How to Act when Your Boyfriend Tells You That You're Beautiful

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Take your compliment with grace and love by following these easy steps

Co-authored by Erika Kaplan

Last Updated: July 24, 2025

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Showing Appreciation

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Acting Politely

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So you hear the big words! They're not "I love you," but they're "you're beautiful." A large and awkward pause dominates the conversation as your boyfriend waits for an ideal reply. You don't want to sound big-headed, but you don't want to appear under-confident, either. You can't say nothing, because ignoring his compliment could be equally as bad as saying the wrong thing, and it might hurt your boyfriend's feelings. Next time this happens, you'll know how to reply to this sweet compliment.

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Showing Appreciation

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Say “thank you.” Accept the compliment, but don't go on to brag about how beautiful you are. This shows that you are confident with yourself, but not full of yourself.^{[1]
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- Being comfortable in your own skin is attractive, so embrace the compliment and try to be genuinely grateful for it. That isn't always easy, but it will come more naturally if you work on loving yourself and overcoming self-doubt.^{[2]
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If the compliment means a lot to you, follow up by saying something like “I really appreciate it” or “that was really encouraging to hear.” Show your boyfriend how the compliment makes you feel and how much value it holds to you. You could even follow it up with a hug and a kiss to be sweet.^{[3]
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Say, "aww, do you think so?" or “really?” This is not denying the compliment, but not being smug. As long as you follow this with something like "you're not so bad yourself," "I love you" or "you are so sweet," he won't feel pressured to answer. You are thanking him, plus returning a compliment.
Look up at your boyfriend as he's giving you the compliment, and try to form an inviting facial expression. Doing this will let him know you are listening and you appreciate his compliment. Looking down will make you appear disinterested.^{[4]
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Keep a positive tone of voice. Try to sound like the compliment has made you happy rather than uncomfortable. Respond to your boyfriend with a lighthearted tone in your voice and delivery.
- Try not to seem uncomfortable or awkward—that will make you seem less confident.^{[5]
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Be flirtatious. You don't have to flatter him, but it might be nice to pay him a compliment if the moment calls for it. Return the favor and tell your boyfriend what you love about him. You could simply say, “thanks, handsome” or “I was just thinking about how handsome you are.”

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Acting Politely

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Saying "I'm not" will show people you lack confidence or are seeking attention. This person obviously thinks you're beautiful, so accept the compliment. Don't protest or he might not say it again.
"You are sweet, but..." Saying "you are sweet" is good, but then going on to protest or even carrying on as though the compliment never was said is bad. It makes him feel unappreciated, and he might not compliment you again.
Saying "I know!" is another poor answer. You don't thank him at all, and it makes it seem like you're full of yourself. Confidence is good, but nobody likes smugness.
Saying "how am I?" is just fishing for compliments. He's given you one, so try not to sound greedy or big-headed. He'll feel pressure to answer you or feel he needs to give you more compliments, and if he fails to answer, you'll be hurt.
Just because he paid you a compliment doesn't mean you have to one-up him. If you must compliment him back, you can say something like, “you're not so bad yourself.” Just avoid overdoing it, and don't try to divert the attention from yourself.^{[6]
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Join the Discussion...

How do you respond to a compliment?

Erika Kaplan
Matchmaker

It's easier said than done, but I do think that it’s important to embrace the idea of just being grateful for someone's compliment. It can be difficult to take a compliment, but that actually stems from self-doubt and insecurities, so focusing on confidence and self-love can help.

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How do I react when my partner calls me beautiful if it makes me feel awkward?

Erika Kaplan
Matchmaker
Erika Kaplan is a Dating Coach and Matchmaker for Three Day Rule, an exclusive matchmaking company across nine cities in the United States. With over six years of experience, Erika specializes in helping singles find quality matches through date coaching and premium matchmaking services. Erika graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She worked for Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, and Men’s Journal before leaving publishing to pursue her passion for connecting people. Erika has been featured on Lifetime, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and CBS as well as in Thrillist, Elite Daily, Men’s Health, Fast Company, and Refinery29.

Erika Kaplan

Matchmaker

Expert Answer

Try to be genuinely grateful for the compliment. It's easier said than done, but when you're dating, it's a really important trait to figure out how to love yourself. Most singles are looking for someone who's self-assured and comfortable in their own skin.

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My boyfriend is kind of shy, but we already hold hands and hug. How do I know if he wants to kiss me or not?

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You could try acting flirty and playful to see if he takes the hint and moves in for a kiss. You could also just directly ask him to kiss you -- it's forward, but it gets the job done!

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How should I answer my boyfriend if he asks me if I have kissed a boy

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You should tell him the truth.

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Tips

Just saying “thank you” is the best way to react to a compliment.^{[7]
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