What Does It Mean When A Guy Initiates A Hug? (7 Captivating Body Language) - AskApril (2024)

What Does It Mean When A Guy Initiates A Hug? (7 Captivating Body Language) - AskApril (1)

Last updated on June 17, 2022 by April Maccario

When a guy initiates a hug, it can be hard to tell what his intentions really are. Does he want to link up? Is he sending signals that he wants to get to know you? Or is he sexually attracted to you? On the other hand, it could mean nothing.

Some guys don’t mean specific things when they wrap their arms around girls. Instead, it’s his way to say goodbye. It could be a gesture of friendship. Trying to decode what a guy wants when he initiates a hug can be complicated. A lot of it depends on his other body language, the type of hugs, or the type of relationship.

Contents

  • 1 What Do His Hugs Mean?
    • 1.1 1. Around the waist hugs
    • 1.2 2. Hugs from behind
    • 1.3 3. The pat on the back hug
    • 1.4 4. Pay attention to the closeness
  • 2 Watch For Other Signs That He Likes You
    • 2.1 1. He stands closer to you
    • 2.2 2. He is nervous when you’re talking to other boys
    • 2.3 3. He’s out to impress you
  • 3 The Type of Relationship
  • 4 FAQs
    • 4.1 What does it mean when a guy wants to hug you?
    • 4.2 What does it mean when a guy gives you a long hug?
    • 4.3 What does it mean when a guy side hugs you?
    • 4.4 Is a hug a sign of affection?
    • 4.5 What do guys feel when they hug a girl?
  • 5 On The Whole

What Do His Hugs Mean?

1. Around the waist hugs

What Does It Mean When A Guy Initiates A Hug? (7 Captivating Body Language) - AskApril (2)

These are those hugs that pull you closer towards him. It’s an intimate embrace that shows that he is there for you. Usually, this means that he has a strong connection with you.

If you’re just friends, it’s a sign that he wants more from the relationship. If you’re committed to each other, it’s a sign that he is in love with you.

2. Hugs from behind

This means that he is into you. When a guy hugs from behind, it is a strong indicator that he sees you as more than an acquaintance.

Instead, he definitely has feelings for you. He’s feeling protective. They don’t go for a hug from behind with girls when they are just friends. When you’re not in a relationship and your friend gives embraces from behind, you can trust that he really cares about you.

3. The pat on the back hug

He reaches over to hug you, but it’s that half-hearted one, complete with the brief pat on the back. Even if he initiates this, it doesn’t mean something more than him wanting to be there for you, or that he feels obligated to dole out some affection to be there for you because he’s your friend.

If you’re going through tough times, he wants to show you someone is there. If not, it’s probably just one of those friendly gestures. It could be that its part of the culture to hug someone before saying goodbye, too.

4. Pay attention to the closeness

A key way to tell what it means while you’re hugging is to look at how close your bodies are. If there is enough distance to put more people in the hug, it’s one of the signs that the man just looks at you in that friendly way.

If he’s pulling you closer, it’s a sign of him liking you. Last, there remain those that don’t put too much distance but you’re still close to him. These could be a sign that he is thinking about making his move.

Watch For Other Signs That He Likes You

What does it mean when a guy initiates a hug? Figuring this out could be as easy as paying attention to more of his actions when you can. You can tell a lot regarding how he’s feeling based on how he looks, stands, and even how he acts.

There are plenty of ways that men accidentally show women that they are interested in them. Body language is often subconscious, so your guy friend might not even realize that he’s doing them. This makes it easier for you to tell what it means when a guy initiates a hug.

1. He stands closer to you

Even if he’s not hugging from behind, he’ll want to be closer to you. Whether it’s sitting close enough to literally rub elbows in the middle of dinner while you’re out with friends or dancing right beside you when you head to the club, you’ll notice that he’s consistently right next to you.

If his body language is because he likes you a lot, he’ll do this even if the room is not crowded. This can be on a case by case situation, so watch his body language in different scenarios to be sure.

2. He is nervous when you’re talking to other boys

This is because he likes you. He doesn’t want you to like someone else. If he likes you and sees you talking to someone else, you’ll notice that he might fidget, sweat, blink more, or simply stare. He’s staring to see if you like the other man.

