70 Compliments For Men To Make Your Guy Feel Loved
Let him know that you truly see him and recognize his goodness.
getty It can be hard to find the right compliments for a man you're dating. That sounds a little silly, but think about it: When was the last time you successfully paid a compliment to any man without it becoming weird?
When it comes to finding sweet things to say my boyfriend, I tend to stick with telling him how much I love him and what a good dad he is, often quite awkwardly. In reality, if I could, I'd tell him how incredibly handsome he is, but I always get this funny feeling of reservation.
Truth is, I probably should do it more, though.
According to relationship coach Jordan Gray, "While men might not get as much body-shaming marketing as the average woman does, guys are still insecure about certain elements of their physical appearance. Besides, every person (regardless of gender) likes knowing that their partner finds them aesthetically pleasing."
While compliments don't have to be solely physical, when you love someone, or even when you just happen to notice something attractive or kind or commendable about them, it's hard not to share it.
More importantly, you want them to know that you truly see them, recognize their goodness, and that your appreciation matters enough that it's something you need to put into words.
To look for the key to complimenting a guy in a meaningful way, I started by searching the depths of the subreddit known as Ask Men. In that popular Reddit forum, one woman asked, "What is the best compliment you have ever received?" The answers men gave make a great guide for anyone looking to praise the guy they love.
The list below includes several of the best compliments for men suggested by guys on Reddit, as well as others suggested by relationship experts, my male friends, the internet, and my own imagination.
70 Best Compliments For Men
1. You feel like home.
"Everyone, regardless of gender expression, wants to feel a deep and meaningful connection to other human beings. It's in our DNA. So, tell them you feel ____ in their presence. The blank can be safe, seen, loved, protected. Any feeling will suffice as long as its real," says marriage and family therapist, Dr. Paul Hokemeyer.
2. You have beautiful eyes.
"One time a lady in a store in an airport told me I had beautiful eyes. It was in the middle of a bad trip home from a holiday (I got food poisoning, not fun on a plane). It's the only time in my life I've ever received a compliment from a stranger, and I couldn't believe how amazing it made me feel." — Reddit user
3. You're a good father.
"The best compliment is when my wife says I'm a good father. My dad walked out on my two sisters and I when I was only two years old, so I'm trying my hardest to be the best father I can be." — Reddit user
4. Your children are lucky to have you.
As relationship expert and divorce attorney Michelle Afont explains, "Although this compliment often goes to moms, most men take pride in their fathering skills and appreciate the recognition... Hearing what a great dad he is makes him want to be a an even better dad. Complimenting his nurturing skills and his tenderness with his children will warm your man's heart in all the right places."
5. You have beautiful eyes.
"When I was 15, a woman who worked with my dad told me I have beautiful eyes. It's the only time someone told me I'm beautiful, so 11 years on, I still cherish that memory." — Reddit user
6. I appreciate you.
"A friend in my group pulled me aside and said I’m a really genuine person and that she appreciates me." — Reddit user
7. You are complex without being complicated.
"Someone said to me, 'You are complex without being complicated.'" — Reddit user
8. You’re interesting and I like talking to you.
"I took a theater class 2 or 3 years ago. There was this one girl who I would talk to after class. As in, I would walk her to her car. No real reason, I’m just friendly and talkative dude. One day, the teacher holds me back after class for 10 minutes to talk about one of my monologue performances. I see everyone left, so I’m kind o bummed I wouldn’t get to talk to the girl. But she waited outside for me. I was legitimately shocked and asked her why. She said, 'You’re interesting and I like talking to you.' As someone who regularly gets told they’re really talkative and annoying, it was great to actually meet someone who appreciated conversing." — Reddit user
9. You're a hard worker.
Lifestyle strategist Stephanie Lee says, "Men are bred to build and create. Complimenting him on how well he is doing at work or in his career will cause him to swell with pride and increase his desire to work even harder." — Reddit user
10. You have a wonderful way of speaking.
"I am grateful for physical compliments, but ones that go beyond how I keep myself in shape or the face I was born with are much more meaningful. A woman once said I had a wonderful way of speaking; it honestly caught me off guard and I was flush for quite some time after." — Reddit user
11. What you did was really hot.
"I've been complimented for being hard-working, successful, smart, and things like that. It's always nice, but I don't consider those things praise-worthy, because I didn't do a whole lot to deserve them. It's who I am. I am not ugly, but also not attractive. As a guy, I've been used my whole life to not receive any compliments about my looks or anything physical. Put all this together, and I used to think that I'm above compliments. They really don't matter much.
