You would all agree with me that people use different types of hugs. In that way, they express their emotions about others. People did it a long time ago and it won’t change in the future either.
From the bear hug to the back hug, every hug feels differently and conveys a different meaning (as you can see below). Now, different types of hugs may have different meanings but one thing is sure; every single one of them is equally special.
And if you ask me, hugging is something that brings people together and makes them feel good. It also has some positive effects on people’s health.
It can reduce your anxiety and make you feel like you belong to someone.
It can also reduce your stress hormone and in that way let you sleep better. Want to know the best part?
Scientists found out that couples that hug more in their relationships end up the happiest because hugging reduces stress and improves your well-being. Also, in most cases, they have fewer marital problems.
Now, you all have been doing this for a long time and you know that there are different kinds of hugs.
So, how you will know what they really mean? Is there a way to know what it means when someone gives you a tight hug or when someone hugs you sloppily?
If you didn’t know what each type of hug means, worry no more because I am here to help you understand them better.
I will talk about different kinds of hugs and their meanings right now. It will be easier for you to understand what it means when a person gives you a hug. So let’s start!
20 Different Types Of Hugs And What They Mean
The tight hug
From all the common types of hugs, this is my favorite one. I love when someone hugs me with all their power. You can get that type of hug only from someone who loves you.
When someone hugs me like this, they evoke my bright side and I simply feel amazing.
I spend so much time hugging others like this and I enjoy every second of it. It is also called a squeeze hug because you are squeezing the person in front of you.
It feels like it is the last time they will see you. They want to show you that they love you so much and that they will miss you once you are gone.
If your partner gives you this kind of a hug, it is a subtle sign that he likes you.
It means that he is into you, but is scared to admit it, so he uses this type of hug to show you how much he cares about you and how much he misses you.
If you ever had this type of squeeze, you know what it feels like and I hope that you will have many hugs like this in the future.
The side hug
This hug is the most relaxed one. It is also called the buddy hug. This is how close friends hug each other.
People often hug like this when they are in a good mood or when they hug their friends and acquaintances.
It is not as romantic as the tight hug, but it is sweet. You can often see this kind of hug when people pose for a photo. If they hug each other, the photo will be cute and lovely.
So, if a man has hugged you in this way, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he is into you.
It is a sign that he sees you as a friend and you will have to go the extra mile to get his attention for something more.
And until that happens, just enjoy the buddy hug and be happy. You sure have reasons for that!
Related: How Guys Hug: 4 Different Ways And Their Real Meanings
The bear hug
The bear hug means wrapping your arms around another person. In that way, you are showing them that you want to protect them.
It is the same when your mom or your dad hug you and you feel so cozy and protected in their arms.
The bear hug can be both; a friendly hug or a romantic hug. This type of hug is suitable for romantic partners, close friends, and family members.
Now, you must recall that this can be a very strong hug, right? Guys like girls that hug like this.
When they do that, they feel some kind of emotional attraction towards them.
Also, this hug is quite popular in sports. Rugby players hug their opponents from the back and in that way immobilize them.
Now, they can do whatever they want because their opponents can’t move.
Even when you use it in that way, a bear hug is more popular in love relationships.
The long hug
If you have ever had a hug like this, I am sure that you felt protected and great.
This is the hug people give you when they want to tell you that they miss you and that they feel protected in your arms.
It is also characteristic of a long-term relationship and for close friends. It is a pretty intimate hug and reserved for those who have strong feelings for each other.
In this way, they may want to tell you that they need help, that their day was bad or they feel down for no reason.
If you get this hug, make sure that you help that person. If you get this kind of a hug from your partner, it means that he really loves you and that he is happy to have you.
If he also includes some eye contact in this hug, you can be positive that his love is deep.
If you pay attention to his body language, you will see that he doesn’t hug all people in the same way.
He thinks that you are his best friend and the one he can lean on when life gets tough.
But one thing is for sure: No matter who gives you a hug like this, if you get it, you can consider yourself a lucky person!
