How to Know If a Girl Likes You without Talking to Her

Sometimes it’s hard to know if a girl you’ve never talked to before likes you. You might have an idea that she’s interested, but if you want to be certain, there are a few tell-tale signs you can watch for. This article tells you what signs to look for before you talk to a girl and after you get to know her better to tell if she likes you. We also spoke with relationship experts to get their top tips for identifying common signs of attraction and getting her attention!

How to Tell If a Girl Likes You: Quick Guide

There are several signs a girl may like you, even if you’ve never talked. She might act nervous, blush, or fidget when you’re around. She may make eye contact and smile at you frequently, or open up her body language when you’re around. You might notice she dresses up a little more, or you run into her more often.

Section 1 of 5:

Signs a Girl Likes You without Talking to You

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1
She acts nervous and shy when you’re around. When a girl likes you, it’s common for her to show signs of nervousness or being shy around you. This is true even if you don’t talk to her. Just remember, a girl might simply be shy. Make sure you take this sign in context with others. Some signs of shyness or nervousness are:^{[1]
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- Touching her face, collarbone, or neck
- Blushing
- Fidgeting or adjusting her clothes
- Acting awkward or clumsy
- Playing with her hair
- Loud laughing with her friends
- Tripping or dropping things
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She makes eye contact and smiles at you. When a girl likes you, she often holds your gaze to show she’s interested. If she is consistently making eye contact and sometimes blushing while doing it, chances are she’s interested in you, explains dating coach John Keegan.^{[2]
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Expert Source

John Keegan
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} However, if she avoids eye contact by glancing down the moment you make eye contact with her, it may also be a sign that she’s interested and trying to hide her feelings.
- According to psychologist Asa Don Brown PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS, “When we find someone attractive, it’s our pupils that give our interest away. Almost instantly, our pupils begin to dilate and reveal our internal desires.”^{[3]
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  Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS
  Clinical Psychologist
  
  Expert Interview}
- You may also catch her looking at you when she thinks you aren’t looking.
- If her eyebrows flash up and then quickly down again, she might be into you.^{[4]
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- If she adds a smile to her eye contact, that’s a great sign that she’s happy to see you.
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She dresses to impress you. When a girl is trying to impress you without words, she might up her style game. She might wear slightly more revealing clothing, like V-neck shirts and shorter skirts, to show a little more skin. She may also wear red lipstick to seem a little more sophisticated and flirty.^{[5]
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- Everyone has a different sense of style, and a girl may not feel comfortable with red lipstick or showing more skin.
- She may simply dress a little nicer when she knows you’re going to be around.
- However, she may also just like to dress up a little all the time, so don’t base whether she likes you or not solely on what she’s wearing.
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She shows up at the same places you do. If a girl likes you, she's going to find reasons to be near you. Even if you've never talked to her, you'll look up, and she'll be at the next table in the library or a few benches down at the basketball game. It's not that she's stalking you. She's probably just hoping you'll notice her.
- You may also notice her walking through your line of sight or talking to people near you.
- She may also seem to be interested in the same things you are, like clubs, hobbies, and hang-out spots.
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She mirrors your behavior. A girl who likes you may shift her weight, take a sip, or stretch right after you do. She probably doesn’t even realize she’s doing it, but it’s a great sign that she likes you or is at least interested in you.^{[6]
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- If you want to test whether she’s mirroring you, try making a movement and watching her out of the corner of your eye to see if she does, too.
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Her friends know everything about you. If she likes you, she’s probably talking to her friends about you. That means they might know your name along with other facts about you, even if you don’t know them very well. She may even ask her friends to drop a few hints to let you know she likes you or find out if you like her back. Ask yourself:
- Do they know something you never told them?
- Did they mention talking to her about you?
- Have they asked you what you think about her?
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Her body language is open and approachable. If she likes you, she’ll often face your direction no matter where you are in the room. Check out her feet or her knees if she’s sitting. If they’re pointed toward you, it’s a sign she likes you.^{[7]
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Research source} You might also notice her standing up straighter with her shoulders back and chest up.
- Smoothing her hair or flipping it over her shoulder are other body language signs of attraction.
- If she crosses her arms over her chest or turns away from you, it might mean she’s not interested.

