38 Ways to Reply When Someone Says “You are beautiful”

Daily acts of kindness increase not only our well-being but as well as others; it follows that saying something nice like “You are beautiful” to someone is just as good as gold.

While giving compliments can be quite an easy thing to do, accepting them may not. We may feel shy or awkward about it because we don’t know what to say in response.

Truth be told, everybody loves positive words. The big problem is – we often just don’t necessarily know how to immediately react to these acts of goodness.

So, today, we list down how native speakers of English generally respond to the complimentary message “You are beautiful” to make our social interactions better.

 

How to reply to “You are beautiful”

1. Aww. Thanks.
2. Aww. You’re sweet!
3. My goodness! That’s so sweet.
4. Thank you, [name].
5. Thanks a lot, [name].
6. Are you sick or something?
7. You’ve got to be kidding me.
8. Stop it. You’re being weird.
9. Wow. Thank you very much, [name].
10. That’s very kind of you.
11. You look really lovely too!
12. You really are my best friend.
13. Thanks for stating the obvious, [name].
14. That’s very nice to hear from you.
15. Really? Thank you so much.
16. That’s me!
17. Oh! You’re the best!
18. Yeah, thanks. It’s my favorite [dress/skirt/shirt/hat].
19. Here’s a handkerchief, babe. You’re drooling.
20. You should say that every day.
21. Well, thank you.
22. That means a lot [to me].
23. Thanks for thinking so.
24. I really appreciate that.
25. I feel very flattered.
26. Have you seen my mom?
27. I love you already.
28. Why does everyone keep asking me that?
29. Puberty worked its wonders.
30. Thanks to my dad.
31. Some days I ask the same question too.
32. Oh no. I just threw on something random today.
33. You’re playing, right?
34. You should already get some glasses.
35. Really? It’s probably just the hair.
36. I just took a shower earlier.
37. How much did you get paid to say that?
38. Is this a social experiment or something?

 

Understanding the act of giving and accepting compliments

Responding to compliments and greetings may be easy for some yet hard for others. In psychology, this can be because of self-esteem issues.

This is why we should not be surprised if someone may not be able to instantly know how to respond to a “Hi” or “Hello” greeting at social events.

When done right, compliments can go a long way because they trigger that “reward” system in our brain.

Apparently, compliments have the power to increase our life satisfaction in a variety of aspects like personal and professional relationships.

To put it simply, compliments make people feel better, especially when done politely and genuinely enough.

A simple expression like “You are beautiful” can establish, improve, and maintain relationships at home, at work, and in the outside world.

In fact, doing it the right way could even also fix tainted relationships and get requests granted – if we are to take the utilitarian point of view.

In a nutshell, compliments like “You are beautiful” are a natural part of communication because they simply increase solidarity or cooperation among people.

So, what are some of the phrases we can say to respond to compliments in real-life scenarios?

More particularly, what can we say when someone straightforwardly appreciates our beauty? Let us find out below.

 

 

How to react when someone says “You are beautiful”

When someone recognizes the beauty of another person, it is best not to dismiss or avoid the compliment.

The best thing to do is to accept the compliment by saying something nice in return; this can be done by using some gratitude phrases.

While we can use different formal ways to say “thank you” in the business world when this happens, the situation is somehow different in daily life.

In the actual world, everyday situations need way less formal responses to compliments. So, “a huge thank you” or “thank youuu” would be more appropriate.

Apart from these two, there are also other conversational ways to respond to the compliment “You are beautiful.”

Here’s a list of these expressions for your reference:

 

 

Different ways to reply to “You are beautiful”

Before the list begins, we should bear in mind that the suggested reaction after being given a compliment is to accept it.

Yes, it can be hard or awkward at times, but positive words actually have the power to change a person’s life – or at least his day.

With this in mind, we have to take note that dismissing or avoiding compliments does not play out well in general.

So, when someone says “You are beautiful,” do not respond with “How’s your day?” or “Happy birthday!” in return!

Seriously now, let us find out the best and most natural ways of responding to the compliment “You are beautiful.”

