Top 21 Compliments Every Man Wants to Hear

Even though they may not show it, using the right compliments for men will make them absolutely swoon! And whether you’re just getting to know someone special or you want to rekindle the spark between you and your partner, hyping him up is a sure way to get him blushing

The best part is, even if giving compliments is not your strong suit, anyone can learn to become a more expressive partner. And in this article, we’re going to give you 21 examples of compliments that are sure to get the guy in your life smiling. We’ll also provide some helpful tips about how to become a better compliment-giver for your lucky man.

Benefits of compliments for men

Compliments aren’t just about making your cutie bashful. They also have benefits for him individually, for your relationship, and even for you!

Psychological benefits

Most people know that receiving compliments feels good. But there’s actually scientific evidence of this! Positive feedback about ourselves, especially from someone special, releases dopamine and serotonin in the brain, neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of reward and happiness. The result is more self-confidence and satisfaction, as well as less stress and anxiety. That chemical feedback makes us want to keep chasing that feel-good neurological response. In other words, it motivates us to be better or to continue doing the things that elicited the compliment.

Interestingly, the compliment-receiver isn’t the only one who benefits. Giving compliments also releases the same feel-good chemicals as getting them.

Deepening connection

There’s another neurochemical released in the brain during a compliment exchange that is important for deepening romantic connections: oxytocin. This is the bonding hormone, and it’s responsible for giving us a sense of belonging, validation, and peace. When couples share words of affirmation, they’re literally wiring their brain for a stronger romantic connection.

Surprise and novelty

One of the habits that can be damaging to a romantic relationship is taking one another for granted. Couples may fall out of the habit of giving compliments or assume that the other person knows how much they appreciate them without having to say anything. But this is a habit that can lead to emotional distance and feelings of resentment.

In contrast, getting into a habit of giving new, creative compliments can be a powerful way to reintroduce novelty into the relationship.

Clearly, giving compliments has some compelling psychological benefits for both the complimenter and the complimented. So, let’s talk about examples of the best compliments for men!

21 winning compliments for men

Hey cutie

We’re starting off with something short, sweet, and impactful. A greeting as simple as “hey cutie,” “hey you,” or “hey handsome” has the effect of creating instant intimacy and making your man feel special. Make sure that you choose something that’s just for him.

It’s my lucky day!

This compliment is most effective when you weren’t expecting to see your guy, but you happen to run into him in public, or he pays you a surprise visit. It gives off the impression that you’re always tickled to see him, which will make him want to surprise you more in the future!

I was missing your smile/voice

Sure, a guy would like to hear that you missed him. But you can take your compliment to the next level by being more specific. Did you miss his smile? His laugh? The way he hugs you? Making this personal takes your compliment from generic to something really special.

You look so stylish today! I love that color on you

No matter how much thought the man in your life puts into his style, this compliment is sure to have a positive impact. Because in reality, there are very few men out there who truly don’t care about how they look or the clothes they wear. And being complimented on the outfit that they picked out is sure to have them feeling more confident for the rest of the day. They may even think about what you said when they’re getting ready tomorrow!

Your eyes are gorgeous in this light

We’re all suckers for romantic lighting, aren’t we? It really does make everyone’s eyes beautiful. So, the next time you catch your man in the golden hour or share a candlelit dinner, don’t lose the opportunity to compliment his big brown eyes or his baby blues.

I love how ____ you are

Again, the key here is to make this personal so that your compliment has a bigger impact. After all, telling him “I love you” can lose its significance if it’s something that the two of you say to each other all the time. But, if you can put a little bit of extra thought into it and say “I love how thoughtful you are” or “I love how cute you are,” it will add novelty and surprise to your relationship.

Not at the “I love you” phase yet? Feel free to switch your wording to “I appreciate how kind you are” or “I like how organized you are.”

Did I ever tell you you have great ______ skills?

A rhetorical question is a great way to give a compliment. And this one can make your man feel proud of whatever skill of his you admire. It can be something as small as “laundry folding skills” or something more profound like “people skills” or “listening skills.”

One thing that we like about this compliment is that it can have the secondary benefit of training you to start noticing your partner’s strengths. From plant care to dishwashing technique to parallel parking prowess, everyone has skills that they should be applauded for!

How did you get so good at that?

Similar to the previous compliment, this is a great way to compliment someone’s skills or special abilities. But there’s another reason why you should add it to the compliment rotation: it’s a great conversation starter. In other words, while a compliment posed as a rhetorical question is likely to end in a smile, this compliment invites a story. And, you’ll be amazed at what you can learn from such a simple question.

