How to Compliment Your Boyfriend

Complimenting His Looks

Compliment his face. Your boyfriend’s face is an important part of what makes him who he is. By complimenting his eyes, smile, or overall handsomeness, you can let him know how attractive you find him. For the most effective compliment, try to focus on something unique about his appearance. You could say, “I love the freckle next to your smile,” or “Your eyes are the most incredible shade of green.” Keep in mind that some men are uncomfortable with compliments, so it is a good idea to pay attention to his response. If he ignores the compliment or makes an odd face, then this may mean that he dislikes being complimented.

Compliment his body. Pay your boyfriend a compliment on his body to stroke his ego. You can compliment him on his shoulders, abs, arms, or whatever body part you like best to show him how attractive you find him. Your boyfriend doesn’t have to be a body builder for you to compliment his body. You could say, “Your shoulders look so strong today,” or “Wow. Your abs look amazing.” If your boyfriend is less fit, you might say, “I love how soft your hands feel when you rub my shoulders.”

Appreciate his level of fitness. Many men work hard to chisel their bodies at the gym. Pay your boyfriend compliments on his fitness progress to let him know you appreciate his strength and health. You could say, “Your body looks amazing. Those suicide sprints are really paying off,” or “You looked really strong climbing that rock wall.” If your boyfriend has lost a lot of weight through a fitness regimen, don’t be afraid to appreciate his progress. You could say, “Wow, that shirt fits you so well. I can really see your hard work.”

Praise his personal style. Whether your boyfriend prefers skinny jeans or flannel (or both!), he probably puts a lot of effort into the way he looks. You can show him how attracted you are to his look by complimenting him on pieces of his wardrobe. You can also show appreciation for the way he styles his clothes. You could say, “That jacket looks amazing with those pants. Are you an off-duty model?” or “The color of that scarf really brings out your eyes. It looks great on you.”

Appreciate the way he styles his hair. Some men spend a lot of time styling their hair and facial hair. If this is something you like about your boyfriend, you can let him know by paying him a compliment. You can compliment a new hair cut, part, or color to let him know you notice the little details about him. You could say, “I really like your new beard. It’s hot!” or “Your new buzz cut is sexy. It makes you look like Brad Pitt.”

Let him know he turns you on. Whatever physical attributes of your boyfriend’s attract you, many guys just want to know they turn you on. Enhance your compliments on your boyfriend’s physical appearance by telling him how sexy you find him. Be sure that compliments about him turning you on are sincere, or they may come off as awkward and forced. You could say, “Your eyes are so gorgeous. I want you to kiss me right now,” or “Your smile is such a turn on.”

Complimenting His Personality

Tell him how he makes you feel. Your boyfriend has chosen you to be his girlfriend because he likes you. By telling him how you feel about him, you can strengthen your bond and make him feel loved. You can focus on how he communicates with you, how he takes care of you, or simply let him know that you believe in him. You could say, “I feel so safe with you. Thanks for loving me,” or “I love how we can communicate about difficult subjects. I love you and trust you completely.”

Admire his talents. Whether your boyfriend’s gifts are musical or culinary, compliment him on his skills to make him feel great. Think about his hobbies and passions to get ideas for your compliment. If he’s used his talents to do something kind for you, that’s a great opportunity to show your appreciation. You could say, “That song you played for me was beautiful. You are an incredible songwriter,” or “That birthday cake you made was the most delicious one I’ve ever had. Can you teach me to bake like that?”

Compliment his way with others. By praising your boyfriend’s way with others, you can let him know how sweet and generous you think he is. Whether the people he’s great with are his family, coworkers, or friends, your attention lets him know you care about his life. It may also encourage kindness and sensitivity in your own relationship. You could say, “I know you didn’t really want to drive your brother to the movies, but that was really nice of you. I love how kind you are,” or “It was really thoughtful of you to send your coworker a sympathy card when her mom passed away.”

