Chinese zodiac · culture
Is the zodiac animal a Goat, Sheep or Ram?
All three labels can represent 羊 (yáng), the eighth zodiac animal. Goat is this site’s main English label; Sheep and Ram point to the same calendar sign.
One position, several English labels
Goat, Sheep and Ram do not form three additional signs. Each occupies the position between Horse and Monkey. The animal word 羊 is separate from its Earthly Branch 未 (Wèi).
Reading a year correctly
2015 and 2027 are recent and upcoming Goat years, but the animal year begins at Chinese New Year. A January birthday can still fall in the preceding Horse year.
When translating a family keepsake or choosing an animal motif, use the intended Goat or Sheep image without changing the birth-year calculation.