 

 

How to reply when a guy says “You are beautiful”

When a guy appreciates your beauty, the best thing to do is to accept it genuinely – unless you think that person is just fooling around.

Here are some ways to do that:

 

1. Aww. Thanks.

The exclamation “Aww” followed by the word “Thanks” is one of the most common responses that we can use to any guy who appreciates our beauty.

This can be used when we just want a short and sweet response to the person from whom the compliment comes.

Example:

 

2. Aww. You’re sweet!

Another great response that we can make use of is “Aww. You’re sweet!” This works pretty well in recognizing the other person’s act back.

To say that someone is “sweet” is a metaphor for expressing the idea that that person is nice, agreeable, or lovely.

Example:

 

3. My goodness! That’s so sweet.

We sometimes don’t know how to respond to feedback when it happens unexpectedly, no matter whether at home or at work.

When we don’t see compliments coming, we naturally get caught off-guard. In situations like this, “My goodness! That’s so sweet” is something we could say.

The first part “My goodness!” is meant to show surprise, while the second part “That’s so sweet” is meant to compliment the person back.

Example:

 

4. Thank you, [name].

Saying a person’s name can have an emotional effect in most cases. So, using “Thank you” immediately followed by the complimenter’s name should bode well.

This expression also works well because when people do their best to give compliments to others, they generally expect a gratitude message in return.

Example:

 

5. Thanks a lot, [name].

Another complimentary message we can say in response to “You are beautiful” is “Thanks a lot” followed, again, by the person’s name.

“Thanks a lot” is simply a more casual version of “Thank you,” which works really well when we are in informal social events.

 

6. Are you sick or something?

If accepting, however, is not an option because you probably share a very close relationship with the guy, you can ask the dismissive question “Are you sick or something?”

Saying such a thing suggests that you don’t believe the compliment for some reason.

Example:

 

7. You’ve got to be kidding me.

Another thing you can do is to say “You’ve got to be kidding me,” which suggests the same meaning as “You must be joking.”

This also works well if you think the guy giving you the compliment is being ridiculous or saying something untrue.

Example:

 

8. Stop it. You’re being weird.

If you want to completely shrug off the comment on your beauty, you can meanwhile say “Stop it. You’re being weird.”

This response also works in situations where you feel awkward or embarrassed about the compliment given to you by a guy you know.

Example:

 

How to reply when a girl says “You are beautiful”

Girls are generally more expressive than boys, so giving positive comments to one another is pretty common.

Here are some nice ways to do that:

 

9. Wow. Thank you very much, [name].

Another way we can convey surprise is through the exclamation “Wow.” When this is followed by a genuine “Thank you very much,” the person giving the praise should also feel good.

Showing a warm smile or even giving a nice hug after saying this expression should also make the gratitude response even better.

 

10. That’s very kind of you.

At times, people might say words that are stronger than “beautiful” when they want to please or appease others.

They might say something more powerful because they want to show how strongly they feel about a person – especially in a romantic way.

When this happens, something polite and not overdone expression such as “That’s very kind of you” would be appropriate.

Example:

 

11. You look really lovely too!

When you want to say the same thing to your friend because you think she is also as beautiful as you, you can say “You look really lovely too!”

This complimentary response should also make the other person feel nice about herself. All in all, this response is great for best friends.

Example:

 

12. You really are my best friend.

If you want to emphasize your relationship with the person after receiving a compliment, “You really are my best friend” is something we could use.

This response could literally just mean “Thank you for being my best friend and saying that I am beautiful.”

Or, it could also be interpreted in another way, which is funny or sarcastic: “You’re only saying that because you are my best friend.”

Example:

 

13. Thanks for stating the obvious, [name].

If you feel like responding in a witty way, you might also want to say “Thanks for stating the obvious” followed by the name of the person.

People with close-knit relationships should not get offended by this response, while strangers may find it either funny or conceited.

Example:

 

How to respond when your boyfriend says “You are beautiful”

Some boyfriends are expressive, and others are not. At the end of the day, receiving positive comments on your beauty from the guy you love should be a great thing.