Consider, for example, you compliment your man’s ability to cook fish. He might tell you that he learned how to do it by spending the summer’s fishing with his dad.

Now, we should note that you should consider the context here. After all, asking your man how he got so good at kissing might give you an answer that makes both of you uncomfortable.

I was just telling a friend about how impressed I was with _____

Maybe he cooked you a delicious meal recently. Or perhaps, you were impressed by the way that he handled an emergency situation. If you’ve been singing your man’s praises to your loved ones, make sure that he knows about it!

Not only will it make him feel good that you’re proud enough of him to talk sweetly behind his back, but it also lets him know that his good deeds won’t go unnoticed.

Sorry, I got distracted by your ________

This is a playful compliment that is great when you want to give your guy a surprise. Maybe, for example, you’re in the middle of talking about your day, and you interrupt yourself to compliment him on his gorgeous hair day. He won’t see it coming and will probably turn bright red right before your eyes.

Whether you fill in this blank with “cute face,” “adorable dimples,” “biceps,” or something else you find irresistible about your partner, you can’t go wrong with a complimentary sneak attack.

I can’t stop thinking about the way you _______

This can go one of two ways, depending on the mood you’re in.

If you want to give a heartfelt or wholesome compliment, you might say something like, “I can’t stop thinking about the way you took care of me when I was sick last week,” or “I can’t stop thinking about the way you completely won over my dog.” It’s a way to show gratitude for something nice your partner has done or a personality trait that you appreciate.

Or, if you’re looking to take things into a spicier direction, this compliment is great for turning up the heat! If you want to compliment a man about an incredible first kiss or a particularly special moment of intimacy, you can fill in the blank with something that you can’t get off your mind.

You make life easy; did I ever tell you that?

This compliment is especially meaningful for a man whose love language for others is acts of service. He may get joy from picking you up from work, remembering your coffee order, or cooking dinner for you. And while you may wonder how you can ever return the favor, sometimes just letting him know that you see and appreciate his efforts is enough to send him over the moon.

Other variations on these kinds of compliments for men could include “you make me feel safe” or “you take such good care of me.” No matter which one you choose, you’re letting him know that he’s a great partner.

You know you’re an inspiration to others, right?

Oftentimes, people have more of a positive impact on their friends and loved ones than they give themself credit for. And whether the man in your life inspires the people around him to be more active, tap into their wild side, or get ahead at work, we can bet there’s at least one area that you can point to when giving this compliment.

You can also make this more personal by referencing the ways that your partner inspires you! Maybe you can tell him how much he’s motivated you to take more risks or advocate for a better work-life balance for yourself.

Did you leave the house looking this sexy? That’s dangerous!

This compliment can be a fun, flirty response for when a man sends you a selfie, or you want a playful greeting for when you see each other in person. It’s sure to start off any date on the right foot by giving him a little pep in his step, and it lets him know that he’s turning heads wherever he goes!

Talking to you/Seeing you/Coming home to you is the best part of my day

You can choose a variation of this compliment that aligns with the stage of your relationship, whether you’re in the talking phase or already living together. It’s a simple way to say that you value having him in your life and that you see him as a place of comfort and ease.

Please never change ______

When you’re developing a relationship with someone, there are bound to be quirks that make your heart melt every time you see him. And, there may even be habits that would bother other people or that your man feels self-conscious about. This compliment not only gives the guy in your life permission to be who he is, but it also shows him that you love him even more for his eccentricities! Some variations might include:

• Please never change that little dance you do when the food delivery arrives.
• Please never stop telling dad jokes.
• Please never change the way you get so distracted when you see a cute dog.
• Please never stop wearing a suit to casual events.

You’re going to be such a great dad

This is a compliment that is deeply personal, so you’ll want to use it with care. For example, it would be appropriate if you and your partner are talking about having kids someday or are even in the process of planning a family. It could also be something that you say to a man who has expressed a desire to be a dad in the future, but only if you’re sure that it won’t create any awkwardness between the two of you if you’ve recently started dating.

If you’re looking for a more casual version of this compliment that still highlights his empathy and caretaking abilities, you might compliment him on his skills as a pet parent! Calling him a great dog dad will give him a confidence boost and validate the hard work he puts into caring for his furbaby.

You’re working too hard. Let me lighten the load.

