How to Tell Your Brother You Love and Appreciate Him

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Plus, why showing affection is so essential

Co-authored by Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: July 25, 2025 Fact Checked

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Casual Messages

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Heartfelt Messages

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Messages for an Older Brother

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Messages for a Younger Brother

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Funny Messages

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Birthday Messages

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Benefits of Expressing Love

Brothers! Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em. But no matter how much trouble your bro causes, it’s important to let him know you love them. He’s your brother, after all! We compiled all the best ways to say “I love you” to your brother, whether you want to be casual, heartfelt, funny, or even wish him a happy birthday, along with expert insights from therapists and life coaches. Plus, we’ll share the surprising benefits of showing your appreciation.

Expressing Love for Your Brother

According to communication therapist Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP, saying "I love you" to your brother doesn’t have to be awkward. Keeping it casual makes it more genuine. Some options are:

Say it casually with a low-key message like, “Hey man, I love you! Stay real.”
Say “I love you” more earnestly and emotionally with a message like, “You’re my brother, and I love you no matter what.”
Make it funny with a line like, “Just because you’re my brother doesn’t mean I have to love you, but I do, FYI.”

Section 1 of 7:

Casual I Love You Messages for Your Brother

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Keep it low-key with one of these casual messages. “It's okay to tell somebody how you feel,” says certified life coach Cher Gopman.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Cher Gopman
Certified Life Coach

Expert Interview} Sometimes, though, it can feel awkward to express that love, especially if your relationship isn’t super close. Tenzer says, “Saying ‘I love you’ to your brother doesn’t always have to be awkward, direct, or serious. Keeping it casual often makes it more genuine. A simple ‘Love you, bro,’ or ‘You’re stuck with me for life’ can say just as much as the full phrase.”^{[2]
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Expert Source

Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP
Communication Therapist

Expert Interview} Use one of these earnest but casual messages to tell your brother you love him without overstepping or making things too awkward:
- Just wanted to say I love you. Stay golden!
- In case I haven’t told you recently, I love you, bro.
- How’s it going, dude? You know I love you, right?
- Hey man, I appreciate you and everything you do for me. Thanks a lot.
- Stay safe out there! Me and the family are always thinking of you.
- Good luck, and remember I love you!
- I don’t say it enough, but I love you, bro.
- I appreciate you, bro.
- You’re my bro, but you’re also my friend, and I love you!
- I hope you’re doing alright these days. I love you.
- Checking in to see how you’re doing! I love you no matter what.
- This is me saying, “I love you.” I love you!
- Want to meet up? It’s been a minute, and I’ve been thinking about you.
- Can’t wait to see you again. Let’s make it soon. Love ya!
- Here’s your daily “I love you” text, just in case you forgot.
- ILY, bro!
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP is a Communication Therapist. With over 18 years of clinical and educational experience in the field of mental health, Rebecca specializes in interpersonal relationships.

Cher Gopman is a Certified Life Coach based in New York City. Her work has been featured on Inside Edition, Fox, ABC, VH1, and The New York Post.

Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW is a Therapist who specializes in relationship and communication therapy. Kelli is also an award-winning and best-selling author.

Section 2 of 7:

Heartfelt I Love You Messages for Your Brother

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Show your true feelings with one of these sincere messages. “Relationships should be based on honesty and trust and being able to tell a person how you feel,” Gopman tells us.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Cher Gopman
Certified Life Coach

Expert Interview} That goes for your relationship with your brother. Sometimes, when you want to get closer, a more touching, emotional message is the way to go.
- I hope you know I love you and I’m always thinking about you.
- No matter what happens, you’re my brother, and I love you.
- You know you can always talk to me, right? I love you, and I’m down to help with anything.
- You’re my best friend, and I’m so lucky to have you in my life. I love you, man.
- Being your sibling has made my life so much better in so many ways. Thanks for being my brother, dude.
- I couldn’t ask for a better brother. I love you.
- I wouldn’t be the person I am today without a brother like you. Thanks, man, I love you.
- I wish I could tell you how honored I am to be your sibling. Thanks for everything.
- If you weren’t my brother, you’d still be my best friend.
- You’ve been by my side through hard times and good, and I love you for that.
- I just want you to know that you can ask me for anything, anytime. That’s what siblings do when they love each other.
- Saw this old photo of us. So small! But one thing hasn’t changed, which is that I love you.

Section 3 of 7:

I Love You Messages for a Big Brother

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Show your older brother some love with these scripts. A big brother is a unique person in your life. They’re a role model and an authority figure, but they’re still your friend and someone you can joke around with. These messages respect that dynamic while still showing your appreciation and love. According to therapist Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW, “Siblings are said to be one of the most important relationships of our lifetime because these are the people who will be with us the longest (versus our parents). It’s meaningful to say the words directly, but if that feels uncomfortable, you can always tell him how much he means to you.”^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW
Therapist

Expert Interview}
- You’ve taught me so many things over the years, and I’m lucky to have a brother like you.
- I know it’s not easy being the older brother, but you’ve been a great influence for me and I really look up to you.
- I hope you know how much I admire and love you. You’re an inspiration to me.
- I haven’t always been the easiest sibling to have, but you’ve always been a great big brother.
- I don’t know how I would’ve survived this long without a big brother like you. Thanks, dude. I love you.
- I love you, even though you always used to beat me up!
- Thanks for being the greatest big bro ever. I love you!
- You came first, but Mom and Dad kept going till they got me. Well, we all love you, anyway!
- Just because you’re bigger doesn’t mean you're better, but it does mean there’s more of you to love.

