From Boy to Man: How Men Say “I Love You” — or Don’t

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Tymur Levitin
Tymur Levitin
Profesora del Departamento de Traducción. Traductor jurado profesional con experiencia en traducción y enseñanza de inglés y alemán. Imparto clases en 20 países del mundo. Mi principio en la enseñanza y la realización de clases es alejarse de la memorización de reglas de memoria, y, en cambio, aprender a entender los principios de la lengua y utilizarlos de la misma manera que hablar y pronunciar correctamente los sonidos por el sentimiento, y no repasar cada uno en su cabeza todas las reglas, ya que no habrá tiempo para eso en el habla real. Siempre hay que basarse en la situación y la comodidad.
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Boys Talk, Men Don’t?

A 14-year-old boy might say “I love you” ten times a day — in messages, on TikTok, in songs.
A 40-year-old man might never say it — not because he doesn’t feel it, but because he doesn’t need to say it.

Language doesn’t just show emotion. It hides it, protects it, replaces it.
And nowhere is this more true than in how men talk about love.

Age Changes How We Express Love

AgePatternExpression
12–16Copying what they hear“I love you so much!! 😍”, “You’re my world”, “Я тебя обожаю”
17–25Intensity and insecurity“Ты моя вселенная”, “Ich liebe dich” — often too soon
26–45Fewer words, more action“Ты знаешь”, “Я с тобой”, silent gestures
46+Silence with presenceA look, a gesture, a shared routine. No need to speak.

In many cultures, boys talk to impress.
Men don’t talk — they build, show, endure.

Arabic: When Love Is in the Deed, Not the Word

In Arabic, men rarely say “I love you” directly.
Instead, they say:

ÁrabeLiteral MeaningReal Meaning
أحبك (uhibbuka)I love youReserved, formal, often poetic
حبيبي / حبيبتي (habibi/habibti)My belovedEveryday speech, soft intimacy
أموت فيك (amūt fīk)I’d die for youUsed playfully or passionately
أنت عيوني (anta ʿuyūnī)You are my eyesDeep loyalty, care, devotion

In Arabic-speaking cultures, a man might express love by:

  • bringing tea to her family,
  • fixing something silently,
  • or simply saying nothing and showing everything.

Japanese: When Love Is Respect, Not Confession

Japanese culture values harmony and emotional modesty.

JaponésPhraseMeaning
愛してる (aishiteru)I love youDeep, serious, rarely said aloud
好きです (suki desu)I like youCommon in dating, gentle and polite
大切な人 (taisetsu na hito)Important personA respectful, caring way to express affection

A Japanese man might never say “I love you” —
but will stand by you for life.

More on Japanese here:
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German and Ukrainian: Direct Words, or Gentle Detours

LanguagePhraseComentario
AlemánIch liebe dichRare, strong, usually in long-term relationships
Ich hab dich gernSoft, friendly affection
UcranianoЯ тебе кохаюRomantic love, formal
Я тебе люблюBroader, often emotional but not always romantic

German and Ukrainian men often struggle with emotional speech.
They do — but don’t always say.

Why Men Speak Differently — And Why It Matters

Men are taught to:

  • Be strong.
  • Be silent.
  • Not need words.

But language shapes connection.
If we don’t say anything — we risk not being heard at all.

En Escuela de idiomas Levitin, we’ve worked with men from over 20 countries.
And one truth repeats:

Many men don’t know how to say “I love you” — even in their native language.
So we help them find a way — not just in English or German, but in their own voice.

What We Teach Instead of Phrases

We don’t push scripts. We teach:

  • How to express care through tone, not just words
  • How to be direct — or beautifully indirect
  • How to say enough, but not too much

Because “I love you” is only powerful when it means what it says —
and sounds like usted.

Coming Next in This Series

“She Knows. He Doesn’t Say It.”
Why Women Expect Words — and Men Hide Behind Silence.

We’ll explore the gender gap in emotional language — and how to bridge it.

© Tymur Levitin — Founder, Teacher & Translator
Start Language School by Tymur Levitin / Levitin Language School

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