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20 Things A Guy Might Mean When He Calls You ‘Beautiful’ Or ‘Cute’

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Most of us love receiving compliments, but we can sometimes struggle to understand what they actually mean.

And when it comes to words spoken by members of the opposite sex, it can be doubly difficult to decipher the subtle messages being conveyed.

Take the example of when a guy calls you beautiful or cute. What does that really mean?

Turns out it can mean a LOT of different things depending on the situation and the relationship you have with this guy.

Whether you’re being called beautiful or cute, we’ve decoded the potential meanings so that you don’t have to…

8 Things ‘Beautiful’ Might Mean

1. It’s an all-encompassing compliment.

Beautiful can refer to the way you look, of course. If a man calls you beautiful, it shows that he likes how you look and is in awe of your beauty.

This can cover the majority of other compliments, too – beautiful is pretty all-encompassing and can also mean you’re pretty, sexy, and elegant.

2. He thinks you’re beautiful inside and out.

If a guy calls you beautiful, he may also be referring to your personality. A beautiful personality tends to be soft, giving, and kind.

In this context, the word beautiful can be akin to lovely or sweet.

3. He thinks you’re a creative soul.

Beautiful can also mean that you’re artistic.

A guy may call you beautiful if you’re very creative and come up with poems or sing while you walk around the house.

Is there anything more beautiful than a barefoot hippy dancing through a meadow?

4. He feels a long-lasting love with you.

Women can be attractive in a lot of different ways, and with different intentions in mind.

Sexy girls might be the ones you want to spend Friday night with, but beautiful girls are the ones you want to spend the weekend with.

Beautiful women are very much real, but they’re also the dream – the ones you can take home to meet your parents and who you picture marrying.

5. He feels more than lust for you.

Beauty goes beyond just lust. It’s more about friendship and love combined into something stronger than desire.

It signifies something deeper and longer-lasting than momentary attraction.

6. He sees you as a challenge.

For some men, using the word beautiful implies you’re a bit unattainable.

Sweet, pretty girls are easier to approach, but beautiful girls can be intimidating and scary to approach.

If a guy uses this word about you, it could be that he sees you as a challenge and wants to be worthy of your time and attention.

7. He likes that you’re comfortable in your skin.

Being told you’re beautiful is similar to being told you’re the girl next door.

It’s that type of natural, effortless charm that radiates from some women.

It means you look great without makeup, with messy hair and comfy clothes on. You in your natural state is the most beautiful you of all.

8. He’s proud to be with you.

If a guy calls you beautiful, it means that he’s proud to be with you and wants to show you off.

Introducing you to family and friends isn’t just his way of saying he wants you in his life, it’s him being proud to call you his girlfriend because you’re so beautiful inside and out.

12 Things ‘Cute’ Might Mean

1. He thinks you’re sweet-natured.

When guys call you cute, some girls take it badly. They think it means you’re sweet and young when we may want to feel sexy and desirable instead.

Being called cute doesn’t mean that you’re not all those things as well!

Being cute means you’re kind and lovely. It suggests a soft femininity rather than the childish aspect that a lot of us automatically assume it means.

2. He thinks you’re great company.

Being cute also means you’re really comfortable to be around – you’re good fun and you’re okay being silly.

If a guy calls you cute, it tends to be because you’re really easy to be around and hang out with.

Cute women are sweet-natured and gentle individuals who are kind at heart.

3. He sees you as laid back and relaxed.

Cute can also refer to your personality. You might be called cute if you’re mellow and relaxed.

This is a huge compliment as it means you’re easy-going and drama-free!

Cute girls are easy to approach because they don’t cause any issues and are laid back.

4. He thinks you’re naturally pretty.

In terms of how you look, being called cute doesn’t have to mean you look young.

It can mean that you’re pretty and gentle – especially for girls with freckles, maybe soft pink lipstick, and big eyes.

5. He’s shy, but wants to compliment you.

Some guys may call you cute if they’re a bit shy or because they’re not sure how you’ll respond to them.

They want to start with an easier compliment and see how you respond rather than launching straight in with ‘beautiful’ or ‘stunning.’ 

6. He doesn’t want to come on too strong.

Cute is also a good way to ease in to complimenting a girl – some guys don’t want to come on too strong by telling you how sexy and hot you are.

These guys normally use the word cute as it’s complimentary and friendly and lets them gauge the mood before they tell you how desirable they find you.

7. He thinks you’re girlfriend material.

Cute often refers to the type of girl that men would like to have a relationship with too.

Similar to beautiful, cute is a sweet compliment that refers to your personality just as much as your looks, rather than how much a man may lust after you.

8. He’s playfully flirting.

Cute can be a teasing, flirty compliment. If a guy calls you cute, he may be being playful and joking around to lighten the mood between the two of you.

Cute is something that someone you’re dating may say to you as they know you really well and want to play around and be silly with you.

9. He wants to get out of the friend zone.

If a male friend calls you cute, he could be alluding to having a crush on you.

He could also just be talking about how much he likes your personality and chilled nature.

You might have to keep an eye out for other signs he likes you but is afraid to admit it!

10. He thinks you’re young at heart.

Being called cute can sometimes refer to youth. If your partner calls you cute, it could be their way of saying how much they like your innocence and playful side.

You’re aging well and your partner likes that you’re growing in maturity and experience but are still youthful and fun.

11. He thinks you have an excitable energy about you.

Think about when you’d use the word cute for a puppy or baby – when they’re getting excited and running around full of energy.

If a guy calls you cute, it could be for similar reasons. They might really like your energy and upbeat vibe.

12. He wants to get all cuddly and cozy with you.

If a guy calls you cute, it could be because he wants to do sweet things with you like cuddle, stroke your hair, and have silly baking sessions together.

Cute implies doing adorable things, so some guys use this compliment to show that they want that kind of relationship with you.

So, as we’ve established, there are a lot of different meanings behind being called beautiful or cute!

To really understand what a guy means when he uses these words, you need to look at the context they’re in, the body language a guy uses around you, and the general vibe you pick up.

Rest assured, however, that both beautiful and cute are lovely compliments to receive and show interest, care, and attraction.

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About The Author

Lucy is a travel and wellness writer currently based in Gili Air, a tiny Indonesian island. After over a year of traveling, she’s settled in paradise and spends her days wandering around barefoot, practicing yoga and exploring new ways to work on her wellbeing.