When A Guy Says Love You Instead Of I Love You (What It Means!)

A one-letter word can make a big difference when saying something important, and if a guy says “love you” instead of “I love you”, it might leave you a little confused!

There is a difference between these two statements, but is it a difference that you should be worried about?

There are a few reasons why a guy might say “love you” instead of “I love you”, and understanding why he has done it might give you a good indication on how your relationship is going!

So, if you have been hit with a simple “love you”, and don’t know what to make of it, keep reading to find out why he has chosen to leave that very important little “I” out!

Why Is There A Difference Between ‘I Love You’ And ‘Love You?’

couple-in-love_kissing

It might seem like a small omission, but many people believe that leaving the “I” out of I love you could show that the person is becoming emotionally detached.

It could show a lack of commitment to them saying that they love you and that they aren’t feeling comfortable fully committing to the statement.

However, it could mean nothing at all and is not something that you should jump to conclusions about straight away.

There isn’t one reason as to why someone might say “love you” instead of “I love you”, so it is worth considering all options!

It Is More Casual

The guy saying it to you might just be more of a casual person, and doesn’t want to dish out the formal statement of “I love you”.

This could just be who they are, and it would be easy to pick up on whether he is a causal guy or not, especially at the point where you are using the L-word!

They Feel Vulnerable

That one little letter added to the beginning of the statement might make him feel very vulnerable.

He might be a guarded person and he might not feel comfortable being fully open yet, but he still wants to let you know how he feels and how important you are to him.

While he is ready to say “love you”, he might not be as comfortable yet to say “I love you”, but at least he is meeting you halfway and putting in the effort to be open with his feelings.

He Is Feeling Distant

He might not be putting the personal “I” into the statement because he is feeling distant from you. The world isn’t black and white, and he might still really love you, but the emotional connection might be weak.

He could still want to tell you how he feels but isn’t in the right place to make that commitment.

By him saying he loves you, it shows that there is still hope in the relationship, and with some effort, the two of you can make it work, but you both have to be willing to do your bit.

He Feels Obliged

A guy who is stuck in a relationship he might not want to be in might feel obliged to say it back when “I love you” is said to him, but will not want to be as committed to the statement as you might be.

Leaving the “I” out in this situation shows that he isn’t emotionally attached to the statement, but you would also be able to pick this up from other clues that he might be dropping. He might not be as affectionate anymore, or he might become more distant in other texts.

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It’s Just Who They Are

Sometimes things like this don’t need to be read into at all. It could just be that he is the guy that says “love you” instead of “I love you”. There isn’t anything to worry about here, and you can just be comforted with the fact that he loves you!

He would be the type of guy that doesn’t put pressure on these types of things, and the type of guy who feels love very naturally. To him, the “I” makes no difference to how he feels, so it should not make a difference to you either!

It Is Non-Committal 

The guy who leaves the “I” out of “I love you”, might be saying it to win you over, but not saying it fully so that it is slightly non-committal. He hasn’t jumped in all the way yet but still wants to keep you there for if he decides to take things forward.

It might also be that he wants to tell you how he feels without making it too big of a deal so that it doesn’t blow up to be a huge thing between the two of you. He wants to let you know how much he really does care, without you reacting too much to it.

What To Do With A “Love You” 

couple walking next to lake holding hands

It really isn’t a good idea to jump to conclusions if a guy says “love you” instead of “I love you”, and instead you should look for other signs in the relationship if you are worried.

You should be able to tell from the way he treats you and talks to you how the relationship is going. If all other signs are positive, then him saying “love you” is just how he expresses himself and is nothing to worry about.

However, if he used to say “I love you” but has now dropped to just the two words, and there are other signs that your relationship is rocky, such as him being more distant and not texting you as much, then there could be something to be concerned about.

The best course of action is to speak honestly and openly to him about it if you are worried. Nothing is ever solved by bottling stress and worry up, and a frank and honest conversation might be what the two of you need to solve any problems, or to put to bed any worries that you might have.

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