Know What Your Love Language Is? Here Are All Five Of Them & Their Meanings?

Being with a partner and showering them with love is an experience that cannot be matched. However, while you and your partner may believe your chemistry and bonding are out of this world, some things may differ.

Hey hey! This is definitely not something one should worry about. In fact, this is something that can make a relationship rather exciting. We are talking about love languages. Now, for those of you who are pretty up-to-date on social media and have finally discovered what a love language is, we know you already know. But having a love language isn't something that has been derived recently; it has been there for a while.

What is a love language?

Love languages are basically how every individual receives and experiences love and affection in their own ways and terms, for themselves and others. This was first identified by psychologist Dr. Gary Chapman. He began to notice patterns in the couples he was counselling. He then realised that couples did not understand each other's ways of showing affection or their needs. He noticed how one person thought they were showing love and affection, but their partner wasn't feeling loved.

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This is when he derived the five love languages in which people in every relationship generally express their love:

Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, Physical Touch

There is a high probability that you and your partner can have different love languages and not realise it. Even though you may be showing your partner love through your own love language, it can still cause a rift if your partner does not have the same love language.

So let us understand the five love languages and how one can show affection using them:

Words of Affirmation

If words of affirmation are your love language, then you value spoken affirmations of love and appreciation, such as compliments and words of encouragement. You also love uplifting quotes, love notes, and cute text messages.

Example: Your partner complimenting you, saying "you look beautiful," telling you that he loves you, or just acknowledging something you did.

There is a lot you can do if your partner is someone who likes words of affirmation.

Be more about words than actions¡ªthat's right. While showing your love through actions should never be avoided, your words would make a lot of difference too. A person with this love language thrives when their partner constantly tells them how much they mean to them, according to Samantha Saltz, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist in private practice.

Always communicate: For these people, communication is the number one thing. So, calling them throughout the day or even texting them all the time when you are apart is something that makes them feel secure.

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Acts of Service

This is basically when your partner does things for you to take some burden off your shoulders and make you feel loved and appreciated. For example, when your partner does a chore for you, runs an errand for you, or does something you asked them to do.

A person with this love language understands the little things. So, doing tiny acts of service, such as making a cup of tea or just opening the door for them, makes them feel seen and appreciated.

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Receiving Gifts

People who have this love language value not only giving and receiving gifts but also appreciating the time invested in buying and receiving those gifts. These gifts don't have to be extravagant; they can be as simple as flowers, and they will still be appreciated.

There are some things you can do for your partner:

Be consistent with gift giving: It doesn't have to be big or small; just randomly giving a gift to your partner can brighten their entire day.

Be thoughtful: People with this love language really appreciate the thought behind the gift or think a lot before buying something. Whether it is the presentation or a small note, the thought behind it really matters.

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Quality Time

People with this love language appreciate and feel loved when they get their partner's full and undivided attention without any distractions.

For example, set the phone aside when you are having food with your partner or switch off the television while talking to them.

Here is what you can do to make your partner with this love language feel loved:

Always set some time aside to actually talk: Be it 15 minutes of the day or an hour, just set aside some time every day free of distractions to know and tell your partner about your day.

Be attentive: Yes, listening is the key. Demonstrate to your partner that you are truly listening to what they are saying and paying attention to their words and gestures.

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Physical Touch

People with this love language thrive when they are physically touched. Any touch, including holding hands, kissing, or even cuddling, If your partner is someone with this love language, you can be there for them by focusing on a lot of non-sexual touches. Sex is not their only requirement. Simply touching them can make them feel loved.

How to use love languages in everyday life

As per Chapman, "love languages" are one of the simplest ways to improve your relationships. It helps couples understand how their partner's needs are also very important, and focusing on them can help them learn a selfless attitude. Moreover, it can help couples get more intimate with each other by learning how to understand one another.

Talking and learning about love languages will help both partners connect in deeper, more meaningful ways. When this happens, your relationship feels more intimate. As per a 2016 review published in the Global Journal of Health Science, it was concluded that improving communication skills can aid intimacy in a marriage.

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To make someone feel loved, it is important to know their love language. Not only does it make the relationship stronger, but it also creates a better understanding. Hope you and your partner can create a better learning atmosphere for each other.