The back hug
People often feel comfortable when they get a back hug. It makes you feel so good to be hugged, even if you don’t actually see the person that is hugging you.
But you know that no matter who hugs you, that person has some deep feelings for you and that he or she missed you when you were gone.
This hug means your partner is totally relaxed with you and, in this way, he just wants to show you how much he loves you and how important you are to him.
It is also called a naughty hug because you can’t see the person behind you and you don’t know who the hugger is at first.
But if a man hugs you this way, touches your waist in a sensual manner, and kisses your hair in the middle of the back hug, you can be sure that he is head over heels in love with you and that it is just a matter of time before he will put a ring on it.
The straddle hug
This is the characteristic hug for people in love. It is very intimate, done in private, and a sign of sexual tension.
You can’t hug all people in this way because it is only reserved for those special ones.
Mostly girls give this kind of a hug to guys and in that way, they make themselves totally exposed.
You need to trust someone a lot to give them this kind of a hug, so think twice before you actually do it.
This hug reveals a lot of lust from the person that receives it and shows that you and your partner have a very good physical connection.
The London Bridge hug
This is quite a specific sort of hug because both parties touch each other with the upper part of their bodies only, while the lower parts of their bodies are far away.
It is what is called the polite hug. It is a little bit cold – politicians and diplomats are often seen hugging like this.
If someone hugs you in this way, you should know that they don’t love you so much and that they don’t want to form any deeper bond with you.
They just want to be acquaintances and don’t have the need to get to know you better.
You might be wondering why people hug in this way in the first place, right? Well, they do so not to act uptight, but they don’t show their real emotions to the person they are hugging.
Admit it, the London Bridge hug is not your cup of tea, right?
The eye-to-eye hug
This is one of the most common types of hugs and is reserved for those that are in love. It is also called an intimate hug because it requires full-body contact and strong eye contact. The eye contact takes this hug to a new level.
I am not saying that you can’t hug your friends or parents in this way, but most people hug their loved ones in this way the most. It is a romantic hug and people in love like to express their love in this way.
When people look in each other’s eyes and when they spend so much time like that, they can see into each other’s souls and feel the love that is between them.
If your loved one hugs you while making strong eye contact during a slow dance, you can consider yourself lucky because it is a sign that he is truly, madly, and deeply in love with you.
Nothing can shake your relationship because both of you are so devoted to it.
The pickpocket hug
This is the kind of a hug you can give to your partner only. It means hugging them in a way where you will put your hands in their back pockets.
It is also called a sort of a naughty hug because your hands are practically on someone’s ass.
They can do that to you at the same time and if they do it, it means that they feel super comfortable with you.
They don’t have a problem doing it when the two of you are alone or when you are with your friends.
If your man hugs you in this way, you can be positive that he loves you deeply. He feels good in his own skin when he is with you and this is his way of showing all his love and affection.
If you are the one that can give this kind of a hug to your partner, congratulations – you two are a true match.
Quick hug
Most people say that they don’t like to get this kind of a hug because the people that are hugging them are not interested in developing any deeper bond with them. But that is so far from the real truth.
You must have been in a situation when you wanted to hug your best friend, for example, but you were late for work or school, so you just gave them a quick hug.
Giving this particular hug doesn’t mean that you are not interested in the person (why would you hug them in the first place?), but only that you don’t have time for a long hug yet you still want to show them your love and affection.
Now you can rest assured because even a quick hug is a hug!
The hug with resting heads on each other
Did you ever get that sort of hug from your man when he would rest his head gently on yours?
If you did, you know how amazing that was. It felt like you are the most beloved woman of them all and that he has eyes only for you.
This hug is extremely comfortable and cozy and it shows that you have deep feelings for each other.
It can also tell you that the two of you are a perfect match and that he wouldn’t be able to imagine his life without you. If this isn’t a romantic hug, I don’t know what is.
The hug with twirling you around
If you girls have ever been in love with a man who gave you this kind of a hug, I am sure that you will remember him for the rest of your lives.
By giving this kind of a hug to you, a man shows that he enjoys spending time with you and he is not afraid to show you his playful side.
