How to Respond when a Girl Says She Likes You over Text

Co-authored by Cher Gopman

Last Updated: July 15, 2025 References

LOL, SMH, IDK, and not to mention emojis—text messaging almost has its own language. That includes the language of love. If a girl tells you that she likes you through a text, you may be wondering exactly how to respond. Don’t worry. It’s totally normal to be a little nervous. That’s why we put together a handy list of things you can say and do to make it easier for you.

1

Don't make her wait for an answer.

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Even if you need more time, respond to her text quickly. It's pretty nerve-wracking to tell someone you like them, and she's probably anxiously waiting to see what you'll say. If you like her too, you're probably excited to give her an answer. Put some thought into it, but don't spend too much time thinking of the perfect response!^{[1]
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- Things might be a little more complicated if you need to tell her you're not romantically interested in her or you need some time to think about how you feel. Avoid the temptation to drag it out though—go ahead and respond to her text as honestly as possible.
- Reader Poll: We asked 241 wikiHow readers how they would respond if a girl texts them back quickly, and 51% of them said they would also reply back fast to show her they like her. [Take Poll] Responding quickly is a great way to show you’re serious about your feelings!

2

Ask her what she means if you're not sure.

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Find out if she likes you as a friend or something more. If you're chatting with a girl and she says something like "LOL I like you," you might be a little confused about her intention. Does she like talking to you as a friend? Does she want to be your girlfriend? If you have any questions about it, the best thing to do is to ask.^{[2]
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- Try saying something like, "Oh yeah? As a friend or...?"
- You can do this even if you're pretty sure what she means as a playful way of getting her to tell you more about her feelings.

3

Ask her out on a date if you like her.

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Accept her invitation or ask her out yourself. Once the cat is out of the bag and she’s told you that she likes you, you’ve got a great opportunity. If you like her, tell her and then ask if she’d like to go out sometime. She’s very likely to say yes!
- For instance, you could say something like, “I like you, too! Let’s go grab some coffee or a drink this weekend. Are you free Saturday night?”
- She went out on a limb and took a risk to tell you how she feels, don’t let her down if you feel the same way. Ask her out!^{[3]
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4

Say “Thank You” for a safe response.

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Thanking her is a great way to express gratitude. It also a great introduction if you plan to say more. If you’re unsure of what to say, thanking them is polite and buys you some time to come up with a longer response if you want to.^{[4]
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- For instance, you could text back, “Thank you!” and then follow up with something like, “I really like you too” or something like “You’re such a great friend” if you don’t have romantic feelings for them.
- Additionally, saying “Thank you” is a great response for a platonic relationship. If she’s just a friend or even a relative, thanking them is the polite thing to do.

5

Tell her that you like her if you feel the same way.

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Profess your feelings with a genuine response. Don’t leave her hanging! Tell her that you like her too so she knows that you feel the same way.^{[5]
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- You could shoot back a simple, “I like you too” or something more energetic like, “Wow! I really like you too!”

6

Send a cute meme to show how you feel.

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Memes can help when you can't find the right words. Not sure how to say, "I'm so excited I think I'm going to burst like a balloon?" Well, there's probably a meme or gif that can say it for you. You could even make your own!^{[6]
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Research source} Just keep in mind that if you send a gif as a response, you'll probably still need to follow up with a message.
- You might send a gif of a cat with flashing heart eyes, or you could send a clip of Bashful, the shy dwarf from Snow White. Then, follow up with a simple, "I like you too!"
- Emojis can work, too, but gifs are more expressive.
- It's probably best not to send a gif to tell her you don't like her—it might seem callous and unkind.

7

Ask for time to think things over if you’re unsure.

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Think about how you really feel before you respond. If you feel conflicted, or you’re surprised by her telling you that she likes you and you need some time to come up with a response, that’s totally okay. Be honest with her. That way, you don’t leave her hanging with no response at all.^{[7]
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- Keep it simple. Something like, “Hey, I need a moment to think about this.” It may not be the response she wanted, but it’s better that you respond honestly. If you need some time to figure out how you feel, take it.

8

Be kind and honest if you don’t like her.

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Being honest is always a good practice. Even if it may make you feel uncomfortable, she deserves to know the truth. Just be gentle and kind and tell her that so she doesn’t have false hope.
- You could say something firm but considerate like, “I think you’re really great, but I like you as a friend.”

9

Purposefully misinterpret her message to build tension.

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Tease her by pretending that you misunderstood her message. It’ll frustrate her and bring in a little tension into the conversation. It could cause her to chase after you even harder.^{[8]
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- For instance, if she says, “I like you,” you could say, “Thanks, I like me too” or “You like to do what to me?” A little playful flirting never hurt anybody, and it could make her like you more!

10

Give her time to respond after you reply.

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Don’t assume anything if she doesn’t immediately text back. After you reply to her, whether you tell her that you like her too or you text something else, be patient while she considers her response. It may take her some time to process what you texted. Let her take her time and reply when she’s ready.^{[9]
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- For example, if you say, “I like you too!” And 5 minutes later she hasn’t texted anything, don’t follow up with a question mark or something like, “well?”

11

Try not to doubt or second-guess yourself.

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Stay confident and positive to keep her interested. She just told you she likes you! Whatever you respond with, keep up your confident energy through the rest of the conversation. Believe in yourself and she’ll be even more attracted to you and confident in her decision to tell you how she feels.^{[10]
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- For example, don’t say things like, “Do you really like me?” or “Are you sure you like me?”

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Improve Your Texting Game with this Expert Series

Are you not sure what to text girls, or do you find yourself getting ghosted? We’ve put together this series of expert articles to help you text easily and confidently.

1

Text a Girl You Just Met

2

Flirt Through Text Messages

3

How to Know When and How Often to Text After a First Date

4

What Does It Mean When a Girl Says She's Sorry for the Late Reply? (and How to Respond)

5

How to Respond when a Girl Says She Likes You over Text

6

Persuade a Girl over Text

Expert Q&A

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How do you flirt over text?

Cher Gopman
Dating Coach
Cher Gopman is the Founder of NYC Wingwoman LLC, a date coaching service based in New York City. 'NYC Wingwoman' offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, 1-on-1 Coaching, and intensive weekend bootcamps. Cher is a Certified Life Coach, a former psychiatric nurse, and her work has been featured on Inside Edition, Fox, ABC, VH1, and The New York Post.

Cher Gopman

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

If you are trying to flirt through text messages, it's okay to use emojis here and there. You don't want to overuse them, because that'll come off as too eager. But you do want to use some emojis just to show that the conversation is lighthearted and fun. Make sure you're keeping the conversation moving forward and not sticking to one topic for too long so things don't become boring. Keep the conversations fun and lighthearted. Don't be afraid to send a photo of wherever you're at if it's interesting or let them know that a song that just came on reminded you of them. Show that interest and common ground and then it'll make the other person excited as well.

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Tips

Write her a letter if you’re shy. You can email it or give it to her so she can read it on her own time.^{[11]
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Try asking her out to do something that you know she’s into. If she likes books, ask her out to a bookstore. If she likes food and sports, take her out to a sports bar that serves tasty wings. Choose a date spot that you know she’ll love.

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