Section 2 of 5:

Signs a Girl You Know Likes You

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1
She goes out of her way to strike up conversations with you. She’s also likely to make an effort to keep talking to you with lots of questions. Licensed relationship therapist Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT, tells us that if she seems overly curious about you and asks a lot of personal questions that are more than just casual interest, it’s a big sign she likes you.^{[8]
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Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
Licensed Relationship Therapist

Expert Interview}
- Longer conversations also give her the opportunity to open up to you, which is another sign she likes and trusts you.
- If you’re chatting over text, watch for lots of emojis.^{[9]
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  Research source} Smilies, hearts, and laughing emojis all show she’s having a good time talking with you.
- And if she sends funny memes, GIFs, and videos that remind her of you, she probably secretly likes you.
- She may also use your name a lot when you talk.
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She comments on your social media accounts. One way to see if a girl likes you is to watch how she treats you on social media. If she seems to pay extra attention to you or always comments on every post, she may like you. For instance, maybe she "likes" everything you post or tags you in her posts.
- For instance, if she writes "Cute!" on a selfie you posted, she might be flirting with you.
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She laughs at your jokes and jokes around with you. Laughing is a common sign of attraction. It’s also a way for people to bond with each other. So, if you notice she’s laughing at all of your jokes—even the corny ones—she probably likes you.^{[10]
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- She may also gently tease you or come up with inside jokes that only you share.
- If she makes jokes about dating you, it’s a good sign she’s thinking about it.
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She gives you 100% of her attention. A girl who likes you is going to give you her full attention and remember what you tell her. That means she’ll put her phone away when you’re around. She may lean toward you to make sure she can hear what you’re saying.
- She’ll also probably notice things like your mood or if you got a haircut.
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She pays you compliments that are personal and specific. Paying a genuine compliment is a common—and effective—way to flirt with someone.^{[11]
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Research source} Anyone can give you a compliment about your shirt. But if she’s complimenting you on your kindness to animals or your jump shot, she’s noticing more about you than what’s on the surface.
- If it’s just a superficial compliment like, “Nice shirt!” it still could mean she likes you… or she simply thinks your shirt is cool.
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She gets jealous if you hang out with other girls. Jealousy is usually a sign that she feels possessive of you or that she likes you and thinks you might like someone else. She might get upset when you talk to or about other girls.^{[12]
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Research source} While mild jealousy is normal, it can become a problem if she acts on that feeling in a negative way.
- You might be flattered when a girl is jealous, but it can be a problem if you actually like each other.
- Avoid trying to make her feel jealous. While it might be tempting, it’s not a very nice thing to do and could hurt her feelings if she finds out.
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She buys you small but meaningful gifts. If a girl you know buys you gifts that seem to have special meaning, it’s often a pretty good sign that she has some feelings for you. This could be something simple like bringing you a chocolate chip cookie after you mention you like them.^{[13]
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- She might play it off like it’s not a big deal, but she may be trying to show you she likes you without being too obvious.
- If she seems to be watching your reaction after giving you the gift, she might be trying to figure out if you like her too.
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She lets you know she’s available with hints and body language. “Nonverbal communication is commonly an accurate gauge of our internal thoughts, emotions, and feelings,” explains Brown.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS
Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview} Certified professional matchmaker LeTisha Underwood adds that a girl who likes you will want to get physically close to you.^{[15]
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Expert Source

LeTisha Underwood
Certified Professional Matchmaker

Expert Interview}
- That could mean she’s sitting close or leaning toward you. Or she might even touch you lightly on the arm.
- She may also nervously bite or lick her lips when you’re around.
- It’s possible she’ll even say something that makes it clear she’s single, like, “Oh, I would love to go to an amusement park, but I don’t have anyone to go with.”
- Or she might be more direct by making a joke about her relationship status, “You know me… always single.”
9
She wants to spend time with you. If a girl likes you, she’s going to be willing to initiate conversations and make plans in advance with you. That might mean she’s willing to reach out to chat, or she invites you to events or group outings. She may also suggest going to a concert or movie in the next month.^{[16]
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- If she has to cancel plans with you, she will make sure to reschedule.
- Another way she might try to spend time with you is to ask for your help with a project.
- She might even make an effort to get to know your friends so she can hang out with you more.

