38 Compliments for Men That’ll Make Him Feel So Good

Not to generalize here, but in my experience, men can be incredibly weird about compliments. Tell a guy he looks hot, and there’s a decent chance he’ll respond with something like, “Thanks, I’ve had this shirt since middle school.” But just because he has absolutely no idea what to do with a compliment doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to hear one.In fact, men don’t value compliments any less than women, says Alisa Trout, LMFT, therapist and senior clinical network manager at Octave. They may simply be less likely to talk about them or draw attention to them. And those seemingly throwaway comments can actually mean a lot. “Compliments are like little ‘bucket fillers’ throughout the day,” Trout says. “A genuine compliment helps us feel seen, valued, and that our partner is truly paying attention.”The key word here is genuine. You don't need to start showering your boyfriend, husband, or partner with praise every time he successfully loads the dishwasher. The best compliments for men are specific to the person you're actually giving them to. “Your partner would rather you recognize a real strength, effort, or quality you truly appreciate,” Trout says. “These are the compliments that help people feel truly seen.”And sure, telling him his butt looks incredible in those jeans absolutely counts. But some of the most meaningful compliments have nothing to do with appearance. Trout says words of affirmation acknowledging his personality, the effort he puts into things, or the ways he shows up for you can be especially powerful. Really, the best compliments tell him something bigger: what you actually value about him.Sometimes, though, you just need a little help figuring out how to say it. Ahead, compliments for men that go way beyond “you look hot”—although, again, never hurts.Jump to:Compliments About His LooksCompliments About Who He IsCompliments That Show You Notice His EffortRomantic Compliments for Your Boyfriend or PartnerFlirty Compliments for MenCompliments About His Looks“Your butt looks amazing in those jeans.” Sometimes specificity really is everything.“You are so handsome.” Simple? Yes. Effective? Also yes. You don't need to reinvent the compliment here.“I love the feeling of being wrapped up in your arms.” Technically a compliment for both his arms and what it's like to be close to him. Twofer.“Your eyes look so pretty today.” Especially good when there’s something specific making you notice them, whether it’s his shirt, the lighting, or the fact that you’re currently staring lovingly into his soul.“I love your new haircut.” If you noticed immediately, say it immediately.“You smell amazing.” Weirdly underrated, considering how good it feels to hear.“Okay, your arms? In this shirt? So good.” No notes. Just appreciate the arms.“I love your smile.” Again, you don't need to write the man a sonnet. If you love something about him, tell him.Compliments About Who He IsTrout says compliments about someone's personality and character can be even more meaningful than ones about appearance. In other words, don't just tell him what you like looking at. Tell him what you like about him.“I really admire your integrity.” Trout specifically recommends this kind of compliment because it recognizes a quality you genuinely value.“You have the biggest heart.” Especially when you've just watched him do something that proves it.“I love how you make me laugh.” Bonus points for telling him this immediately after he makes you laugh so hard you make a deeply unfortunate noise.“You're such a good friend.” Tell him when you notice the way he shows up for the people he loves.“I love the way your brain works.” For the guy who always has a perspective you didn't see coming.“You're someone I can always count on.” Because reliability deserves some flowers too.“My favorite thing about you is ____.” And please actually fill in the blank. “Everything” is cute, but Trout's whole point is that specificity makes a compliment feel real.Add Cosmopolitan as a preferred source in your Google search results.Use your Google account to add this to your settings.Compliments That Show You Notice His Effort“Recognizing someone's efforts can go a long way,” Trout says. Whether he fixed something, picked up some slack, or quietly made your day easier, telling him you noticed can make the compliment much more meaningful.“I love how driven you are.” Especially when you've watched him put serious work into something he cares about.“You crushed that.” Then tell him what he did so well. Specificity, remember?“They're lucky to have you.” Works for his job, his friends, his team—basically anywhere he shows up well.“You're an incredible mentor.” If you've watched him invest time in helping other people succeed, that's worth noticing.“I love how you always figure things out.” For the problem-solver who somehow knows what that weird noise coming from the dishwasher means.“Thank you for doing ____. You made my day so much easier.” Trout gives the example of thanking a partner for filling up the gas tank. The task itself can be tiny; the point is letting him know you noticed.“You put so much into this, and it shows.” Sometimes effort deserves recognition regardless of the outcome.Romantic Compliments for Your Boyfriend or Partner“You’re my lover and my best friend.” A classic for a reason.“You still give me butterflies after all this time.” Gross! Disgusting! Very cute!“All my favorite days have been with you.” Put this one in the Valentine's Day card immediately.“I love waking up next to you and ending the day with you.” Domestic intimacy! Extremely underrated.“I feel so lucky to have you.” This is another one Trout specifically points to as the kind of compliment that tells your partner what they mean to you.“I feel safe with you.” Five words that can mean a hell of a lot more than “you're amazing.”“One day, you’re going to make such an amazing dad.” Obviously, only deploy this one if you've both established that children are part of the plan. Do not casually drop this on date three unless you'd like to watch a man astral-project out of the restaurant.“You're the best dog/cat dad.” If human children are decidedly not part of the plan, perhaps the four-legged ones are.“I like you and I love you.” A little Parks and Recreation for the couples who know.“I miss your hugs—and your kisses.” Innocent enough to send at noon, suggestive enough to take somewhere else by 12:05.“I'm still thinking about how amazing you were last time we were together.” Let him fill in precisely which part you're referring to.“I’m wearing your hoodie right now, and it smells like you.” Is it technically a compliment? Barely. Is it effective flirting? Absolutely.“I can't stop thinking about those burgers you made. Top Chef much?” Compliment the skill! Get another burger! Everybody wins.“I cannot wait to see you again.” Sometimes anticipation itself is the compliment.“You looked so good last night.” The delayed compliment has power. He thought the moment had passed. It had not.“You're ridiculously attractive when you ____.” Fill in whatever weirdly specific thing does it for you. Driving? Cooking? Parallel parking? The more specific, the better.