9 Things Every Woman Needs To Know About Complimenting A Man

Men like to be complimented too.

A woman with blonde hair is gently kissing a smiling, bearded man on the cheek. They are indoors, and the man is wearing a striped shirt while the woman wears a cozy sweater. The scene conveys warmth and affection.

When we think about compliments, women being on the receiving end usually springs to mind. But why should women get all the praise? Men deserve to feel good about themselves and have their efforts recognized too.

So what can you say to a man to make him feel good about himself? How can you compliment a guy in a way that is authentic and effective, and not totally cheesy?

That’s what we’re going to look at in this article.

So let’s jump right in. When complimenting a man – whether it’s your boyfriend, boss, or friend – it’ll have the most positive effect if you follow these tips.

1. Don’t joke or stretch the truth – make it sincere.

A couple in white shirts embraces and smiles at each other in a bright room with a tiled wall and large window.

When it comes to compliments, people can usually tell when someone is not being entirely honest.

And receiving a fake compliment is likely to have the opposite effect on a guy than what you hope to achieve.

So don’t exaggerate details, don’t joke, and definitely don’t lie.

Guys like to hear things that they can believe. There has to be some truth behind the compliment and it has to be delivered in a genuine and sincere way.

Receiving a compliment makes us feel good – it literally activates the same parts of the brain as being paid a monetary reward. Hence why giving a guy a compliment is an effective way to boost his mood and make him feel positively toward you.

2. Avoid generic compliments – make it specific.

A smiling elderly couple sits on a sandy beach with their arms around each other. They are looking at each other, enjoying the sunny day, with the ocean and distant mountains in the background.

Generic compliments are okay, but to really make him stop and appreciate what you’ve said, mention something specific.

“You look nice,” is not a bad thing to say, but, “You look very handsome in that color shirt,” is far more effective.

It gives the man something to focus on. If all you do is say how nice he looks, he won’t really know what specifically you like.

3. Focus on what he prides himself on.

A smiling couple is in a modern kitchen. The man is chopping vegetables on a wooden board while the woman hugs him from behind. The countertop is filled with various colorful fresh fruits and vegetables. They appear to be sharing a joyful moment together.

If you know that a guy makes a particular effort on something, it’s a good bet that he’ll like to hear nice words about it.

Quite often this will be an aspect of his physical appearance, such as his muscular physique or his sense of style.

But it could also be something related to a talent or trait he has that he is proud of, such as his cooking skills or quick-witted humor.

4. But compliment his other good points too.

An elderly couple stands on a beach at sunset, both wearing beige coats. They are facing each other, smiling and holding hands. The woman’s hair is being gently blown by the wind. The background is blurred, highlighting the warm sunlit moment.

It can be very flattering to hear positive words about some aspect of ourselves that we are unsure of – or something we never really considered in the first place.

These sorts of compliments can provide an even bigger boost to a man’s self-esteem. They will reassure him that he is loved not only for his most prominent positive qualities, but for the all-round person he is.

Just be sure to keep in mind the first tip and make your compliment true and sincere.

5. Refer to how he makes you feel.

A couple wearing jackets embraces and smiles at each other while walking along a sandy beach. The ocean waves gently lap the shore, and tire tracks are visible in the sand. The sky is clear, indicating a calm and pleasant day.

If you’re complimenting your boyfriend or husband, it can really help to mention how he makes you feel.

Many men like to feel needed, and the right compliment can help with this.

You might say, “I love how you…” or, “I feel so … with you,” or, “You make me feel so…”

These sorts of compliments show the guy the effect they have on you, which will give them all sorts of good feelings about themselves.

6. Unexpected compliments are always good.

A couple relaxes in bed. The man, on the left, is lying down and smiling at the woman, who is sitting up on the right and reading a book. Both are wearing white tops, and the overall setting is cozy and intimate.

There is certainly a balance to be struck between too few and too many compliments.

Too few and he might feel like you don’t care enough. Too many and he might not believe them. One of the best ways to ensure he believes you is to make your comments somewhat unexpected.

When he hears something nice about himself out of the blue, it’ll reach far deeper than if you only say nice things in those more obvious situations.

Catch him off guard with a “You’ve got such a kind smile,” and his heart will melt.

7. Face-to-face compliments will be most impactful.

A couple sits on a cozy couch, facing each other and smiling, as they clink glasses of white wine. The setting appears warm and comfortable, with a blanket draped over the sofa and soft lighting creating a relaxed atmosphere.

Generally speaking, compliments made in person are the most effective.

He can then read your facial expression, your body language, and other non-verbal cues.

Smile at him, and if eye contact doesn’t make you uncomfortable, look him in the eyes when you say it. This will convince him that your words are genuine.

8. But he’ll appreciate a compliment by text, or even a heartfelt letter, too.

A woman in a yellow sweater writes in a notebook with a pencil at a wooden table. A small potted plant sits nearby, and a phone lies on the table. The background is softly blurred.

If you aren’t able to do it in person, a text can also be effective, as can a heartfelt letter.

With texts, you might wish to avoid physical compliments. After all, it’s less likely to have the same effect if you aren’t actually present with him.

Instead, hone in on some sort of detail from your conversation.

Perhaps he is telling you about a difficult customer he served at work – you could compliment him on his patience.

Or maybe he mentions how is helping his friend out with a DIY project – you could say how kind or generous he is, or what a great friend he is.

In a letter, you can get away with physical compliments a bit more.

Let’s face it, if you are writing him something more substantial, there’s probably a good reason for it (e.g. it’s his birthday, your anniversary, Father’s Day, or maybe because you’re long distance right now).

On these sorts of occasions, a letter or message in a card can include multiple compliments relating to all of the things you love about him.

9. Whatever you do, don’t fish for a compliment back.

A couple stands in a modern kitchen, sharing a kiss while holding bowls of food. The woman, in a yellow shirt and jeans, stands next to a man in a plaid shirt and jeans who is leaning against the counter. A refrigerator and kitchen items are visible in the background.

Compliments are expressions of admiration. They are not hooks with which to fish for nice words about yourself.

If the only reason you want to compliment a guy is so that he compliments you back, it’s not going to be as sincere, is it?

Say it for him and him alone. Sure, you may get a warm feeling from it, but that’s just a pleasant by-product. Your real aim should be to make him feel good about himself.