Section 3 of 5:

Figuring Out if a Girl Likes You

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1
Try to put the signs she might like you in context. Seeing a few signs of attraction doesn’t necessarily mean a girl likes you. If she only makes eye contact and smiles, it could mean she likes you… or that she’s just friendly or generally flirty. She might be laughing at your jokes because you’re genuinely funny. When you’re trying to figure out if a girl likes you, ask yourself a few questions like:
- Is there another plausible reason for her to act the way she does?
- Are you seeing 1 or 2 signs of attraction here and there, or 10 all at once?
- Does she show the possible signs of attraction to everyone or just you?
2
Ask your friends what they think. They may have heard rumors about whether the girl likes you or not. They also might be better at gauging her behavior. It can be hard to analyze the situation when you’re in the middle of it. You may even feel a little self-conscious thinking about a girl liking you.
- Asking a good friend gives you a fresh perspective from someone who isn’t so invested in the outcome.
3
Ask her friends if she likes you. Another step you could take is to talk to one of her friends, particularly if you have a class with one of them. A simple, “Hey, you're Jess's friend, right? Can I ask you something? Do you think Jess likes me?” is really all you need to say.
- You can also watch how her friends react when you're around their group, including the girl you like.
- For instance, they may start whispering to each other, teasing the girl, or even pushing her in your direction.
4
Watch to see if she treats you differently from other people. According to Jeney, she might give you a lot of attention and practically ignore everyone else.^{[17]
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Expert Source

Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
Licensed Relationship Therapist

Expert Interview} Or, you might notice she seems to talk to everyone, but avoids talking to you. In other words, she doesn't talk to you because she likes you, and that makes her scared or nervous.
- Reader Poll: We asked 1004 wikiHow readers, and 50% of them agreed that the best way to help a shy or introverted girl feel more comfortable is by giving her time and space to open up. [Take Poll]
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Pay attention to what your instincts tell you. If someone likes you, you'll generally know it in your gut. “Maybe they give you a…butterfly feeling,” suggests Jeney.^{[18]
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Expert Source

Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
Licensed Relationship Therapist

Expert Interview} According to dating coach Imad Jbara, “If a girl is responding to you, if she's giving you her time, if she's canceling plans, if she's making time for you, she's interested in you.”^{[19]
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Imad Jbara
Dating Coach

Expert Interview}
- However, if you're not sure, it's always best to give it a shot by talking to her. Remember, fortune favors the bold!

Section 4 of 5:

How to Get a Girl’s Attention

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1
Make strong, natural eye contact. Jeney tells us that “intentionally locking eyes and holding it for a few seconds at a time, and maybe looking back, sends a signal that you're interested in somebody.”^{[20]
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Expert Source

Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
Licensed Relationship Therapist

Expert Interview} Try to avoid intense eye contact for longer than 3-5 seconds, which can seem a little off-putting.
- Jeney adds that you can also use your eyebrows or a wink to flirt with your eyes and show interest.^{[21]
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  Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
  Licensed Relationship Therapist
  
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- If she’s neurodivergent or extremely shy, eye contact may feel uncomfortable for her, even if she likes you.
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Smile at her to show your interest. Smiling at a girl shows your interest and makes it easy for her to smile back at you, explains Keegan.^{[22]
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Expert Source

John Keegan
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} Even when you’re nervous, smiling is a good way to make first contact. When you smile at her, her brain perceives it as a reward, making her happier to be around you.^{[23]
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- Try waving at her and saying hi. This might encourage her to come over and be relaxed in front of you, suggests Keegan.^{[24]
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  John Keegan
  Dating Coach
  
  Expert Interview}
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Give her the opportunity to approach you. Walking up to a large group of friends can be scary. It’s much easier to approach someone who’s standing or sitting by themself. Give her a chance to come over and talk to you by making sure you're occasionally alone when she's around.
- Or, head out by yourself to a place you know she’ll be to make yourself a little more available.
- For instance, maybe you notice she spends time at the library after school. Make it a point to show up there, too. Try sitting at a table near her, where she can see you.
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Walk up to her and say hello. Saying “hi” is an easy way to acknowledge that you noticed each other. And don’t worry if you’re shy. You don’t need a fancy rizz line. Just saying hello will usually do the trick. If she’s unwilling to say “hi” back, she might not be interested. Try it a few more times, but if she never responds, let it go.
- You might be nervous about approaching her, but the only way you can really test your theory of whether she likes you or not is to actually talk to her.
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Come up with a few ice-breaker questions. Jbara recommends keeping it natural and using the situations you’ll be in to come up with conversation starters.^{[25]
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Expert Source