3. He’s out to impress you

What Does It Mean When A Guy Initiates A Hug? (7 Captivating Body Language) - AskApril (3)

When a man likes you a lot, he will want you to notice him. He’ll laugh more around you and flash those genuine smiles. If you’re at the club, you’ll see him out on the dance floor or splurging on drinks to impress you. In groups of people, he might talk louder or find reasons to initiate conversations with you. He makes sure that he’s noticed.

The Type of Relationship

What it means when a guy initiates a hug can depend on the type of relationship that you have. If you feel very close, it could mean that he has that friendly type of love for you, not that he has strong emotions of a romantic nature.

On the other hand, if he has been around for some time while displaying other body language saying that he’s into you, he could be scared to talk about those emotions for fear of losing the relationship.

If you do not feel close but he hugs you or says that he likes your hugs, it’s a sign that he likes you. This could be the case if the two of you rarely talk but he suddenly wants some hugs here and there, or if his other body language says that he likes you.

If you’re interested, give the guy a chance. Get to know him, and see if he slowly opens up about his feelings and emotions. If he does that and his body language is clear, he really likes you. Remember, there’s usually a reason he says he enjoys your hugs. He’s hoping you’ll say you like his hugs back.

FAQs

What does it mean when a guy wants to hug you?

If you’re already close, such as growing up together and sharing all of your thoughts, the case is more than likely that he wants to be closer to you. He won’t ask for that if he doesn’t like you. If you’re not sure, pay attention to how close the hug is; the closer he pulls you the more he likes you.

What does it mean when a guy gives you a long hug?

It means that he’s enjoying it. A man that likes you will enjoy longer moments together whereas a friend will give you a quick hug instead. More than likely, he has strong feelings or is already falling in love with you.

What does it mean when a guy side hugs you?

If you’re already committed, it means that he’s not feeling as much love for you as you do him. Him not being a huge fan of affection could also be the case. If you have a man like this, too much affection will make him uncomfortable and lead to the side hug.

Is a hug a sign of affection?

This might not always be the case. If you know he’s in love or really likes you, yes. If you’re going through a rough time, it might be his way of being there for you, displaying sympathy, or because he doesn’t know what to say. Some men instantly hug a girl when she cries regardless of the situation.

Frustrated that he doesn't pay you as much attention as he used to?
This is one of the most common issues our female readers face.

It makes you wonder whether he actually likes you or not.

Take this free quiz to see if he actually likes you!

What do guys feel when they hug a girl?

Men always feel like they are protecting a girl, and offering her strength. They feel like her knight in shining armor. If he’s had a long day or is stressed, he will also feel comforted. Sometimes men need the warmth of an embrace too.

On The Whole

If a man has suddenly asked you for a hug, how did you interpret that? What did it wind up meaning for you?

Do you hate it how everything seems to always revolve round him while you just seem to be an afterthought sometimes?
We hear this all the time from women that contact us asking for help with their relationship.

It almost makes you wonder whether he actually likes you or whether he's just stringing you along.

Why don't you take this quick free quiz to see if he actually likes you!

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What Does It Mean When A Guy Initiates A Hug? (7 Captivating Body Language) - AskApril (4)

April Maccario

I'm a huge nerd when it comes to understanding how relationships between men and women work, and what drives a certain behavior. I spend much of my time getting into the nitty-gritty and try to share my findings on this site with the hope of making life a little easier for women that are struggling in their relationships or love life.

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What Does It Mean When A Guy Initiates A Hug? (7 Captivating Body Language) - AskApril (2024)

FAQs

What does it mean when a man initiates a hug? ›

He is being friendly to you

When a guy is friendly to you, he will initiate a hug and thumb your upper back. The significance of the hug is that the guy is being friendly to you. In most cases, it happens when a guy hugs you goodbye. Besides, most men hug their buddies that way when they have just met.

What does it mean if he asks for a hug? ›

It could mean he feels close enough with you to ask for a hug. It could mean he's romantically interested in you. It could mean he's a total creep that just met you and wants to cop a feel. Your situation sounds like one where you've been talking for not too long and out of the blue he asks for one in person.

How do you know if a hug is more than a friendly? ›

One arm around the neck or shoulder is usually a buddy hug. If they put both arms around your neck, consider other stuff like how tightly they squeezed you and what other body parts where touching during the hug. If they came in under your armpits and put both arms around your upper body, that's pretty friendly.