Appreciate his friends. Lots of guys feel like their friends are an extension of themselves. By appreciating his friends, you can let him know how much you appreciate all of him. This shows him that those who are important to him are important to you. You could say, “Your buddy Mike is so funny. I can see why you are friends with him,” or “It’s so nice to meet your friends. Thanks for sharing that part of your life with me.”

Acknowledge his efforts. Even when your boyfriend comes up short on an assignment or promotion, it can be nice to let him know you appreciate his efforts. Compliment how long he spent working or an area he excelled in even when things didn’t work out. You could say, “I know you got passed over for the promotion, but your quarterly presentation was really brilliant,” or “I know you’re disappointed you got a B on your project, but I thought your paper was amazing.”

Compliment his sense of humor. Your boyfriend probably loves to make you laugh. By letting him know you find him funny, you’ll boost his confidence and make him feel great. You can compliment a specific joke, an impression, or simply his comedic timing. You could say, “That joke about the spider was so funny while we were camping. I love how you make me laugh,” or “Your Robin Williams impression is spot on! You’re so talented.”

Creating a Good Compliment

Be as specific as possible for the most impactful compliment. Try to use as much detail as you can when you compliment your boyfriend. Specificity will make your compliments feel more personal and specific to him rather than something that you could say to anyone. Telling your boyfriend he has nice eyes is fine, but it is not as special as telling him his beautiful blue eyes remind you of the lake you grew up on.

Strive to make your compliment original. Some compliments, such as “You have a nice smile,” are very common. This doesn’t mean they can’t be true of your boyfriend, but the best compliments are usually ones the person you’re complimenting hasn’t heard before. An original twist makes the compliment seem more unique and special. Rather than, “You have a nice smile,” you might say, “I love the dimple on your right cheek when you smile.”

Be sincere. Paying a compliment you don’t mean can immediately come off as false and insincere. If you don’t want to pay your boyfriend a compliment about something, it is best not to. A fake compliment just doesn’t sound quite right to the listener. On the other hand, if you mean what you’re saying, your boyfriend will appreciate the sentiment, even if you’re nervous and the words don’t come out right. Try not to get hung up on complimenting your boyfriend with just the right words. The sentiment of what you’re saying matters most. Keep in mind that you are better off giving a general compliment than no compliment at all. This at least shows that you are looking for the right words.

Avoid putting down others with your compliment. Complimenting your boyfriend by putting down someone else, especially if he cares about them, can backfire. It can also cause jealousy to compare your boyfriend, even favorably, to ex-boyfriends or other guys you have dated before. Try not to compare your boyfriend to others with your compliment. Complimenting him should be about him and make him feel good. Remember to keep compliments between yourself and your boyfriend and to make them unique to who he is.

Perfecting Your Delivery

Find the right moment to deliver your compliment. Your boyfriend will best be able to appreciate your compliment when he has a moment to talk with you. Avoid delivering a compliment in the middle of a stressful project or a moment when your boyfriend needs to concentrate. A quiet time at home or in your car is an opportunity for your boyfriend to appreciate what you’re saying to him.

Smile as you say the compliment. Smiling lets your boyfriend know that you mean what you’re saying. It also conveys warmth. Especially if you’re a little nervous about delivering a compliment, a happy smile can help you feel at ease, too.

Make eye contact. Look at your boyfriend as you deliver the compliment so he knows he has your full attention. This will make your boyfriend feel valued and appreciated. It also helps strengthen the connection and bond between you two.

Avoid complimenting him too much, which can cheapen the gesture. If you do anything too frequently, it can lose its meaning. Try to compliment your boyfriend when the mood strikes and only when you really mean it. This will keep your compliments genuine and significant.

Add physical affection to drive home the message. Kissing, touching, and hugging are all great ways of showing affection. Pairing some physical touch with your compliment lets your boyfriend know that your praise and love for him is sincere. Even a casual touch on the arm can make a passing compliment more meaningful and significant.