Imad Jbara
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} Think about what you know about her. Is she a member of the drama club, or does she play sports? Engaging with her about school activities is a great way to get a conversation going.
- Try asking something like, "Is it hard to train on the track team?" or "What did you think of the pep rally?"
- Or say something like, "Wasn't the food gross in the cafeteria today? Isn't it awful what they call food?" or "Don’t you think Mr. Harrison looks and sounds a lot like Yoda?"
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Engage her in conversation. Find a good time to talk to her when neither of you is hurrying off to class or activities. Try to approach her when she’s alone if possible. It might feel a little awkward at first, but it gets easier with practice. If she really responds and starts asking you questions, too, chances are that she is interested in you. If she doesn’t really respond, it’s likely she’s not that into you.
- For example, if you asked whether her track training was hard, she might say, "Yes, but I love it!" In that case, you could say, "Cool! What do you love about it? I've always thought about getting into running, but it seems really hard."
- Make sure to use active listening when she talks. That means giving her your undivided attention.
- Lean toward her and nod as she speaks to show her you’re interested. Really focus on her words and avoid interrupting her.
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Compliment her character or actions. Jbara tells us, “Everyone likes getting complimented on their looks. But when you compliment somebody on their looks consistently, and they usually get those compliments, it's not really that special anymore.”^{[26]
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Expert Source

Imad Jbara
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} Instead, focus on paying her a compliment on something she has control over or is proud of about herself. For example:
- “Wow! I love your sense of style. You always look amazing.”
- “You’re so smart. The next time I’m playing trivia, I need you on my team.”
- “That was so nice. I think you might be the nicest girl I know.”
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Tell her you like her and ask her out. “There’s no true way of knowing if someone is interested in you unless you ask,” says Underwood.^{[27]
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Expert Source

LeTisha Underwood
Certified Professional Matchmaker

Expert Interview} The direct approach takes a little bit of courage, but it’s really the best way to get an answer about how she feels. Just ask her out by saying something like, “Hey, I really like you and was wondering if you wanted to see a movie with me.”
- If she says she isn’t interested, listen to her and accept her answer. There’s nothing wrong with expressing how you feel about someone, and it’s better to get clarity now.
- Continuing to chase after them when they’ve said they aren’t interested is disrespectful and can be seen as harassment.
- Only tell a girl you like her if you actually do like her. Saying something like that to test another person’s feelings can feel manipulative and hurtful to her.

Section 5 of 5:

Signs a Girl Doesn’t Like You

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Watch for signs that she’s uncomfortable around you. If you really like a girl, you might put so much focus on signs she likes you that you might miss signs she’s not into you. Sometimes, girls don’t feel comfortable telling you directly that they aren’t interested, so it’s important to learn to recognize the signs. Here are a few clues that she doesn’t like you to watch for:^{[28]
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- She changes the subject.
- She gives you short, yes-or-no answers.
- She tries to end conversations quickly.
- She doesn’t make eye contact with you.
- She pointedly moves further away from you.
- She looks bored or distracted.
- She turns away from you.
- She crosses her arms over her chest.
- She doesn’t laugh at any of your jokes.
- She never asks you questions about yourself.
- She makes excuses to avoid spending time with you.

Join the Discussion...

How can you tell if a girl likes you?

WikiBandicootTrader459

How do you know if someone likes you? There’s this girl at school I like, and I think she likes me, but I can’t really tell. I don’t want to ask her to be my girlfriend if she’s just going to say no. Do I ask her if she likes me over text? Or do I just look for big signs?

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Why do guys not make the first move?

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan

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Expert Answer

A lot of times guys are really afraid of rejection and/or people thinking that they're weird.

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What are the physical signs that a girl likes you?

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

She'll make a lot of eye contact, smile in your direction, and possibly wave at you. In general, she'll be giving off a lot of warm energy.

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Is it okay to get rejected?

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

Absolutely! Ultimately, rejection isn't this awful thing. It just means that you didn't have a connection with that person, and that's okay!

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Always be respectful. If she acts like she's not interested or she says she's not interested, leave her alone. You'll find someone else!

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