Section 4 of 7:

I Love You Messages for a Little Brother

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Show your younger brother some love with these affectionate messages. Being an older sibling is a big responsibility, and it’s important to show your younger brother that you love and respect them. This makes you a positive role model, and tells them that you’re someone they can trust and look up to.
- It’s been a total honor having a little brother like you, dude. Stay cool.
- I want you to know you can tell me anything. I’m your big brother and I love you.
- Hey, little man! I hope your day is great. I love you!
- I’m gonna be a good influence and say, “I love you.” Follow my example and say it back.
- You’re my little brother, so I have to say “I love you,” but don’t have to mean it. Lucky for you, I mean it!
- I haven’t always been easy on you, but I hope you know I love you, lil brother.
- As your older sibling, it’s my job to love you, but I’d love you even if it weren’t my job.
- You may be newer, but I’m the original model. Love you, little dude!
- You may be younger, but you’ve taught me so much. I love you!
- Never thought my younger brother would end up being my role model, but here we are.

Section 5 of 7:

Funny I Love You Messages for Your Brother

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Make him smile with a funny line. Sometimes, a more heartfelt or serious message can throw off the vibe. In these cases, a funny line is just the thing to show your love while keeping the banter and good times rolling. A light roast can also be a great way to show love while still giving him a jab. According Tenzer, “Some people show love through shared humor like sending a meme that says ‘This reminded me of you (unfortunately).’”^{[5]
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Expert Source

Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP
Communication Therapist

Expert Interview} Here are some fun, lighthearted messages you can share with your bro:
- Try to stay out of trouble for once, dude. I love ya.
- It ain’t always easy being your brother, but it’s always easy to love you. Twerp.
- I always wanted a sister, but I got you instead. You’re alright, though. Love you!
- This is me meeting my sibling “I love you” quota. For real, though, I love you!
- I love you! You might think it’s embarrassing to hear, but you’ve done things way more embarrassing than this.
- I love you. Mom said you have to say it back.
- I love you, but don’t let it go to your head.
- I love you like a brother. Oh, wait…
- Who’s got 2 thumbs and loves their brother? I’ll let you know when I find them. Sike! It’s me 🙂
- I love you, and I’m not just saying that because Mom told me to.
- I love you, but I’d love you more if you bought me some pizza on your way home.
- Heads up, next time I see you, I’m tackling you in a bear hug. You’ve been warned.
- I love you even though I’ve kept track of every time you’ve wronged me over the years. That’s how you know it’s real.

Section 6 of 7:

Birthday I Love You Messages for Your Brother

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Wish him a happy birthday with one of these celebratory messages. Birthdays are special occasions! It’s your chance to celebrate your brother’s role in your life and everything he’s accomplished while showing your affection. Express your gratitude and wish him a happy birthday with these birthday messages:
- Happy birthday, bro! Another year, another exciting chapter. I love you.
- Happy birthday, dude. I love you! Better get all those candles out in one breath.
- Don’t go too wild today. But even if you do, I love you anyway. Happy birthday.
- For your birthday, I got you a big hug full of love. And a gift card, but that’s not as exciting.
- I love you more with each passing birthday, man. It’s been a pleasure to watch you grow into the gentleman you are.
- I remember when you were only blowing out a few candles, now look at you! I love you, don’t forget it!
- How do you keep growing? It feels like just yesterday that we were riding bikes together. Well, no matter how you get, I’ll always love you, bro.
- I’ve got a super embarrassing baby picture of you somewhere, but since it’s your birthday, I’ll spare you… for now. Happy birthday, and I love you!
- Happy birthday to my favorite brother. Don’t tell the others I said that. Love you!
- Here’s an “I love you, man” for every year you’ve been alive: I love you, man. I love you, man…
- For your present this year, I’ll finally admit it: I love you!

Section 7 of 7:

Benefits of Expressing Your Love for Your Brother

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Expressing your love can bring you closer together. When you tell someone “I love you,” you’re showing trust and emotional vulnerability. It shows them that you care enough to put it into words, and that’s not a small thing!^{[6]
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Research source} There are lots of ways to get closer to your siblings, but just saying 3 little words can go a long, long way.
- Try to tell your brother you love him every week, if not every day.
- Tenzer says, “It’s all about showing up in the little ways. You want to express the idea that ‘I see you, I’ve got you, and you matter to me.’ Whether it’s a fist bump, love tap, an endearing nickname, or just making space for each other, those are the quiet ways we can say ‘I love you.’"^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP
  Communication Therapist
  
  Expert Interview}
- Miller says, “Remember–actions are also important. Are you showing up for him when he needs you? Do you believe he feels loved by you by the things you do for him?”^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW
  Therapist
  
  Expert Interview}
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Showing your appreciation can boost his mental health and self-esteem. It’s no secret that many boys and men struggle with self-esteem and mental health. Men also aren’t the best at expressing their emotions. But just by saying “I love you,” you help boost his mood and self-image.^{[9]
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Research source} It tells him that someone out there is thinking about him, and that you treasure your relationship.
- Think about how you feel when someone tells you they love you. He feels the same way when you say it!
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Saying, “I love you,” makes you feel happier. It doesn’t just make him healthier and happier, it makes you healthier and happier, too! Expressing your admiration deepens and affirms your bond. It helps build mutual trust, which gives you another person to lean on and confide in when you need help.^{[10]
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Research source} So, expressing your love helps everyone involved. That’s a win-win.