Can hugging someone make you like them? ›

Hugging causes the brain to release oxytocin, the hormone that increases human bonding. Here's why it's so important. The oxytocin released by hugging increases trust, loyalty and feelings of closeness, which is why physical contact in relationships is so important.

Can a hug make you like someone? ›

When we reach out, a chemical called oxytocin — also dubbed the “love hormone” — kicks in and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside. The effects of a warm embrace can linger long after the hug: Oxytocin promotes feelings of trust, nurturing, and calm.

Is hugging a form of intimacy? ›

Examples of physical intimacy include being inside someone's personal space, holding hands, hugging, kissing, caressing and sexual activity. Physical intimacy can often convey the real meaning or intention of an interaction in a way that accompanying speech cannot do.

Is hugging flirting? ›

The importance of touch

"The least flirtatious and romantic touches were the shoulder push, shoulder tap, and handshake. Thus, touching that is gentle and informal, and that occurs face-to-face or involves “hugging” behaviour, appears to convey the most relational intent."

How do I know if he likes me body language? ›

He'll touch his face a lot, while looking at you. If he's interested, he'll stroke his cheek up and down with the back of his fingers, touch his ears or rub his chin. It's a combination of nervous excitement, preening and autoerotic touching.

Does he likes me or just being friendly? ›

A friendly guy will definitely make eye contact during conversation—it's only the polite thing to do, after all—but if he looks at you randomly from afar, he's interested. If you ever catch him trying to sneak a peek at a part of your body other than your eyes while you do talk, he's definitely interested.

How do you tell if a guy is just being nice? ›

People who are just being nice don't want to get closer and closer to another person. Instead, they'll keep a safe distance and might lean away if you try to touch them. However, a guy who likes you won't shy away from that physical contact! His whole body language will actually be leaning into the physical contact.

What is the most intimate hug? ›

A hug at the waist

A hug at the waist is indeed one of the most romantic and intimate types of hugs! A hug at the waist brings one partner below the shoulders of the other, down and closer to the stomach during this embrace.

How do you know if someone wants a hug? ›

The Hug. People who are natural huggers and/or who feel friendly toward you will often prefer to greet you with a hug instead of a handshake. When someone wants to hug, they will approach you with their arms open and their torso facing you in preparation for the embrace.

What kind of hugs do guys like? ›

The 'Grasp On Waist' Hug

If you ask us, “what types of hugs do guys like the most, " here is your answer! This kind of intimate hug suggests that you share a very close bond with your partner where there is love, trust, and lots of romance. It is a beautiful way of spicing things between you and your partner.

What happens when we hug someone special? ›

When we touch – cuddle, hug, or holding hands – our bodies release “feel good” hormones. These hormones include oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. Once the hormones are released into our bodies we experience feelings of happiness, relaxation, improve mood, and lower levels of depression.

What happens if you hug someone you like? ›

When you hug, touch, or sit close to someone you love, your body releases oxytocin, which scientists call the “cuddle hormone.” This hormone can help relax and lower anxiety, which in turn can effectively lower blood pressure. It boosts heart health.

How do you hug in a romantic way? ›

To add an extra romantic touch, nuzzle your head or even your face into the head/neck of the other person (or chest, if you're much shorter than the person you're hugging). Squeeze and hold. A romantic hug lasts longer than a platonic hug. Gently clutch a little tighter for two or three seconds.

What psychology says about hug? ›

Research shows that getting hugged by others, but also hugging yourself, may reduce stress hormones. Longer hugs are perceived as more pleasant than shorter hugs. Older people who at least occasionally get hugs tend to feel better about their health.

What does hugging someone you love feel like? ›

Hugging often creates a feeling of calmness and relaxation. That's because of oxytocin, which is sometimes called the "cuddle hormone." Oxytocin is released when people or pets snuggle up or bond socially. This release can have a domino effect throughout the body and has been found to: Reduce inflammation.

Is hug a physical touch love language? ›

Physical touch is one of the five love languages, and it refers to expressing and receiving affection through touch, physical closeness, and other forms of physical connection. Kissing, hugging, holding hands, and sex are all ways of showing love through the physical touch love language.

