Your guy friend has been acting weird lately. He’s been sending mixed signals as if he wishes you were more than just friends. But again, you’re not sure.
To be sure he’s into you, look out for the following tell-tale signs our male friend has feelings for you. If he shows some of these signs, he’s probably falling in love with you.
Let’s dive right into it.
1. He Has Become Cautious Around You
When someone likes you, they’ll only want to bring positive feelings to you. For this reason, your male friend may strive to please you at all times hence becoming extra cautious about anything that might upset you.
You might notice he doesn’t express his rather silly self anymore. Or he appears neat all the time he’s meeting you. All of a sudden, this guy friend has become shy. This is a big sign he has feelings for you. But before you conclude, check if he has the following signs too.
2. He Avoids Talking About Other Women
Although you’re great friends and talk about everything, it’s like his love life is off-limits. Coming to think of it, he never really talks about other women.
If he is into you, your male friend would obviously avoid even complimenting other women in your presence so you don’t think he’s taken. He’ll focus on making you feel like you’re the only girl in his world.
3. His Friends Never Hit on You
When you’re in a guys’ friend zone, his friends can hit on you freely. But if no one ever asked you out, it’s probably because they know he likes you.
Even if he hasn’t told his friends, they might have picked up the fact that he has feelings for you and wouldn’t want to wrong him by asking you out.
4. He Makes Jokes About You Two As a Couple
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“If I was your boyfriend for a week, I’d treat you like the queen you deserve. Haha, I’m just kidding! You’re my friend.”
While he might make jokes about dating you and even laugh sarcastically at them, it is very likely he wants to move beyond the friend zone.
He probably wants to know how you’d take it and that’s one of the signs he has feelings for you.
5. He’s Calling You Pretty Pet Names
A pet names study on 1000 adults revealed that these dear terms to refer to someone we like increase bonding and creates meaning that connects one to how they were loved as kids.
Therefore, when your guy starts to use a pet name for you, he probably associates it with a new love he feels for you — a love that bonds you beyond the friend zone.
So if he used to call you “bro” or any other friendly name but shifted to sweet girlfriend-style names like “boo”, “babe”, “pretty”, “beautiful” and “love,” he probably likes you more than a friend.
6. You Are the First He Tells His Good News
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Think about it, does he share his excitement with you first before telling other people. Is he now more comfortable with telling you his good news even more than his other confidants?
When a guy sees you as more than a friend, he would want to share his life with you — especially the best parts. Your approval means much to him and therefore, you’ll be the first he expresses his joy too.
Related: How To Tell If A Guy Likes You But Is Hiding It
7. He Avoids Talking About Men Interested in You
While he would probably avoid hurting you by talking about women, one surefire sign he likes you is if he gets jealous about other men who like you.
When you start talking about a guy who’s taking you out, especially if you’re complimenting him, he’ll seem upset and uninterested in knowing further. The reason behind this is that he likes more than you know.
8. He Includes You in All His Future Plans
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This is one of the big signs your male friend has feelings for you.
Does your male friend keep using “We” when talking about future plans? If he talks of doing stuff with you in the future, in his mind, you’ll be there by his side doing life together.
Our feelings betray us when talking enthusiastically at the moment. So it’s easy for your guy friend to slip up and reveal that he sees you doing stuff like adopting a dog together.
Related: Clear Signs He Caught Feelings For You
9. He Strives to Know Your Dating Status
While he doesn’t want to talk about your boyfriend or other guys interested in you, he wants to be up to date with your dating details so that he can know the right time to step in and confess his feelings for you.
You’ll notice that he’s very keen especially if your relationships are breaking apart. One small argument with your boyfriend and you’ll hear him saying, “He doesn’t deserve you.”
10. He Hangs Around You a Lot
One of the signs your male friend has feelings for you is his constant and often unnecessary presence near you. If you pay attention, you may notice he keeps creating reasons for hanging out with you.
He comes to keep you company whenever he’s free, he drops by your place to just chill, and even takes you out in the name of “checking out nice places to hang out.” This sign reveals his need to be close to you.
11. He Strives to Look Good For You
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Naturally, we desire to look good for someone we like. So if a guy has been your friend for a while yet lately has become extra conscious of his looks around you, he’s probably falling for you.
