How You'll Know When To Say 'I Love You,' Based On Your Zodiac Sign
How soon is too soon — or too late?
unsplash One sentence. Three words. When put that way, “I love you” doesn’t seem like a big deal at all. You’ve said more words to potential employers at job interviews, even baristas at coffee shops. The math is simple enough.
There’s a significant difference, of course, between your coffee order and “I love you.” Expressing your love for someone carries a lot more weight than asking for a medium iced coffee with cream. You’re not going to tell your barista you love them — or maybe you wil, if you’re truly desperate for some caffeine. But telling your partner you love them for the first time is a whole different arena.
It’s likely your relationship is relatively new if you’re starting to think of the L-word. Or perhaps you’ve been thinking about it for a while — "love at first sight" may seem exclusive to fairytales, books, and movies, but it can happen in real life. How soon is too soon to say I love you?
There are many factors to take into account when you start thinking about the phrase with someone specific in mind. When do you say it? How do you want to say it, if you want to say it at all? And where?
To some extent, it also depends on who you’re saying it to. They’re a human being, too, with their own thoughts and feelings. It’s scary to consider your partner may not feel the same as you. On the other hand, honesty is one of the most important aspects of any relationship.
Astrology can help guide you through professing your love for your partner. Each zodiac sign experiences love differently. They also express it differently. Even if you’re one of the more spontaneous signs that are susceptible to saying it out of the blue, it’s best to put at least a little thought into how you might express yourself — or at least recognize you’re one of those signs. For others, it’s going to take a lot of thinking and guidance.
Aries (March 21 - April 19)
You’re definitely going to be the first one to say “I love you,” and you’re also going to let your partner know exactly how you feel. That’s a great thing about Aries — you know exactly how you feel.
The best time to say it, then, is in a moment when you truly feel at peace with the feeling, most appropriately during an intimate moment. Don’t be too hasty in professing it, either, as you can sometimes get caught up in the early stages of your relationship.
Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
It takes time for this sign to fall in love, and sometimes it’s hard for them to recognize it. As an earth sign, Tauruses like to keep their feet on the ground. Love may send them a little airborne, which can be unsettling.
After recognizing your feelings, it’s time to announce it when you feel comfortable doing so. You should say somewhere to which you have a strong connection, such as your house or a park you frequent.
Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
This sign is often characterized as being drama queens, which is mostly unfair — though when it comes to love, they revel in its excitement. They can be a bit of a serial dater, but when they find someone that’s potentially the real deal, they’ll know it’s time to settle down a bit.
It’s time to say “I love you,” then, if you’ve developed a real connection, beyond just flirtatious texts back and forth. Communication is your strong suit, so the timing is right when you feel the need to say it.
Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Cancers are deeply emotional, and love comes with a lot of emotions. This sign is quick to admit it, too. You might be inclined to say it within the first weeks of dating.
That’s fair for yourself if you truly feel that way, but it’s also important to take the other person into account. How might they react? Keeping that in mind will help you take time to evaluate your feelings and guide you as to when to say it, which may be a bit later than you initially thought.
Leo (July 23 - August 22)
In contrast to other signs, Leos will know they’re in love when they feel they can tone it down. They love making grand gestures to entice and spellbind. This is due to their concern with their outward appearance.
When you don’t feel the need to make every date a grandiose affair, admit it to them. They’ve become a part of your downtime, instead of another person to impress. Though after you say it, you still might make an Instagram post about it.
Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
It may be hard for a Virgo to admit they’re in love. They’re guarded about their feelings, and it takes a while to gain their trust.
Trust is, then, an indication of love. If you feel you can tell your partner your deepest, darkest secrets, then you’re in love. You're ready to lay everything out on the table. So don't be shy — speak up!
Libra (September 23 - October 22)
Libras are ruled by Venus, the planet of love and beauty, but their emphasis is in the realm of beauty rather than love. Aesthetics are most important this sign. Love can seem to be a part of the calculation, which is okay — that’s how you experience it.
You’ll know you’re in love when you can fully envision your partner in your future. Then you need to get the timing down — which, due to your sense for perfection, will be no problem.
Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpios may be the most mysterious sign of the zodiac to others, but not to themselves. They’re extremely attuned to their emotions.
It’ll certainly take you a while to get there, though. You’ll experience a whole array of feelings before landing on love. Once you know you’re in love, however, you should let your partner know ASAP. You want your partner to be honest with you, so you should be honest with them, too.
Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
If you’ve been in a relationship for a while, it’s likely you’re in love. You may not recognize it as love at first. But if you’re sticking to that one person instead of searching for a variety of adventures, you should evaluate your feelings.
Once you recognize this, saying how you feel is easy. Sags value the truth over almost everything!
Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)
This hardworking sign will likely see their relationship as a job: you’ll think it’s time to say “I love you,” then, when you feel it’s time for a promotion. You will analyze the course of your relationship, track milestones, et cetera.
All this leaves out the most important aspect of love. You need to take stock of your emotions, too—when you’re truly in love, and thus ready to say it, you’ll take the calculations out of the equation, and maybe even scrap the equation altogether.
Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)
An Aquarius is in love if they don’t feel constrained. They might be a little uncomfortable at first in a relationship since it’s something new and different. Aquarians need alone time, too, so the idea of letting someone else in is intimidating.
It’s time to say “I love you” when those fears wash away. Once you feel free around your partner, you’ll feel free to say it, too.
Pisces (February 19 - March 20)
You’ll probably know, as a Pisces, when your partner is in love with you. You’re the most understanding and empathetic sign for a reason.
However, that does not determine your own feelings. You need to feel a true, deep connection with your partner. You’ll know when to say it when the romance is ramping up on both ends.