How to Tell if a Guy Is Interested in You or Just Being Friendly

How to tell if a guy is interested in you or just being friendly? 

If a guy likes you, he will give you hints that indirectly inform you. However, it is not always true because some hints are more complex than the others.

Some guys want to avoid disappointment, which is why they will make their hints difficult to decipher.

Are you finding it difficult on how to tell if a guy is flirting or just being friendly? This guide gives you hacks that help you tell if a guy is into you or just being friendly.

21 ways that tell you if he’s flirting or just being friendly

If you are asking does he fancy me or is he just being friendly, there are 21 relatable ways to help you decipher his intentions:

1. How he gets more familiar with you

If he is flirting: Are you confused if he is friendly or flirty? One way to know a guy who is flirting is by the information he wants to know. A flirting guy will want to know what makes you special, what makes you happy, and other sensitive information.

If he is friendly: A friendly guy will want to get more familiar with you by asking questions about your childhood, college, favorite music, etc.

2. His touch

How does he feel about me? Have you noticed his physical contacts?

If he is flirting: For the flirty touch vs friend touch, you need your guts to encrypt this. If his touch feels different every time his skin touches yours, he could be flirting with you.

If he is friendly: When you receive a friendly touch, you feel nothing. And most times, your guts do not tell you they are trying to send a message.

3. How he speaks about himself

If he is flirting: If you are thinking “Is he flirting or just being nice?”, you can know how he talks about himself. A flirty guy will talk about his love life, best date, romantic nights, and related topics.

The reason is to allow you to have a glimpse into his romantic side.

If he is friendly: A friendly guy will talk about his interests, hobbies, work, etc. They will rarely mention anything related to their love life.

4. The way he greets you

Is he flirting with me? Check the way he greets you.

If he is flirting: A flirty guy will act more composed and cool when he wants to greet you. This is to allow you to feel comfortable with him, and if you are sensitive enough, you can tell from his gestures.

If he is friendly: A friendly guy greets you the way he would greet everyone. If you want to know, “Is he just a friend or is he interested?” Watch the way he greets everyone around you and compare it to yours.

5. How he makes jokes with you

Is he super funny with you? This could be a trick of knowing, “Is he interested or just being nice?”.

If he is flirting: When most flirty guys make jokes, it is done purposely.

They want to activate something within you. And if you are observant, you will see that he is bent on getting a reaction from you. Sometimes, the jokes might be too excessive because he wants you to be obsessed with him.

If he is friendly: A friendly guy will joke with you the same way he does with others. You will enjoy his company because you are not under pressure to laugh at his jokes. Most times, his jokes are from a carefree and innocent standpoint.

6. How he holds little discussions with you

How to tell if a guy is interested in you or just being friendly? Notice the ways he interacts with you.

If he is flirting: Whenever there is a chance for a little discussion, the flirty guy will want the conversation to go deeper. He will do this regularly because he is trying to know you more, and he will ask questions to keep the conversation going deeper.

If he is friendly: On the other hand, the friendly guy holds regular short conversations that are work-related, school-related, etc. Even if you talk regularly with him, he is not trying to bond with you. If you share a niche with him, most conversations would be centered on that.

7. How he behaves around you

If he is flirting: A flirty guy changes his behavior when he is around you. He tries to act more composed and attentive. He also tries to match your energy at that period so that you can easily notice him. Also, if he is nervous around you, he is flirty.

If he is friendly: A friendly guy normally interacts with no strings attached. He interacts with everyone, including you, in a sweet manner. He does not try to fake any behavior.

8. How he discusses other girls

If he is flirting: The way a guy discusses other girls makes them ask questions like, is he just a friend or is he interested? 

A flirty guy will prefer speaking about girls he had a crush on, those who broke his hearts, and his past escapades. He would also tell you indirectly that he is single.

If he is friendly: A friendly guy will see you as someone he can count on for advice. If he has a crush on someone or has relationship issues, he will share it with you.

9. His energy levels with you

This could lead you in the right direction to know if there are signs he is fighting his feelings for you.

If he is flirting: When a flirty guy is around you, he will try to keep his energy levels high. Even though the atmosphere is dull, he will try to make it lively and cheer you up. Everything looks exciting to the flirty guy if he’s with you.

If he is friendly: The friendly guy barely notices if the atmosphere is dull, and if he does, he does not consciously do anything. If he is discussing with you, he can have his mind somewhere else. Sometimes, he could be on his phone when he is with you.

10. His interest in knowing you more

Is he flirting or being nice? You can tell by his eagerness to know you more.

If he is flirting: If you are wondering how to tell if a guy is flirting or just being friendly, watch how he wants to know you more. 

A flirty guy will be quick to point out the similarities you share, and he will indirectly tell you how cool it would be to be partners. He is less concerned about your other peculiarities because he is finding a connecting point with you.

If he is friendly: In comparison, a friendly guy would be patient to listen, and he would contribute when he needs to. You will easily know it’s a harmless conversation for normal friendship bonding.

