make for a nervous nature. Sometimes those nerves can get the best of them, particularly when their need for constant stimulation is being met.
Does this sound like a Gemini you know?
