I Love You: 15 Ways Guys Say It Without Saying It

Has your guy been fairly silent in the 4-letter-word department, and you’re trying to figure out other ways to tell if he loves you? Sometimes, this can be hard; not everybody is vocal or obvious about their feelings, and many may feel it is difficult to voice those deeper emotions whether it’s for fear of rejection, commitment or simply never having said “I Love You” before.

Here are some subtle, silent ways to tell if he’s thinking it.

1. Passionate, Long-Lasting Kisses
Who doesn’t love an excellent, lengthy kiss? When he’s continuously initiating these and you can feel the passion each time he does, it is clear that he’s more than just a little excited to be around you.

2. His Friends Love You
If all his buddies are starting to warm up to you and truly seem to enjoy your company, it could be because they know how happy you’re making their friend — thus making them start to find you as awesome as he does.

3. Close Personal Distance
You know how it’s unnerving when somebody you’re not interested in gets close to you? It’s the complete opposite when someone you adore tends to be closer in distance than he is to other people.

4. Smiling After Kissing
Sure, you can have a little sweet smile after kissing someone whose company you enjoy, but do you ever just feel like positively beaming when it’s someone you love? If you catch him grinning after your kisses all the time, it’s a great sign that he truly enjoys your company.

5. He Listens Intently
While he might not be saying much when it comes to your relationship and his feelings about it, the fact that he listens closely when you’re talking is incredibly significant. He may lean in closer when you’re discussing important topics or nod when you say something poignant, showing how much your words mean to him.

6. Upright Posture
Most of us tend to slouch and have poorer posture than we should. However, if you’re trying to impress the person you care about most and want him or her to be most attracted to you, you’re going to stand or sit straight up.

7. Hand Squeezing
I once had a relationship with a guy who loved holding my hand and would occasionally squeeze it tightly when we were cuddling or out with friends, but hated any other kind of cutesy couple-like act. I always wondered why he was so opposed, but then I realized that every time he squeezed my hand, he was trying to say, “I love you” in a quiet, simple way.

8. Calling (Or Texting) For No Reason
Not all people do this when in love, so don’t take it personally if he doesn’t. That said, it’s a sign that he feels comfortable with you in non-romantic situations as well as the obvious ones, and that he’s thinking of you throughout the day.

9. He Sticks Around
Does he like to do activities together for no reason? For example, rather than just wanting to meet up at a dinner party, he’d rather go grocery shopping with you beforehand so the two of you can make a dish to bring together. Simply doing household things shows an interest in being closer than just casual daters or sex partners.

10. Eye Contact Often
When you’re at a bar with friends, does he glance across the room just to make eye contact briefly and smile at one another? This indicates how, even when you two are doing different things, he still wants you to be aware of how much he cares.

11. Hair Ruffling
When people are nervous, they tend to run their fingers through their hair more often than normal. Does he do this when the pair of you are in close proximity to one another and it’s a romantic moment? If so, it could show that he wants to say something intimate but can’t find the words.

12. Mirrored Behavior
Does he tend to take bites of his food at the same time as you or do other things similarly? He could be displaying isopraxism, the matching or behaviors that couples tend to do when becoming closer together.

13. Meaningful Gifts
When I say ‘meaningful,’ I don’t mean ‘expensive’; I mean that he spends effort and puts serious thought into finding you something that truly fits your personality to a T. I had one guy give me three pairs of socks: one with a crazy cute pattern, one specifically for boots and one for high heels. The week prior, I had gotten a blister on my foot due to not having thick enough socks for a pair of boots I had just purchased, so it was super sweet and a clear indication of his listening skills that he remembered.

14. Frequent Laughing
Does he find you funny and can’t help but giggle when you do something silly? As odd as it sounds, the more often he laughs and finds you hilarious, the more serious the level of interest and excitement surrounding your relationship is.

15. Spontaneous Touching
When you’re in a public place, does he put his fingers on your back to keep you closeby? Does he hold your hand atop yours while you two are in a restaurant? Random closeness via touching shows that he wants to maintain physical contact, even when it’s not sexual.