Here are some good and funny ways to respond to him:

 

14. That’s very nice to hear from you.

Another nice and polite alternative to “That’s very kind of you” would be “That’s nice to hear from you.”

Neutrally nice in tone, we can never go wrong with this response when someone compliments our beauty, but we don’t want to stretch our response.

Example:

 

15. Really? Thank you so much.

If the compliment, however, comes from an unexpected source, we would more likely say a confirmatory expression like “Really?” first.

It is needless to say that a sincere gratitude message like “Thank you so much” should follow afterward.

Example:

 

16. That’s me!

On the other hand, those with relatively higher self-regard may just easily say something like “That’s me!” in response to “You are beautiful.”

Witty and confident, this one works well, too, when we really feel good about ourselves, and we also want to show the complimenter that we agree with them.

Example:

 

17. Oh! You’re the best!

Another great response we can use is “Oh! You’re the best!” This one aims to highlight the other person’s act of valuing others by giving compliments.

We may notice this response, for example, between or among the closest group of friends who hang out a lot.

Example:

 

18. Yeah, thanks. It’s my favorite [dress/skirt/shirt/hat].

Sometimes, we dress up differently when an external event or gathering dictates. When this happens, people may get surprised after seeing a different version of us.

If and when the compliment leans more toward this situation, “Yeah, thanks. It’s my favorite dress” is going to be great.

“Dress” is replaceable with other specific clothing items like “skirt,” “shirt,” or even “hat.”

Example:

 

19. Here’s a handkerchief, babe. You’re drooling.

If you’re feeling kind of funny, and you want to say something witty to your boyfriend, “Here’s a handkerchief, babe. You’re drooling” works really well.

Rest assured, your partner will be laughing at your confidence level when you choose to use this response.

Example:

 

20. You should say that every day.

However, if the compliment “You are beautiful” does not happen too often anymore, you can say “You should say that every day.”

This response could be taken seriously by your boyfriend or in a funny way depending on your personality type.

Example:

 

How to respond when your girlfriend says “You are beautiful”

“Beautiful” is not only limited to a person’s physical aspects. It can refer to one’s personality or traits.

When the compliment is coming from your girlfriend, and she’s being sincere about it, you should be very grateful.

Here are some ways to accept a compliment from a girlfriend:

 

 

21. Well, thank you.

If we want to be a bit more direct, something like “Well, thank you” is a great response to compliments about beauty too.

Using either a neutral or slightly high tone while saying it could make the response sincere-sounding.

Example:

 

22. That means a lot [to me].

Last but not least, we should definitely say “That means a lot” followed by an optional “to me” when someone appreciates our beauty as a person.

The expression “That means a lot” also suggests the same meaning as “I appreciate what you said” or “What you just said has really made my day.”

Example:

23. Thanks for thinking so.

If you did not expect the compliment, and you want to show gratitude for your girlfriend’s support, “Thanks for thinking so” is a nice response too. 

A bit neutral in tone “Thanks for thinking so” is something we could say when we feel a bit shy yet still thankful for the compliment.

Example:

 

24. I really appreciate that.

Meanwhile, another way of letting the complimenter girlfriend know how we feel about a positive remark is “I really appreciate that.”

The compliment may, for instance, appear in an apology letter to a girlfriend from a guy who may have let a partner feel taken for granted or underappreciated.

Example:

 

25. I feel very flattered.

Another way of saying “I really appreciate that” would be “I feel very flattered,” which is also nice and genuine-sounding.

“I feel very flattered” is something we could say to someone who explicitly shows how much of a great person we are – at least from their perspective.

Example:

 

How to reply when someone asks “Why are you so beautiful?”

Some people can be very vocal with what they think about a person, notwithstanding whether the relationship is romantic or not.

Here are some great and funny ways to respond when someone asks you the question “Why are you so beautiful?”:

 

26. Have you seen my mom?

Throwing back the question “Have you seen my mom?” after a compliment about your beauty should make the other person laugh.

Apart from being funny, this response is also great because it showcases one’s parent’s beauty in the process.

