Cute things to say to your girlfriend, and when to say them

Cute things to say to your girlfriend in person

Say these quietly, close enough that only she hears. They're short, so there's nothing to rehearse:

• At a party, leaning in: "You're the only person here I'd leave early for."
• While she's telling a story: "I love watching you get to the good bit."
• When she's concentrating on something: "You do this little frown when you're thinking. Don't stop."
• Walking home: "This is my favourite part of any night out."
• Out of nowhere, in the kitchen: "I like you so much it's slightly embarrassing."
• After she's made you laugh: "How are you this funny and nobody's given you a show?"

Cute things to text your girlfriend during the day

A text at three in the afternoon, when nothing is happening, gets more of a smile than one she's expecting. For the first thing in the morning, our good morning messages for her have their own list.

• "Saw a woman on the bus reading the book you lent me. I nearly told her it gets better."
• "No news. Just thinking about you on purpose."
• "What are you having for lunch? This is a romantic question."
• "I've told two people about you today. They're both sick of you now."
• "Your laugh is stuck in my head and I'm trying to work."
• "I miss you, and it's only been since breakfast."

What to say when she's had a bad day

Cute can wait. On a bad day she needs to feel looked after, not complimented. Find out what she needs before you offer a single solution:

• "Do you want to talk about it, or do you want me to distract you? Both are on offer."
• "You don't have to be okay tonight. I've got dinner."
• "Today was one day. You've been brilliant at this for years."
• "I'm on your side. Even if you were wrong, which you weren't."
• "Come here." (In person. It works better than anything typed.)

What to say when she's done something big

A new job, a hard exam, a difficult conversation with her family, a run she didn't think she'd finish. Say it straight away, and say it specifically:

• "All those evenings at the kitchen table with your notes. You earned every bit of it."
• "Proud of you. Properly proud. Tell me everything tonight."
• "You were so nervous this morning and you did it anyway. That's the bit I'm proudest of."
• "I'm telling everyone. Fair warning."

Cute compliments that aren't about her looks

Saying she's beautiful is fine. Saying something only you would notice is better, because it shows you're paying attention:

• "You're the kindest person in every room, and you never make a thing of it."
• "You always know what to say to my sister. I've been trying for years."
• "You make plans sound fun even when they're just errands."
• "You remember everyone's coffee order. It's a superpower."
• "I trust your taste in everything except films."

Funny cute things to say to your girlfriend

• "I'd share my dessert with you. Not all of it. But some."
• "You're my favourite notification."
• "If we were in a heist film, you'd be the brains and I'd be the one who trips the alarm."
• "You put an empty carton back in the fridge again. I love you, but I'm keeping a record."
• "I've decided we're a team. No transfers."

Sweet things to say when you mean it

Some nights call for more than funny. Say these slowly, and only the ones that are true:

• "I didn't know I could feel this settled with someone."
• "I still get nervous before I see you. The good kind."
• "Something good happens and my thumb's already on your name."
• "I love you. I just wanted to say it when nothing's happening."

Cute things to say to your girlfriend before bed

• "Best part of my day was the ten minutes on the sofa with you."
• "Goodnight. I'll be thinking about you until I'm not thinking about anything."
• "Sleep well. You've earned it."
• "Night. I love you. Set your alarm, you've got an early start."

For the nights you want to say more than a line, our paragraphs for your girlfriend include one to send her at night.

Add one detail and the line is yours

• Call her what you already call her. A pet name she's never heard from you will read like someone else wrote it.
• One at a time. Send a line and wait for her reply. A burst of five looks copied, even if you wrote them.
• Notice first, say second. The best lines come from something you saw her do this week.

Keep the ones that work

The best lines get buried in the chat. Screenshot the good ones as you go, and on her birthday or your anniversary hand them back in one go. If you want to list everything you love about her, our 100 reasons why I love you shows how to write them. When you want to do something as well as say it, here's how to surprise your girlfriend, from five minutes to a whole day.

Both are premium templates. For other gifts she opens on her phone, browse our digital gifts for your girlfriend.