11. How he tries to impress you

If he is flirting: If you ask, “Does he like me or is he just being nice?”, watch the way he shows off his best side to impress you. 

For instance, if he is good at cooking, he would ensure you appreciate that side of him which would give you more reasons to like him.

If he is friendly: A friendly guy is not after any glory. He only tries to impress you to remind you that he’s a smart friend. He would not force you to give compliments about something he’s good at.

12. The nature of his questions

If he is flirting: A flirty guy asks questions with an intended direction, and you can easily guess after the first few questions. They will want to know more about your love and sex life.

If he is friendly: A friendly guy will ask regular questions that pertain to your welfare, work-life, family, etc.

13. Teasing

If he is flirting: A flirty guy goes the extreme when they are teasing, and most times, you are the center of their jokes. If your friends are around, they will notice he is stylishly picking on you.

If he is friendly: If you have male friends, you will know their banters are normal jokes. Their jokes don’t mean that they don’t like you.

14. His eye contact

If he is flirting: It’s normal to maintain eye contact, but you should be suspicious if the eye contact comes with a long gaze. You will observe that his gaze tries to communicate with you, making you realize that he is interested in you.

If you find him casting long gazes at different intervals, he is flirting with you.

If he is friendly: Eye contact shows the other person that we are listening or attentive. And if the guy maintains normal eye contact, he is approachable and friendly.

The video below discusses the type of eye contact that is sexual and flirtatious and how you can identify them:

15. Attention

If he is flirting: To answer the question of how to tell if a guy is flirting or just being friendly, you can tell from their attention. It is easy to know when a flirty guy is trying to give you their attention. 

It will always look forced and unnatural, and the reason is that they want to impress you.

If he is friendly: Friendly guys pay normal attention during conversations, texting, etc. You can easily detect that they are not trying to force attention.

16. Creating opportunities

If he is flirting: He goes out of his way to create chances for you to spend time together. This could mean suggesting one-on-one activities or inviting you to events he’s attending.

If he is friendly: He creates opportunities for you to spend time together, but it’s in a group or casual setting. He might invite you to events where other friends are also present.

17. Late-night chats

Does he like me or just being nice? Your late-night chats can surely give you a hint.

If he is flirting: Late-night conversations often have a more intimate and flirtatious tone. He may share personal thoughts or even express romantic interest during these chats.

If he is friendly: Late-night conversations remain friendly and lack a romantic undertone. Topics may be light-hearted or related to shared interests but not necessarily intimate.

18. Sending flirty emojis

If he is flirting: The use of flirty emojis like hearts, winks, or kissy faces in texts signals romantic interest. These emojis convey a playful and affectionate tone in the conversation.

If he is friendly: While he might use emojis, they are more casual and don’t convey a romantic interest. Emojis are used to express friendliness rather than flirtation.

19. Expressing vulnerability

If he is flirting: Sharing personal vulnerabilities or deeper feelings can indicate a level of emotional connection. It shows that he trusts you and is open to a more intimate relationship.

If he is friendly: He might share personal stories or vulnerabilities but not in a romantic context. These conversations are more about building a friendship than a romantic connection.

20. Laughing at your jokes

If he is flirting: Even if your jokes aren’t particularly funny, he laughs or smiles when you tell them. This demonstrates he’s trying to make a positive impression and enjoys your company.

If he is friendly: He laughs or smiles at your jokes because he enjoys your company and values the friendship. It’s a sign of being a good friend rather than trying to impress you romantically.

21. Remembering details

If he is flirting: He not only remembers but also brings up specific details about your life. This shows he’s invested in getting to know you on a deeper level.

If he is friendly: Remembering details about your life is a friendly gesture, showing that he cares about your well-being. It indicates a desire to be a supportive and thoughtful friend.

Commonly asked questions

Treading through the fine line between friendliness and romantic interest can be confusing. Here are simple answers to these common questions related to “How to tell if a guy is interested in you or just being friendly”

• Does he like you, or is he simply being friendly?

Pay attention to subtle cues like frequent compliments, physical touch, and special attention. These signs often indicate he may like you romantically.

• How can you tell if a guy is flirting with you or just being friendly?

Flirting typically involves playfulness, teasing, and prolonged eye contact. Friendly behavior is more casual and lacks romantic undertones.

• Is he showing interest, or does he prefer friendship?

Interest is usually shown through initiating contact, creating opportunities for togetherness, and personal discussions. Friendship is less intense and focuses on shared experiences.

• Is he interested in me, or is he just being friendly in text messages?

Interest through text messages can be seen in frequent communication, thoughtful messages, and the use of flirty emojis. Friendly texts are often more casual and less affectionate.

Planning on the next move

No one better tells the difference between flirting and being friendly than the girl involved. You have to be sensitive to the slightest details because even the friendly guy might be subtly flirting with you.

If you think a guy is flirty, all you need do is flirt back and watch his reaction to confirm your suspicion. Another way to fix this is to ask them about their intentions instead of giving you unending signals.