Example:

 

27. I love you already.

Another great way to respond to a complimentary question about one’s beauty is “I love you already.”

Obviously, this response is meant to be funny and better not taken seriously. This, however, could work wonders when we like the person giving the compliment.

Example:

 

28. Why does everyone keep asking me that?

Confidently witty, asking the question “Why does everyone keep asking me that?” can also be a great response to beauty-related compliments.

As long as the person giving the compliment is someone dear to us, this clever question should catch the complimenter’s attention.

Example:

 

29. Puberty worked its wonders.

Meanwhile, another brilliant response to the question “Why are you so beautiful?” is “Puberty worked its wonders.”

To say this expression means that the coming of age has been good to the speaker and that it is the reason why he or she is so beautiful.

Example:

 

30. Thanks to my dad.

If you think you got your beauty from your dad instead of your mom, “Thanks to my dad” should be an appropriate response.

This response works well too because it gives credit to your genes’ source.

Example:

 

31. Some days I ask the same question too.

One last smart response  when someone asks why you are such a beautiful creature is “Some days I ask the same question too.”

Meant to show oozing confidence in a humorous way, this response should also make your compliment source go ha-ha.

Example:

 

How to respond to “You are beautiful” when you are shy

In reality, timid people also exist in many places. If you are this kind of person, then you might not be very comfortable with accepting compliments.

So, here are some solutions for you:

 

32. Oh no. I just threw on something random today.

If you don’t feel like accepting compliments because of shyness, you can say “Oh no. I just threw on something random today.”

This response is meant to refer to the piece of clothing you’re wearing, which is the reason why you are thought to be pretty.

Example:

 

33. You’re playing, right?

Another way of shrugging off a compliment on your beauty would be asking the question “You’re playing, right?”

“Playing” in this expression means “kidding” or “joking.” So, saying it would be meant to assume that the complimenter is not being true to his or her words.

Example:

 

34. You should already get some glasses.

Another witty, dismissive response to “You are beautiful” is “You should already get some glasses.”

As you may know, this response is an assumption that the complimenter’s vision is getting poor for saying that you are beautiful.

Example:

 

35. Really? It’s probably just the hair.

In case you want to attribute your beauty to something you did to your crowning glory, then you could say “Really? It’s probably just the hair.

This works, for example, after changing your hair color or getting an unusual haircut that obviously suits you.

Example:

 

36. I just took a shower earlier.

Another funny and sarcastic response to beauty compliments would be “I just took a shower earlier.”

This response means you are attributing the beauty comment to taking a shower. Put simply, “you are beautiful because you did something as normal as showering.”

Example:

 

37. How much did you get paid to say that?

Another funny response you can use when you don’t feel like accepting the compliment would be “How much did you get paid to say that?”

Remember to use this only with the closest people around, or else, you’ll obviously get in trouble.

Example:

 

38. Is this a social experiment or something?

Last but not least, asking the question “Is this a social experiment or something?” as a response to beauty compliments can also be sarcastically funny.

Dismissive, clever, and fun, you can definitely say this to someone who randomly gives you a compliment at school or in other public places.

Just use the right tone while giving the response so your message gets across to the complimenter safely.

Example:

 

Frequently Asked Questions on “How to respond to ‘You are beautiful”

 

What should we say when someone calls you beautiful over text?

To accept the compliment over a text, which is the suggested reaction, we can say “Thank youuu” to make the appreciative emotion more visible.

 

What can we say when a girl says you are beautiful?

When a girl compliments someone as beautiful, it is best to respond with “That means a lot” followed by the name of the person. We can also compliment the person back by saying “You are beautiful too.”

 

How can we reply when a stranger says you look good?

When a stranger genuinely compliments a person as good-looking, we can say something like “Thank you,” That’s very kind of you” or “I appreciate that.”

 

 

Conclusion

A simple compliment such as “You are beautiful,” whether random or deliberate, has the power to make another person’s day brighter.

So, we should never underestimate the power of saying good things to others in our daily lives – no matter how hard life can get.

As long as the compliment is genuine, it should have the power to lift the spirit of the receiver of the message.