10 actions that prove a man truly loves you (even though he has a hard time saying it)

Some people express their love verbally, others are more comfortable showing it rather than saying it. 

If you’ve got a man on your hands who falls into the latter category, you may find yourself wondering how he truly feels about you. 

I’m in a similar situation – my husband isn’t big on words but he certainly shows his commitment and love through everyday little things. 

It’s taken me years to realize this, but now, finally, I’ve put those doubts to bed. 

So, without further ado, here are 10 actions that prove a man truly loves you (even though he has a hard time saying it). Let’s dive in!

1) He makes a consistent effort to be a part of your life

Does your man check in with you throughout the day? 

Does he show up whenever you need him to? 

He may not verbalize his feelings, but the fact that he’s clearly thinking of you shows how much he loves you. 

I had an ex who gushed about his love for me all the time. It was quite sweet until I noticed that he didn’t make much effort with me when it came to making plans or seeing how my day was going. 

As the saying goes, show me, don’t tell me. 

So while it might be nice to hear those three little words from time to time, if your man is present and active in your life, that’s worth much more. 

2) He genuinely listens when you talk

In this day and age, it’s hard to keep people’s attention (thanks, TikTok). 

So when someone does listen closely, you know it’s because they genuinely care. If your man: 

  • Turns off distractions while you’re speaking (i.e his phone or the TV)
  • Doesn’t interrupt you 
  • Shows a genuine interest and asks follow-up questions 

You’ve got nothing to worry about! 

Just by tuning in and making the conscious effort to listen to you, whether you’re ranting about Karen at work or why they discontinued your favorite chocolate brand in the local supermarket, he’s showing you that you matter to him

A lot. 

3) He shows patience and understanding

Look, we can all be a bit too much at times. I know I am, especially at certain times of the month!

But a man who is truly in love will be patient and understanding.

This doesn’t mean there won’t be times when he loses his cool – he is human, after all – but in general, he’ll always be there for you. 

In fact, the more he gets to know you, the more he’ll preempt your mood swings and quirky habits. 

My husband, for example, can sense when my period is coming, so he’ll make sure to have my hot water bottle ready, offer massages, or generally just keep out of my way if that’s what I want.

If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is! 

4) He’s willing to compromise and sometimes sacrifices his own needs

Emphasis on “sometimes” sacrificing his own needs. 

You see, there seems to be this misconception floating around that if someone doesn’t sacrifice EVERYTHING for you, then they don’t truly love you. 

I call BS. 

A mature person has boundaries. They have limits they won’t cross, regardless of how deep their love is. 

But that doesn’t mean they won’t compromise. That doesn’t mean they won’t cancel their plans to accommodate yours. 

It’s all about balance and respect. 

So if your man goes out of his way to compromise and make sacrifices when needed, it’s a pretty surefire sign of how he feels about you. 

5) He respects your personal boundaries and space

Talking of boundaries…

When you get home after a long day at work, and all you want to do is decompress alone with your phone and a snack, how does your man take it? 

Does he…

A: Become huffy and suspicious as to why you don’t want to hang out 

B: Understands you need some time, so suggests to catch up later when you’re ready 

If it’s B – you’re onto a keeper!

He loves you enough to give you your space without taking it personally. This not only shows his affection for you but that he deeply respects your wishes. 

6) He shows affection through physical touch and small gestures

Your man might not verbalize his love, but does he show it through frequent contact? 

I’m talking a kiss whenever you say hi or bye. Or holding your hand whenever you’re in public. Or coming up behind you to hug you, just because? 

All of that shows that he feels strongly about you, and he’s using his body language to convey it. 

Perhaps his love language is physical touch. 

Or, acts of service. 

If the second one is the case, he’ll probably buy you cute little gifts from time to time that he knows you’d like. 

Or leave sweet notes for you to find in your pocket. I still remember when I was a teacher, I had a really rough morning at school one day.

I went to eat my lunch, and inside my sandwich box was a note from my husband saying he hoped I had a good day and couldn’t wait to see me after. 

Sometimes, it really is the little things that have the biggest impact. 

7) He often exhibits a protective instinct

Let’s get one thing clear:

By protective, I don’t mean jealous. 

Jealousy isn’t always a symbol of love – learn this well ladies. 

On the otherhand, if he’s protective over things like:

  • Making sure you get home safely 
  • Looking after you when you’re sick 
  • Sticking up for you in challenging situations 

Then he truly loves you

The truth is, men don’t usually do the above unless they feel strongly about a woman. But once they’re hooked, they see it as their responsibility to care for you. 

And protecting you is just one way of doing that. 

8) He includes you in various aspects of his life

Remember the ex I mentioned earlier? Who used to confess his love all the time

Well, he’d often make plans without me. I’d find out after and be left wondering why I wasn’t thought of or invited. 

So if your man does the opposite, enjoy it. 

It’s his way of showing his genuine love. Rather than just saying meaningless words, he’s physically proving it to you. 

Through little things, like asking you to join him for dinner at his grandma’s, or inviting you to his sister’s graduation, he’s trying to make you a part of his life. 

9) He talks about or makes plans for the future that include you

Now, ladies, this is a big one! 

When a man switches from “I” to “We”, that’s when you know he means business. 

He’s in love and he’s happy for the world to know about it. 

All of a sudden, it’s:

“We’re going to Italy next month for a week…”

“We’re thinking about getting a dog soon.” 

In other words, whenever he makes a plan, he factors you into it. 

I vividly remember when I first met my husband, he wasn’t planning on staying in my hometown for long. But just 5 months after meeting me, he asked whether I’d consider leaving with him. 

I couldn’t – I didn’t want to let the school down halfway through the year – so he changed his plans and lived there with me for a year before we left together. 

His actions told me everything I needed to know. 

10) He’s genuinely happy when you succeed or achieve something

And finally, if your man is your biggest fan (excuse the cheesy rhyme), he most certainly loves you, even if he struggles to verbalize it. 

No matter how small or big your achievement, he’s genuinely so happy for you. 

He’ll probably act more excited than you are – telling everyone he knows how proud he is and making sure to celebrate you and your wins. 

This says it all. 

Ultimately, actions do speak louder than words. 

And while you could hold your partner’s inability to verbalize his feelings against him, it wouldn’t get you anywhere. 

Especially if you relate to the points above. Because if you recognize your man in this article, it sounds like you’ve got something that most women only dream of:

A man who shows up and respects you. A man who truly loves you. 

Kiran Athar

Kiran is a freelance writer with a degree in multimedia journalism. She enjoys exploring spirituality, psychology, and love in her writing. As she continues blazing ahead on her journey of self-discovery, she hopes to help her readers do the same. She thrives on building a sense of community and bridging the gaps between people. You can reach out to Kiran on Twitter: @KiranAthar1

9 little-known body language signs that signal high intelligence

8 classic signs of a toxic friend, according to psychology