What Do You Say When Your Partner Asks Why You Like Them?

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Learn how to give compliments like a pro!

Co-authored by Laura Bilotta and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: July 17, 2025 Fact Checked

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The Best Ways to Respond

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How to Give a Genuine Compliment

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Q&A

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Tips

So, you’ve been asked by your partner, “What do you like about me?” Before you panic, take a deep breath—this question is easier to answer than you may think! It all comes down to compliments. We spoke with the best dating and relationship experts to coach you on how to share what you like about your partner. With our help, you’ll not only be a pro at answering this question, but you’ll also get a knack for handing out genuine compliments!

How do you answer “What do you like about me?”

The best way to answer “What do you like about me?” is to be honest and complimentary. List things you like about your partner that are positive and flattering. Focus on what you love about their personality, interests, and/or passions.

Section 1 of 2:

The Best Ways to Respond

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1
Compliment your partner’s personality. Your partner likely wants to know why you like them, not why you’re attracted to them. That means you need to go beyond physical attraction (even though they're a total hottie). What about their personality do you like? What about their attitude or way of doing things makes you smile or laugh?^{[1]
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Research source} For example, you might say:
- "I like the way you handle tough situations and stay cool."
- "I like the way you care about animals and are light-hearted."
- "I like how passionate you are about music."
- "I like how you're always there for people who need help."
Meet the wikiHow Experts

John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker with over 15 years of professional experience.

Laura Bilotta is a Dating Coach and Matchmaker with over 21 years of experience.

Zach Pontrello is a Relationship Coach who specializes in helping people build better relationships.

Kim Chronister, PsyD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in helping people in relationships.

Jacqueline House, LMFT-A, is a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate who specializes in helping patients navigate life transitions.

Connell Barrett is a Relationship Expert with over 5 years of experience as a dating coach.
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Compliment their appearance in a way that goes beyond their looks. Liking the way your partner looks isn’t a crime, and they probably like to hear that you find them attractive now and again—but their looks are probably not the only reason you like them. To give a meaningful compliment, focus on what about their physical appearance makes their personality or attitude shine. Dating coach Laura Bilotta recommends complimenting their accessories, clothes, or hairstyle.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Laura Bilotta
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} Then, you can tie one of these mentions to why their style makes them special.
- Try saying what you immediately noticed about them, and then transition into talking about personality: “What I first noticed about you was your eyes, but what I've come to like about you is your great sense of humor. I like how you make me laugh.”
- You might also say, “I like how you smile lights up any room,” or “You’re the most fashionable person I know, and I love how you can make anything look good.”
- Generally, avoid using crude words. No slang for body parts. It’s likely not as funny as you may think.
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Note your partner’s intelligence. If you love how smart your partner is, don’t be afraid to say so! A big brain can make a personality shine.^{[3]
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Research source} Make them feel special by replying with something like:
- "I like how you care about the environment and your footprint in the world."
- "I like that you're a good student and you're committed to getting into a good college."
- "I like that you're well-read and knowledgeable about many different things."
- "I like that you're involved in politics and that you care about making a difference."
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Praise your partner’s skills or talents. “To make a compliment stand out and be more unique, highlight something you’ve recently learned about their skill set and apply it to the compliment,” advises clinical psychologist Kim Chronister, PsyD.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kim Chronister, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview} What does your partner do that attracts you to them? Noting their hobbies, skills, or talents shows that you’re interested in more than their physical appearance—you’re connected to what they love, too. Here are some examples of what you could say (just tailor these examples to their interests):
- “I admire how disciplined you are.”^{[5]
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  Research source}
- “I love how talented you are at baking. Your pies are to die for!”
- “I like your sense of humor. It's so easy to hang out because you're always cracking me up.”
- “I love how passionate you are about your hobbies. You’re so talented.”
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Describe how they make you feel. Compliments seem more sincere and worthwhile if they’re connected to your feelings. The way a person makes you feel plays a big part in how you view them. So, don’t hesitate to be a bit emotional and share just how special it feels when you’re with your partner. Focus on how they make you feel.^{[6]
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Research source} For instance, you could say:
- “I like how much I like you. I'm crazy about you.”
- “I like how you can light up even my darkest days.”
- “I like how you make me laugh.”
- “I like how we can spend time doing nothing together, and it's still exciting.”
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Be authentic. At the end of the day, the best way to answer “What do you like about me?” is with a truthful, genuine compliment. Speak from the heart and be honest. That may look like cracking a playful joke with your partner or being completely serious. No matter what, as long as you’re truthful, they’ll get the answer they’re looking for.
- Relationship coach Zach Pontrello recommends sharing “something that you really admire or something you really love about them” to be genuine and authentic.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Zach Pontrello
  Relationship Coach
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 2 of 2:

How to Give a Genuine Compliment

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1
Be as specific as possible. If you want a compliment to ring true, make it specific to your partner. Use details about them personally that make them special, rather than using something generic that anyone could say. Here are some examples of how to make a compliment more personal:
- Instead of saying, “I like your body,” say, “I like the way you walk and the way you move. When we're walking through the park and it gets breezy, I like the way you tuck your hair back and keep walking while you do it.”
- Instead of saying, “I like your personality,” say, “I like how you crinkle your nose when you’re mad. It’s so cute.”
- Instead of saying, “I like your sense of humor,” say something to make them laugh, like, “I like the way you eat peanut butter straight out of the jar when you think no one is looking. It really turns me on.”
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Compliment your partner in the moment. Dating coach John Keegan calls this the “observational compliment.”^{[8]
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Expert Source

John Keegan
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} Personalize a compliment by making it specific to the now. What is your partner doing in this moment that you love? What’s making them shine? This is an excellent way to show that you’re paying attention to them.
- For example, maybe you’re walking through the mall together. You could say, “I love how you get excited about all the window displays. Which one has been your favorite so far?”
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Give compliments without needing to be asked. The best compliments come unexpectedly. You don’t need to only compliment them when they ask, “What do you like about me?” Offer compliments whenever the moment feels right! This is a great way to show that they’re on your mind and you are genuinely thinking about them.^{[9]
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Research source}
- If you only ever compliment someone as an apology, try being more emotionally present in the relationship and thinking about your partner’s feelings more often.
- While compliments are a good thing, too many of them could be overwhelming. Try not to compliment your partner constantly. As a good rule of thumb, offer them when the moment feels right or your partner needs a pick-me-up.
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Send or leave compliments even when you’re not around. An unexpected compliment can help strengthen your relationship. As marriage therapist Jacqueline House, LMFT-A says, “Giving your partner frequent compliments lets them know you care.”^{[10]
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Expert Source

Jacqueline House, LMFT-A
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

Expert Interview} So, send a quick text or leave a sweet note for them to find later. It’s sure to surprise them and make them feel special.
- Dating coach Connell Barrett recommends sending a text like, “Just letting you know, I’m thinking of you today. You’re very distracting 😉”^{[11]
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  Expert Source
  
  Connell Barrett
  Dating Coach
  
  Expert Interview}
5
Avoid giving the same compliments over and over. Don’t be afraid to mix it up! Even if you mean the compliment sincerely, if it’s said over and over again, it may lose its spark. So, keep it interesting by pointing out new things you love about your partner.
- If you’re not sure what to compliment, draw inspiration from the present moment. What are they wearing? What are they doing? What about it do you like?

Community Q&A

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Question

What do I say to my wife when she asks me what my favorite thing about her is?

Community Answer

Compliment her about something she may be insecure about. If you choose a physical trait, make sure you also tell her about something you admire that is NOT an aspect of her physical appearance, such as her strength, tenderness, etc.

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What do I do when a boy asks me "why do you like me"?

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Just tell him how you feel about him, why he is important to you, the things he does that make you happy, etc.

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Why does my boyfriend always just answer with "everything" whenever I ask him what he loves about me?

Community Answer

Either he doesn't really know what to say or he just loves everything. Ask him instead to give you 3 things he loves about you.

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Tips

Feel free to ask them, “What do you like about me?” in return. It’s a great conversation starter!

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If a girl ask you why you like her but you want to think about the answer for a second, don't go quiet. She'll think you don't have anything good to say. Instead, say, "Give me a sec, I want to pick the right words to accurately explain myself."
If you're struggling to come up with an answer that makes sense to you, think about what made you want to cross the boundary between friendship and a relationship.

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