What level of intimacy is the highest form? ›

Level five is the highest level of intimacy. It is the level where we are known at the deepest core of who we are. Because of that, it is the level that requires the greatest amount of trust. If I can't trust that you won't reject me, I'll never be able to share my deepest self with you.

What is intimacy to a man? ›

Broadly speaking, intimacy means deeply knowing someone, while also feeling deeply known yourself. It is something humans crave, and though at times, it may seem more difficult for men to express it, that doesn't mean they don't need or want it.

Does hug mean anything? ›

A hug can indicate support, comfort, and consolation, particularly where words are insufficient. A hug usually demonstrates affection and emotional warmth, sometimes arising from joy or happiness when reunited with someone or seeing someone absent after a long time.

Do men crave hugs? ›

A recent survey by researchers has concluded that affectionate gestures like hugging and kissing seem to be more important to men than women.

How do you know if someone fancies you? ›

10 signs that they're definitely into you
  1. Body language. You can tell a lot about whether someone likes you through body language. ...
  2. Shy looks. These are quite easy to look out for. ...
  3. Eye contact. This can be a confusing one. ...
  4. Touchy subject. ...
  5. Taking the initiative. ...
  6. Two way traffic. ...
  7. Serendipity. ...
  8. Just like you.
Dec 21, 2015

How do you tell if a man is attracted to you but hiding it? ›

Signs He Likes You Even If He's Hiding It
  1. When he looks at you, he can't help smiling. Once I was out with Sam in a cafe. ...
  2. He always finds excuses to talk to you or spend time together. ...
  3. He asks you a lot of personal questions. ...
  4. He remembers the little details about you. ...
  5. He always makes an effort to keep the conversation going.
Jul 5, 2022

How do you know if he likes you more than a friend? ›

If he notices your new haircut, a change of mood, or an important date, it might indicate that he considers you more than a friend. A guy who notices small changes in you or your daily life is making an effort to build a deeper connection with you. It also shows that he cares deeply about your well-being.

How should a guy hug a girl he likes? ›

Keep your hands on the back of her waist if she intends to keep hers on your shoulders. Lean in closely and maybe even give a light kiss on her cheek or neck. Hug her tight and never be the first one to back away. Don't worry about it too much.

How do you seduce a guy to fall in love with you? ›

Seduction is about maintaining mystery, playing with words, being creative and giving him everything bit by bit. It's also about giving out hits with your body language. It's a powerful tool to use with the right words. A subtle tough, locking eyes, playing with your hair, being spontaneous - all of it will seduce him.

What is a flirty hug? ›

To hug romantically, wrap your arms around your partner's waist if you're taller than them, or wrap your arms around their neck if you're shorter. Then, when you're hugging, nuzzle your head into your partner's chest or neck to make the hug more intimate. You can also rub your hands on their arm or back a few times.

How do guys like to get hugged? ›

You can put both arms around his neck and keep one palm gently on the nape of his neck. If your arms are around his neck, run your fingers softly through the hair at the base of his neck. If your arms are around his torso, rub his back gently. A behind-the-back hug can also be a good way to hug a guy hello.

How long should a hug last? ›

The quick answer is about 3 seconds, according to a new study of the post-competition embraces of Olympic athletes.

How to know if a guy likes you? ›

22 Subtle Signs A Guy Likes You, From Dating Experts
  • He leans toward you during conversation. ...
  • He angles his body toward you in the room. ...
  • He finds small ways to compliment you. ...
  • He makes eye contact. ...
  • He steals a glance at you. ...
  • He singles you out in a group. ...
  • He seems drawn to you in the room.
Nov 26, 2021

How do you give a man butterflies? ›

If your husband needs a bit of a nudge, here are some small ways to give the him butterflies he had when you were dating:
  1. Take him on a date. ...
  2. Cook together. ...
  3. Do something active outside together. ...
  4. Rub his back. ...
  5. Give him a framed picture of the two of you. ...
  6. Say thank you. ...
  7. Connect with him emotionally. ...
  8. Take a road trip.
Dec 20, 2016

Do boys get hard when they hug? ›

a physical hug though it's a normal greeting practice, has elements of male and female coming closer and rubbing each other face to face closeness including pelvic closeness. During that time female body parts rub male genital causing erections which you might have felt in Hugs.

How many hugs does a man need? ›

Remember touch is essential and there is no substitution for a great big hug! As author and family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth”.

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