Feb 11, 2024

5 Types Of Compliments That Melt A Man’s Heart

Men need compliments too.

And yet, most men were more-likely-than-not raised in a way where they were fairly compliment starved.

Think about it…

It’s easy to imagine a woman complimenting another woman.

It’s also easy to imagine a man complimenting a woman.

But when we do an honest audit of the TV and movies we consume… and of the day to day interactions that we witness and engage in… women (or men) genuinely complimenting men is more the exception than the rule.

So today, I’m going to dive into five types of compliments that melt a man’s heart.

These types of compliments are primarily meant for women who are in romantic relationships with men. Some of these compliments could translate for a male friend to say them, but in this article, the focus is on compliments that are meant for a woman to say to a male significant other.

Alright, let’s get into it!

5 Types Of Compliments That Melt A Man’s Heart

1. Compliments about his body/appearance

While women definitely get the lion’s share of conditioning about their physical appearance mattering a lot, that doesn’t mean that they’re the only ones who like to be acknowledged for their body/appearance/more superficial traits.

Men absolutely benefit from body/appearance-based compliments just as much.

Not so sure? Try saying a few of the following (whichever you most believe/feel about your unique man) and watch him light up like a Christmas tree!

– ‘You are so handsome.’

– ‘You have the most beautiful eyes.’

– ‘You have such a kind smile.’

– ‘I love your hair.’

– ‘You are so sexy.’

– ‘I love the way you smell.’

– ‘I love that outfit on you!’

– ‘You are the best natural smelling man in the whole world.’

– ‘I love your face so much.’

– ‘You have the sexiest hands.’

– ‘Your arms are looking extra big lately!’

– ‘Wow… you weren’t kidding when you said you had been working out. Look at you!’

2. Compliments that tell him that you believe in him

Life can feel like a never-ending gauntlet of challenges for a man who’s up to big things in the world.

Compliments that tell him that you believe in him can really go a long way to filling up his love-cup.

Regardless of whether or not your man is in an especially daunting season of difficulties, try out a few of the following and take note of how he responds to them.

– ‘I believe in you so much.’

– ‘It is so easy to believe in you.’

– ‘I chose a really good man.’

– ‘I never doubt you for a second.’

– ‘I know that you can do this.’

– ‘You’ve done hard things before and persevered. You’ll make it through this too.’

– ‘I love watching you show up in life with so much courage. It is so easy to be your cheerleader.’

3. Compliments that champion his efforts

In terms of love languages, many men default towards acts of service as the primary way that they show love to their significant others. For example, taking out the trash, doing small home repairs, and doing the dishes after dinner’s done.

While it would be easy to take any and all acts of service for granted (after all, these are just part of adult life), it’s always nice to have our efforts acknowledged by our partners.

And… you don’t just have to compliment his domestic service. You can praise him for effort you see him deploying in any area of his life.

Try out some of the following, and see if he responds especially powerfully to any of them.

– ‘Thank you for taking out the garbage. I really appreciate it.’

– ‘Thank you for fixing the squeaky door! I feel grateful and relieved every time I use it and it no longer makes a sound.’

– ‘You have really been putting in a lot of extra time at work lately. Thank you for providing so well for us.’

– ‘Thank you for doing the dishes, my love. It is really helpful.’

– ‘I love watching you work.’

– ‘You are so good to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better boyfriend/husband/partner.’

– ‘I love seeing you play with the kids. I can tell how much they love wrestling with you.’

– ‘Thank you for mowing the lawn. It feels so much better out there now.’

– ‘This was such a lovely date. Thank you for organizing this for us. I feel very loved.’

4. Compliments that show that you respect him

Many women have heard that men would rather feel respected than loved. I say… why not both?

Love him up by acknowledging how much you love and respect him.

Try on some of the following for size:

– ‘I’m so proud to be your wife/girlfriend/partner.’

– ‘You’re such a good man.’

– ‘I have so much respect for the way that you move through the world.’

– ‘It took a lot of courage to admit that you were wrong/apologize/have that tough conversation back there… I really admire that you were able to do that. It was very attractive.’

– ‘I love how considerate you are with my friends/parents/co-workers. You are so aware of other people and I really appreciate it.’

5. Compliments that show that you trust him 

Let him know that you see him and that you trust his way of being in the world by saying a few of the following:

– ‘I trust you.’