You might notice he starts brushing his hair and straightening his clothes when you approach. Or maybe he puts on cologne in the middle of the day before you enter the car. You see he’s grooming himself now more than before. And he’s doing it only around you. Chances are, he wants you to be attracted to him.
12. You Feel the Chemistry
While friendship chemistry may be existing already, you may start feeling a deeper kind of connection. This natural instinct of romantic connection might be one of the revealing signs your male friend has feelings for you.
Perhaps you feel your guy friend likes you but you don’t like them back. It’s always advisable to trust your instincts and even better, check out more signs your guy friend is falling for you to confirm it.
Related: 140+ Best Seduction Quotes To Fuel Your Relationship
13. He’s Always Your Hero
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The hero instinct is a real thing in men that explains their biological drive to provide for their loved ones and feel appreciated for doing so. It’s also triggered when they like someone romantically.
So if your guy friend is always striving to be your hero by solving your problems like fixing your plumbing and installing furniture among other supposed masculine jobs, he’s probably into you. He’d want to ensure that he’s the only man to provide you with whatever you need to feel happy.
14. He’s Extra Curious About You
As your male friend, he may have been used to dismissing some of your concerns especially if they were too “feminine”. But now that he’s developing feelings for you, you might notice he’s getting more curious even about the most mundane things about you.
He’s now inquiring deeper about what your ideal marriage is, what you want in your partner, and even the reasons you put on makeup. If you’ve been wondering why he’s suddenly become curious about you, you’re probably experiencing one of the signs your male friend has feelings for you.
15. He Is Protective Of You
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When a man likes you as a friend, he’ll care for you as he does his sister. However, it gets more intense when he has romantic feelings for you.
It’s the hero instinct again.
He might start acting more protective than he ever has. It can be as little as walking you to your car, giving you his coat when cold, and even walking on the traffic side of the road to protect you from possible accidents and dirt splashes.
Ultimately, he’ll go above and beyond to show you he’s a man you can depend on to care for you at all times.
16. Many People Tell You He Likes You
When it’s happening to you, it may be tough to spot the signs your male friend has feelings for you. But other people outside your situation can see it.
So if your friends told you they think your guy friend is falling for you, he probably is. They might explain changes in his behavior and when you listen carefully, it might reveal the obvious signs in this list.
Even acquaintances might say stuff like, “You are a cute couple.” This would mean they see a connection you’re not seeing or one you’re denying. Either way, if people notice he likes you, he probably does.
17. He Calls and Texts More Often Than Before
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Friends call and text randomly. Nothing unusual about that. But if your guy friend is calling or texting you more than usual, he likely is falling in love with you. Let me explain this further.
Friends rarely text each other “good morning” while wishing each other an awesome day. Neither do they text “sweet dreams” every night. Couples do that though so chances are, your male friend wishes you were a couple.
18. He Keeps Extending Conversations
Perhaps he’s conscious of how often he texts you and uses another subtle tactic to stay in constant contact with you. Pay attention since he might have started prolonging your conversations on call and text for no reason except to feel close to you.
Let’s say you ask him, “Hey, did you watch the Money Heist Series I told you about?” He answers, “Hi Lily, I didn’t but I’ll check it out this weekend.” So you say, “Cool.” But he texts on, “What are you watching today?”
And the conversation has to continue. He might even ask mundane things friends don’t talk about like whether you’ve eaten. This is a subtle sign he secretly likes you more than a friend.
19. He Tries to Prolong Hangouts
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Being close to someone you love feels good. You never want to go home after you go on a date with them.
The same happens with your guy friend when you hang out. Even if it’s late and you’ve been together the whole day, he adds, “Let’s go get ice cream.” If he prolongs your time together often, he’s probably in love with you.
Another of the big signs your male friend has feelings for you could be:
20. He Starts Talking About His Life in Detail
Since he thinks of you as someone he can share his life with, your male friend may become more open about his life in general.
He might start confiding his plans, fears, and wildest dreams with you either unconsciously or to see if your paths match.
21. He’s Now More Interested About Your Social Media
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In this age of social media, one can reveal their interest in you through their behavior online.