"That is until the other day when my wife asked me to open a jar. It was a particularly hard one, and I was shirtless. So I put all my strength into it, making my muscles pop out. I opened the jar and she said, 'Wow... that was kinda hot.' The only real compliment I ever got for anything physical, so rare at a rate of 1 in 50 years, that I will always remember it." — Reddit user
Intimacy expert Allana Pratt notes, "It's not that you can't do what he did, it's that he did it for you. Praise him. Mean it. Say it from your heart. Be a little vulnerable and let him see how his support moves you."
12. You don't look old enough to be a dad.
"One time, I took my son to get his haircut, and the (female) barber didn't believe that I was old enough to be his dad." — Reddit user
13. You made my day.
"People often don't realize they are having an impact beyond one person," Dr. Joshua Klapow, clinical psychology, says. "Reminding them or highlighting for them how their impact goes beyond you is powerful."
14. You have nice muscles.
"Back in high school I was really scrawny — so scrawny that I was deemed unfit for military service when I reached the age when you otherwise have to enter national service. About a year ago, I walked past one of the girls from my high school class, and naturally I said, 'Hi' when I recognized her. The first words out of her mouth were, 'You got big.' I am well aware that I am not exactly a giant of a man now, but I still think back on that with a smile." — Reddit user
15. You're a good man.
"A girl I had a crush on suddenly told me I'm a good man. I don't know if I was friend-zoned or what, but it felt good." — Reddit user
Adds Klapow, "Telling someone they are kind-hearted, have a caring-heart, etc. elevates the 'nice' compliment, because you are speaking directly to who they are, versus what they have done."
16. You check all my boxes.
"Following a conversation about how she likes my outside-the-box thinking, asking my now fiancée if I tick her boxes, she replied, 'You tick outside the boxes'." — Reddit user
17. I like your car.
"The best feeling in the world is driving my car around and having little kids stop in their tracks and give the thumbs up. It's so much more gratifying than any award or recognition." — Reddit user
18. You have an inner glow.
"My friends would talk to their friends about me as someone who's super genuine. Also, a girl told me last week that I looked way better than my photos on Tinder because I have an 'inner glow' in real life, which apparently reflects my inner self." — Reddit user
19. You have great posture.
"I used to work at a grocery store. I was walking towards the back of the store when halfway down an old lady stopped me. I expected that she needed help finding something or she was going to complain about something. Instead, she just wanted to tell me that she thought I had good posture and was handsome. Seventeen-year-old me's day was made." — Reddit user
20. You give me butterflies.
Says John Gottman, psychological researcher and clinician, "Every time you express your positive thinking and give your partner a verbal compliment, no matter how small, you are strengthening your marriage" (or relationship).
21. You always make me feel so comfortable and at ease.
22. I love the way you think.
23. You always know exactly what to say.
24. You make me smile.
25. You're such a good cook!
26. You're a great listener.
27. You are so handsome.
28. I'm lucky to have you.
29. You are truly thoughtful.
30. You have such a good heart.
31. You're sexy.
32. Your smile makes me melt.
33. I feel so safe with you.
34. You're totally my hero.
35. Spending time with you is always a thrill for my heart.
36. You make me weak in the knees.
37. You are cuter than any celebrity out there.
38. A responsible guy like you is really hard to find.
39. Your charm is immeasurable.
40. I have so much respect for you.
41. You're such a wonderful person. You make bad days feel not so bad.
42. I am so proud to know you.
43. You’re amazing at everything you do.
44. You have a great sense of style.
45. The world needs you. You have the power to make it better.
46. You are such a dependable guy.
47. I can already tell that you are going places.
48. You are so good at giving advice.
49. I trust you.
50. Thank you for doing the world a favor by merely existing.
51. Jokes are always funnier when you tell them.
52. You are wise beyond your years.
53. I like that you tend to think outside the box.
54. I feel like I could talk to you for hours and hours without ever getting bored.
55. You’ve got a killer work ethic.
56. I love how you go out of your way to help others.
57. You have a wonderful personality.
58. I love how open-minded you are.
59. When you make up your mind, nothing stands in your way.
60. I like how genuine you are.
61. You have such an energetic personality.
62. I love how much you value honesty.
63. Your presence is so refreshing.
64. Your hunger for adventure motivates me.
65. Your determination is truly respectable.
66. You are the strongest guy I know.
67. There's something about you that makes me want to be a better person.
68. I love your enthusiasm.
69. Nothing misses your discerning eyes.
70. You always have such great ideas.
Rebecca Jane Stokes is a writer with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, and true crime.