– ‘I would follow you anywhere.’

– ‘I’m on your team.’

– ‘You’ve never steered us wrong in the past.’

– ‘I’m on your side.’

– ‘I don’t mind where we go for dinner tonight. Whatever you think is best.’

Iterate, Calibrate, And Make Them Your Own

Remember that these compliments aren’t just about ego-stroking – they should only ever come from a place of genuine love and appreciation for your partner.

Don’t feel like you need to exaggerate, or lay it on overly thick. Instead, find the perfect compliment that makes sense and feels genuine to you in your relationship.

And if you and your partner haven’t been overly praise and acknowledgment oriented over the years, you might want to start slowly by introducing these compliments bit by bit. Better to introduce it in a drip-feed kind of way, than to go from 0 to 100 overnight and have it feel too out of character.

Often men who are doing a great job don’t even feel like they’re doing a good job, so these compliments can be more valuable than you know to make your partner feel safe, seen, and loved in your relationship.

Three cheers for intentional loving!

Dedicated to your success,

Jordan

Ps. If you enjoyed this article, you’ll also love checking out:

4 Man-Melting Phrases That Make Him Fall In Love

4 Things To Never Say To A Man

Inside The Male Mind (video course for women, on how to drastically improve your relationships with the men in your life)

Jordan Gray
About Jordan Gray

Jordan Gray has been a sex and relationship coach for over 15+ years, with his work reaching over 200 million people worldwide. His writing has been featured in Vogue, GQ, The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, and countless other publications around the world. When he’s not working with 1-on-1 coaching clients or writing a new article, he’s most likely to be found reading, chopping wood, or spending time with his wife on a little island off the west coast of Canada.

Blog

Related

See All
It’s Terrifying And Then It’s Amazing
Apr 8, 2016
Jordan Gray
It’s Terrifying And Then It’s Amazing
I’m going on an airplane tomorrow. And I really, truly do not enjoy flying. I know… it’s a modern miracle… and it’s all “WOW I’M IN THE SKY RIGHT NOW!”… but I can’t help but feel like we’re going to drop out of the sky at any moment. Even though that’s fairly impossible. And even though there’s a way...
Continue Reading
How To Ease Into Love When Love Terrifies You
Nov 10, 2014
Jordan Gray
How To Ease Into Love When Love Terrifies You
“The world will break your heart ten ways to Sunday. That’s guaranteed.” - Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook We all suffer tragedies in life. Break ups, abandonments, lost loved ones, and countless other bumps and bruises will take their toll on our hearts as we live. It’s so tempting...
Continue Reading
7 Of My Favourite Quotes That Will Turn You Into A Better Person
Dec 22, 2018
Jordan Gray
7 Of My Favourite Quotes That Will Turn You Into A Better Person
I, Jordan Gray, am a quote junkie.  Every close friend, confidante, and fellow growth warrior in the trenches of life alongside me knows that a pre-requisite of being in my life is being comfortable with me starting every fifth sentence with the words, “That reminds me of the quote…” I...
Continue Reading
Why I Will Never Be A Matchmaker
Mar 9, 2024
Jordan Gray
Why I Will Never Be A Matchmaker
On a weekly basis, for the last 15 or so years, I have had someone ask me some version of: "Can you just introduce me to a healthy partner / Can you start a matchmaking service so that I can meet the people that follow your work?" Literally, every week. Here's the thing... We've all...
Continue Reading
Givers and Takers: How To Make Sure Your Relationship Lasts
May 10, 2015
Jordan Gray
Givers and Takers: How To Make Sure Your Relationship Lasts
I have worked with countless couples over the past several years on helping them have the most intensely satisfying intimate relationships possible. And through my time as a relationship coach I have noticed a major trend. There are two primary types of couples that come to me… Couples that are struggling...
Continue Reading
Being A Healthy, Balanced Adult Is Sexy As Fuck
Dec 10, 2018
Jordan Gray
Being A Healthy, Balanced Adult Is Sexy As Fuck
Self-destruction gets a lot of air time in mainstream media. "Look at this nihilistic badass! He’s constantly shit faced, and smoking a cigarette while he looks off camera left at nothing in particular… because, don't you know, nothing’s worth anything anyways." Nihilism gives...
Continue Reading