It means that he loves to see you smile and giggle, so he will continue to do this until you say it is enough. The best thing is when it happens all of a sudden.
For me personally, this is one of the most fun hugs to get, so count yourself lucky if you have someone to hug you like this.
The hug around the waist
This version of hug suits people that are in relationships and it shows a lot of love and affection.
It can be a strong hug or a more casual one, depending on the occasion.
It is also a sign that a person feels comfortable and that they enjoy every second spent with you.
Also, some people consider this sort of hug as a sign of lust. You can recognize this if there is something more involved with this hug, like neck kissing or cheek kissing.
Also, if he has some eye contact while hugging you like this, you can bet that he is madly in love with you.
It can happen both in a long-term relationship and in a short-term one. If you just pay attention to his body language, you will know what he really feels.
When boys are trying to find out how to seduce a girl, they use this certain hug.
They don’t feel awkward because they are not close to you but yet they feel that there is something more than just a friendship between the two of you.
The ragdoll hug
This kind of hug happens between two people where one of them doesn’t care about another one.
If you receive this kind of a hug, it is a sign of a one-sided relationship. No matter how much one person tries to make the relationship work, it is all in vain because the other one doesn’t give a damn.
It is the same for love and friendship relationships because, for both of them, this kind of hug is not something a person looks forward to.
It is a polite hug so that the other party won’t feel bad about you not giving them any extra attention.
Sloppy hug
This kind of a hug might be long, but that doesn’t mean anything because it is sloppy.
You hug people like that when you don’t care about them so much, but you do it because it is polite or because everyone else is hugging them. This type of hug is not shared in a romantic relationship.
It doesn’t show any love or affection and it looks like you’re just doing it for no reason. Believe it or not, people do give this hug from time to time.
Slow dance hug
This hug is characteristic of weddings where couples are so close to each other.
If they move apart, they still leave their hands on each other. It is because they feel comfortable in that position and they want to stay like that.
It is romantic and sweet, and couples who dance like this feel incredible chemistry and connection.
If you and your partner have this hug, you can bet that there is something really big going on between you.
When you dance with your loved one in this way, you will highlight your bright side.
Others will see how happy and satisfied you are and you will simply melt in your partner’s arms.
The catcher hug
This hug is characteristic for couples who have strong feelings for each other.
If you have ever had this hug, then you know what I am talking about.
It looks something like this: You see your man standing there all charming and sweet, so you decide to run and hug him.
When you approach him, you can’t control yourself and you jump into his arms while wrapping your legs around his waist.
This hug is very intimate so you can’t hug just anyone like this.
But if you decide to hug your man like this, he will definitely be over the moon.
In fact, he will be the one who will insist on this hug every time you two meet. And who can blame him, since this hug is so sweet!
Flirty hug
This hug is for those who love to live on the edge. If you give a flirty hug, you don’t reveal your intentions about a man clearly, but the way you lean in to hug him and your body position tells it all.
When you hug a man like this, it means that you want something more with him.
It means you are attracted to him and you are using your body to show him how much you like him.
Also, every woman giving a hug like this prays to God that the guy realizes how much she is interested in him. If you have ever given this hug to someone, you know what I am talking about.
Also, you know that this hug sparks a lot of chemistry within, so watch out who you are going to hug like this!
Self hug
When you start thinking about hugs, you totally forget that there is a self-hug, right?
You think about hugging someone or someone hugging you, but what you don’t know is that this certain hug can calm you and help you relax.
It is good when you need a hug but there is nobody around to hug you. In that case, you can always reward yourself with this hug and you will feel better right away.
Even if it is not something that we practice often, it doesn’t matter that it is less valuable. In fact, it is the best hug ever you can get!
The cuddle hug
This hug is for those in love. It is full of hugs, kisses, and cuddling. In that way, both partners want to let know each other how much they care.
When you hug someone like this, you don’t just give them a normal hug.
This is much more than that and the other side will feel special because of the incredible chemistry.