The best compliments for men are the ones that not only acknowledge something good about him but also help to deepen the bond between you. And this compliment does just that by both validating how hard he’s been working and offering to tackle his to-do list together. Research shows that taking on household chores together instead of individually can improve romantic relationship satisfaction. So, you’ll have most success with this compliment if you can think of the best times to use it, such as when he’s doing the dishes or folding laundry.

You deserve all of the good things in your life

Maybe you see how much effort and time have gone into the life that your partner has created for himself. This compliment is a reminder for him to take a moment to appreciate the fruits of his labor! Does he have a loving family and group of friends? That’s because he’s been a loving son/uncle/cousin/friend. Does he have a peaceful, comfortable home? He’s created that space.

Being reminded of his role in the things that he loves about his life can be such a powerful compliment.

I could listen to you/watch you all day

All that most of us want is to be seen and heard by the person we care for. And, this compliment appeals perfectly to that universal desire! Telling a man that he’s interesting enough or beautiful enough to warrant your undivided attention is sure to make him blush!

What is it like to have good looks and a brilliant mind?

Who doesn’t want to hear that they’re the whole package? Being told that he has brains and good looks is a compliment that can have him walking on air for days. And, the playful tone of this rhetorical question makes it perfect for a moment of levity or surprise. You can also use this compliment immediately following your man performing a task, be it hanging a picture frame or calculating the tip at the restaurant.

Bonus: You are simply _______

Finally, we have the most straightforwardly sweet compliment for men that there is: a direct and honest compliment. Whether you fill in the blanks with “my favorite person,” “perfect,” or any other variation that comes from the heart, he’ll take your compliment as a true treasure.

How to get better at using compliments for men to improve your relationship

Once you’ve got a few ideas for compliments for men to use on your boyfriend, husband, or crush, there are a few ways that you can improve your delivery! These tips will boost your chances of giving compliments that delight, surprise, and deepen the connection between you:

Get to know his love language (and yours!)

Love languages are the ways in which we are most comfortable giving and receiving love within a relationship. For some people, that includes physical touch. For others, it’s gift giving. And of course, words of affirmation, or compliments, are another common love language.

That being said, not everyone is comfortable with receiving positive praise. In fact, being the center of attention or hearing compliments can make some people feel embarrassed. So, you should get to know your partner’s relationship to compliments. Do they find them endearing and sweet? Or do compliments make them want to run for the hills?

On the other hand, think about your relationship with giving compliments. If you enjoy hyping your partner up and they’re compliment-averse, you’ll want to work with them on a compromise that allows you to express yourself without making them uncomfortable. Maybe, for instance, they would rather receive a compliment in a letter or when the two of you are alone.

Give only authentic compliments

In order to be effective, your compliments should be heartfelt and genuine. Otherwise, they’ll be taken sarcastically or give off the impression that you have ulterior motives.

Leave cute love notes

Leaving compliments on sticky notes for him to find later is a fun way to add some surprise and whimsy to your relationship. You can leave them in his pants pocket or around the house you share together.

Be strategic with your timing

The timing of your compliment is just about as important as the content. For instance, you don’t want to shower your partner with deeply personal compliments when you’re speaking in front of a large group of his friends and family. You might also want to avoid giving him compliments when he’s focused on a task, such as driving in rush hour traffic or cooking something that demands attention.

Cycle through your compliments

Using the same compliments over and over can make them lose their effectiveness. So, you’ll want to think about how to keep things fresh and fun. Maybe, for instance, you’ve found yourself complimenting your man on his physique a lot lately. Switching to giving him compliments about his abilities or personal strengths could be a good way to keep him on his toes.

Don’t overdo it (Realistic is better than hyperbolic)

You don’t have to wax poetic with your compliments in order for them to be taken to heart. And in fact, less is often more when it comes to a good compliment. For example, instead of saying something like, “You’re the best employee in that whole company,” you might say something like, “I can see how much you care about your job and how much hard work you put in. You’re a real asset to your team.” The second option isn’t as flashy, but it comes across as more genuine and real.

Not overdoing it also has to do with the frequency of compliments. Sure, everyone likes to receive positive comments from time to time. But if every interaction with your partner includes them showering you with praise and compliments, it can become overwhelming.

Which compliments for men will you try?

As we’ve covered in this article, compliments can be such an effective way to boost someone’s confidence and strengthen the bond between you and a partner. And fostering a practice of showing your love and appreciation for your partner has psychological benefits for you, too!

So, now that we’ve covered 21 examples of winning compliments for men, which ones will you try first?