If your male friend all of a sudden started liking and commenting on most of your posts online, he probably has developed feelings for you.
22. He Keeps Paying the Bill Even Though You Can
Friends split bills and even cover each other often. But if your male friend keeps picking the tab every time you hang out lately, chances are, he likes you more than a friend.
This is his way of being a hero for you, showing you he can care for you. He may not realize it but his gentleman instinct clicked along the way as he fell in love with you.
23. He Actively Compliments You
“You look amazing, you always do.” “Your smile can melt away anyone’s stress. I know it does mine.” “You’re kinder than anyone I know.” It’s weird for a friend to keep complimenting you randomly and actively.
But it isn’t weird for someone who likes you more than a friend to throw compliments at you as much as he can. That’s a language of love.
24. He Comments About Your Moments Together
As friends, you enjoy moments but don’t keep texting how amazing you felt last weekend’s hangout was. That’s something couples do.
So one of the subtle signs your male friend has feelings for you is when he starts explaining how he feels about every time you spend together. He starts saying stuff like, “I really had a great time today, I appreciate your time.”
You might think it’s weird and you’d be right. He is falling for you.
25. He Is Now Shy When People Talk About You
If in a group of people or even among your mutual friends, your male friend can seem shy for a moment.
You might notice his blush if people talk about how you relate. The friend you know would become a different creature because he’s nervous people might know his secret love for you.
Related: 22 Clear Signs He Likes You But Is Afraid Of Rejection
26. He Starts Complaining About the Small Stuff
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“You haven’t texted me for three days, I could be dead for all you care!”
This same male friend you’ve been texting occasionally now feels it’s a big deal when you don’t talk for a few days? What’s happening?
It’s confusing when your male friend starts making complaints sort of as demands for being cared for. But it should be clear why by now since this is one of the signs your male friend has feelings for you.
27. He Focuses on You When Addressing Everybody
When in a group setting, pay attention to his body language. Does his body incline in your direction? Does he strive to face you even when talking to everyone?
If you say yes to the two questions, chances are, he’s into you. He focuses on you even among mutual friends since he needs your approval for the ideas and jokes he expresses. You are the main person that matters to him.
28. He’s Touchy Than Usual
Unless it’s his character, a guy becomes touchy with a girl he likes. Since he’s attracted to her, he unconsciously expresses his need to be close to her by making physical contact.
He might hug you a little longer than usual. Or brush off hair from your face. Whatever the case, if you’ve noticed he’s more touchy lately, chances are, he’s falling in love with you.
29. He Treats You Differently
If you see how he treats other female friends, you can know whether you’re more special to him or not.
So ask yourself:
- Does he joke to make you laugh more than other women?
- Does he strive to sit closest to you more than anyone else?
- Does he play hero mostly to you?
- Does he check on other female friends as he does you?
If your answer to most of these questions is yes, then your male friend probably likes you.
30. He Drunk Texts You Romantic Stuff
When we suppress our thoughts and feelings, they don’t go away. They get bottled up in us until our inhibitions are lowered by alcohol or other causes.
So your male friend might reveal his suppressed feelings when drunk only to realize later that he confessed his feelings to you. Even if he convinces you otherwise, you better believe this big sign he has fallen in love with you.
31. You’ve Had Some Spontaneous Intimate Moments
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Finally, your instincts can be proven right by one of those moments where the world seems non-existent and both of you realize you’re in love.
You might have come so close to each other and felt like inching closer still. Or maybe you had a long conversation and as it got deeper, romantic feelings started showing up. Perhaps you touched for a moment, you felt something, and withdrew as fast as you could, none of you saying a word.
32. He Teases You
Maybe you’ve always had a relationship like this where you tease each other constantly and make fun of each other to get some laughs.
But if not, this could be a good indicator that your male friend has feelings for you.
33. He Remembers Important Dates
If your male friend always remembers important dates in your life, without exception, this could potentially be a sign he’s into you.
Male friends don’t typically remember things like this, so there might be something there if you notice your friend remembering everything about you all of a sudden.
34. He Doesn’t Seem Interested In Dating Anyone Else
If your male friend doesn’t show any interest in dating whatsoever, but he always wants to spend time with you, that might be a sign he’s into you.