It is a hug that you give only to a person who means a lot to you and whom you love so much.
Also, just because this hug is only for a special person in your life, it is rare, but once you get it, you feel so safe and protected. Who would say that hugs can affect people like this, right?
What Type Of Hug Is Best?
Deciding what type of hug is best for you greatly depends on the context of the situation you’re in and on the type of relationship you have with that person.
If you want to consol someone, the best type of hug would be the backstroke hug. This type of hug is considered a reassurance hug (when you rub someone’s back soothingly to make them feel good).
If you’re in a romantic relationship, the best types of hugs would be a tight hug, long hug, or bear hug, and the ones that allow you to establish prolonged eye contact. This type of hug takes intimacy to a new level and it is valid proof that a hug is more than just physical touch.
You can give your friends a tight hug, bear hug, or side hug. All in all, my personal favorite is a tight hug because it allows you to perfectly express how much that one person means to you (be it your friend, family member, or partner).
Whichever type of hug you choose, you cannot go wrong with it as long as it’s in accordance with the situation and your relationship with that one person. Let’s say that every type of hug is the best hug.
What Kinds Of Hugs Do Guys Like?
Guys like these types of intimate hugs: bear hug, tight hug, the long hug, and the pickpocket hug. Guys like when girls wrap their arms around them because this allows guys to feel like they are protecting them.
They like when a girl gives them a gentle squeeze and when the hug lasts for a long time. Guys also LOVE the pickpocket hug. This type of hug is usually reserved for males, so if a girl gives them such a hug, they will be amazed by her level of self-confidence.
A confident woman is a huge turn-on always and forever. If you can give your partner or a crush this type of hug, know that they will be impressed by your bold move every single time.
Guys are also suckers for the tall hug. It’s a type of hug where you have to stand on your toes and raise your arms around his head. But there’s a catch here. If you intend on hugging a guy like this, you have to make sure that he is indeed taller than you. Otherwise, it would be really awkward.
What Is A Flirty Hug?
A flirty hug is a type of hug where males and females subtly reveal their intentions by giving a hug in a flirty way. The polite hug includes upper-body contact, whereas a flirty hug involves contact below the belly button.
Females give this type of hug in a way that they make incidental contact below the belt. When a girl gives such a hug to a guy, she truly hopes that he will notice how much she likes him.
Males have to do it in a less creepy way. They give flirty hugs by positioning their hand lower than normal for a hug.
Another male way of giving a flirty hug is by keeping his center of gravity back, with his spine straight. When a guy does, a girl has to stretch up in order to be able to hug him properly.
So, when a guy hugs you like this, you know he’s interested in something more with you.
If there is separation below the navel, then this is not considered a flirtatious hug but a platonic one. Keep in mind the difference between the two next time you hug someone.
How Do You Know If A Hug Is Romantic?
When a hug is romantic, it lasts. It is never a quick hug or a sloppy one. Romantic hugs are the ones that include lots of closeness and touching (and sometimes they even give you goosebumps).
Among different types of hugs, a romantic hug is the most special one. This hug doesn’t include a pat on the back, but a gentle rub. A romantic hug also includes locking eyes and also contacts below the bowel.
This type of hug is caressing and comforting. It makes you feel protected, loved, and special. If a hug is romantic, you’ll know it without needing to check the other person’s body language because you will feel it with every fiber of your being.
In Conclusion
I just want to say that no matter what hug you get, you should just embrace it.
It is a way others show us their love and affection. Maybe you sometimes can’t find the right words to express your feelings, but with different types of hugs, you can tell so much more.
When you hug another person, they can feel your good energy and you can feel theirs.
If you are down, you will feel better the moment they lay their hands on you. Also, if you are happy, you will be even happier when they hug you.
Trust me, hugs are like therapy. You just need to know which way you should hug someone.
Please remember that there are hugs that you can share with your friends and acquaintances, but there are some hugs that you can share only with your partner. So, make sure that you don’t mix them!
One more thing: Whatever you do, always remain positive and hug like there is no tomorrow. That is the only right way of giving your love to others!