He probably doesn’t care about anyone else so he chooses not to get involved in the dating arena. He’s secretly hoping he’s going to get his chance with you.
35. He Wants To Hear About Your Interests And Hobbies
When a man is interested in you, he’s interested in all of you. He wants to know what you like to do for fun. He’s curious about your hobbies and interests.
If you notice your male friend suddenly asking you about your hobbies and showing a sudden interest in them, he may want to be more than friends.
36. He Wants To Be Adventurous With You
Does he want to take you on adventures? This is a clear sign he’s into you. When a man is willing to try new things with you, he definitely wants to be your boyfriend.
Going on adventures together is a nice way to start a romantic relationship, so if you’re into him too, go for it!
Another of the signs your male friend has feelings for you is:
37. He Showers You With Meaningful Gifts
Buying gifts for friends is nothing odd. But if your male starts getting you meaningful gifts with a hidden message, that’s a sign he has feelings for you.
It’s simple; you don’t go through all that effort to surprise someone who’s just a friend. If he goes above and beyond to prepare a perfect gift for you every time, he wants to be more than friends.
38. He Introduces You To His Close Circle
One of the most obvious signs a male friend has feelings for you is when he wants to introduce you to his friends and family.
If you add any other sign from this list to the mix, you can be certain he wants to be in a serious relationship with you.
39. He Wants To Hear About Your Goals In Life
As I mentioned before, when someone is into you, they want to know everything about you. So, if your male friend starts getting more and more curious about your dreams, it might mean he wants to share your dreams with you.
He cares about your happiness. He wants you to achieve your goals and he’s ready to hold your hand while you do it.
40. He Can’t Stop Staring At You
Intense eye contact is the universal sign of attraction. So if your male friend suddenly starts giving you loving stares, he’s probably into you.
Don’t take the romantic gaze for granted. It’s an obvious sign your friendship has a chance to turn into a relationship.
41. He Gets Nervous Around You
If your friend is not the nervous type, but he starts behaving oddly when you’re around, it’s time to look into it.
When a man likes you, he tends to get nervous around you because he doesn’t want to ruin his chance with you by saying something wrong. So, if your male friend is all shy and nervous when he’s near you, ask yourself if you noticed any other signs from this list lately.
42. He Wants To Get To Know Your Family And Friends
Not only does he want to introduce you to his circle, but he’s also eager to meet your friends and family. This means he’s interested in you.
He wants to be a part of your life and is not afraid to show it. Don’t ignore this sign, especially if you happen to like him back.
43. He Wants To Spoil You
The most obvious sign a man is into you is when he genuinely wants to see you happy. He wants to spoil you with romantic gestures, surprises, and gifts.
So, if you notice your male friend is trying to spoil you, it might mean he’s in love with you. If you like him back, enjoy the attention. You deserve it!
44. He Opens Up About His Feelings
When a man is in love with you, he will tell you how he feels. Even if he tries to hide it now, he’s probably going to decide to open up about his feelings and directly tell you he likes you in the future.
But even if he doesn’t say it out loud, if you go through this entire list, you’ll know how to tell if your male friend has feelings for you.
If any of these moments happened to you, your male friend probably likes you. And you like him too.
Signs Your Male Friend Has Feelings for You Questions
How do you know if a guy friend likes you secretly? How do you know if your guy best friend is falling for you?
To know if a guy friend likes you secretly, watch out for the above signs he has feelings for you. He might be extra cautious around you, want to spend more time together, feels jealous of other guys who like you, and even become more touchy than usual.
How do you know if he likes you more than a friend? 3 signs to watch out for?
Three main signs your guy friend has feelings for you involve him wanting to spend more time with you, getting jealous of other guys interested in you, and acting a hero for you.
Closing Thoughts
If you’ve realized most of the signs your male friend has feelings for you are true for your case, then it’s possible he likes you but is afraid of rejection or avoids ruining your friendship.
Either way, you have to find out whether you want a romantic relationship with him or want the friendship as it is.
So, does your male friend have feelings for you?
Which signs pop up?
Do you recognize other signs your male friend has feelings for you?
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