17 types of hugs and what each one really means –

The hugs that a mother gives her little son are not the same as the business hug that two businessmen give each other.

Nor is the condolence hug we give a friend similar to the way we hug someone we are falling madly in love with.

When you pay enough attention, you can detect these not-so-obvious nuances and become a true master at reading “hugs.” Therefore, today we are going to review 17 types of hugs and their meaning with images.

Types of hugs

The types of hugs in body language between human beings are so sophisticated that they can express much more than words.

Hugs can transmit a lot of emotional information between two people, because they imply closeness and physical contact where details can be identified that give them very different meanings.

The way you hug can alert you, for example, to the true intentions of a friend, a partner or a work colleague; information that – without a doubt – is invaluable for you to make good decisions socially, romantically and professionally.

We can divide hugs into four very general categories: friendship hugs, love hugs, supportive hugs and formal hugs. Each of these categories includes different types of hugs, each one transmitting a very specific feeling.

hugs of friendship

What the different types of hugs that we will explain to you below have in common is that they always occur within the framework of friendship. There are no romantic or convenient intentions in them.

1. I want a friendship with you!

This hug projects that you are interested in another person to form a friendship. It means that he really liked you and that he would like to continue living with you.

You can identify it because it is an enthusiastic hug, although brief and distant, without much physical contact, since there is not much trust between the two yet.

In this type of hug it is very likely that they will touch or squeeze your shoulder gently. In the case of women, they can kiss each other on both cheeks.

2. I consider you my friend

This is one of the types of friend hugs we give to people we are just beginning to consider our friends.

It means that they appreciate you, although you definitely do not enter the circle of close friends yet. You can identify it because it is usually a little longer and may be accompanied by gentle pats on the shoulder.

3. I consider you a good friend

This type of hug is characterized by being quick but firm: it does not need to last long, since its sincerity conveys in a short time that you are already considered a trustworthy person and that, in addition, there is affection involved.

It is the classic hug that good lifelong friends give each other when greeting or saying goodbye. It is usually accompanied by an expression of joy at seeing you and—if it is a goodbye hug—a suggestion to see you again soon.

4. You are my best friend

There is a type of hug that is generally reserved for best friends or the most trusted people in the inner circle. We are referring to the lateral but close hug, in which one person puts their hand on the shoulder of the other and pulls them towards them firmly.

This type of hug says that you are the other person’s most important friendship and, in the same way, establishes a relationship of mutual and unconditional support.

hugs of love

The hugs in this category have in common that they carry intentions of a romantic or sexual nature.

5. I like you!

When a person gives you a huge smile—and then gives you an enthusiastic but very brief hug—it means that they like you, but they’re a little afraid to show it to you. That’s why he can’t stop himself from hugging you, but he pulls back almost immediately.

Usually, when someone likes you, they will try to give you lots of hugs like this under any pretext. The reason is that he or she wants to probe how you react to physical contact with him or her, but without risking invading your personal space too much.

It’s one of the funny types of hugs, because there’s a lot of hesitation and fumbling in it.

6. I’m falling in love with you!

In general, people progressively go from attraction to falling in love and the way they embrace the object of their affection also changes little by little.

If he or she is in love, you will see how his or her hugs become a little longer, softer and unmistakable, taking advantage of those moments to breathe your aroma deeply.

7. I want something serious with you

Believe it or not, certain types of hugs can also tell you if he or she wants a serious relationship with you, or if he or she is just passing through.

When commitment or the desire to form one begins to emerge, hugs become more tender, but at the same time they are loaded with more meaning that is expressed through the action of touching the face or squeezing the other’s shoulders gently.

It’s as if they want to tell you that that hug is “something more than just a hug.”

8. I love you!

Saying “I love you” is one of the scariest steps we can take when we are in a relationship. Sometimes, for one reason or another, we do not dare to confess it, but we can always convey that feeling through a hug.

Love hugs are usually very close and long, but they have an element that makes them unmistakable: they do it by looking into your eyes, either before or after the hug itself. It is a deep and meaningful look that is undoubtedly more eloquent than words.

9. I want sex!

There are also hugs that, more than loving, are somewhat perverse. Regardless of the type of relationship you have, if a man hugs you, grabbing your waist and pulling you towards his pelvis, it is because he wants sex with you.

For women, you can recognize a similar message when they put one arm around your waist and the other around your neck. Furthermore, in both cases, the other person will bring their face very close to yours. In this type of hugs, we seek to achieve as much body contact as possible.

This is one of the most common types of hugs in bed.

10. I don’t want to let you go for a moment

This is the typical hug in which you walk as if nothing had happened and they come up to you from behind and wrap their arms softly and warmly around you.

Literally, this hug means that you are so attractive or attractive that they do not want to stop hugging you even for a moment; especially, when they start walking like this hugging you.

11. You are mine (or mine)!

These types of hugs are more frequent in men, but that does not mean that many women do not resort to them. It is a physical contact that seeks to transmit dominance and sexual territoriality.

It can be used with the intention of marking territory in front of others or to demonstrate a certain level of jealousy. It is characterized by the fact that they grab you by the waist and forcefully pull you towards their entire body in the case of men.

The types of hugs of a woman of this kind can be expressed by wrapping her arms tightly around your torso or placing a hand behind your neck. It also tends to be a long, very tight hug.

Supportive hugs

These are the hugs we receive as signs of solidarity when we are going through a bad time.

12. Protect me!

Hugs not only convey what we feel towards others, but also a little of what we want from them. If someone puts their head on your shoulder or chest when hugging you, they are tacitly asking you to protect them from something that scares them or makes them feel bad.

It can also mean that that person needs your support.

13. I am here for whatever you need

This type of hug conveys that there is unconditional support for you, that is, that no matter what you need, the other person will do everything in their power to support you.

Normally, it’s the kind of hugs they give you in difficult times; They are physically distant so as not to invade your space, but the person is frankly leaning towards you. There’s a lot of eye contact and pats on the shoulder or a supportive squeeze on the arm.

14. I feel your pain

This is a hug that is trying to be very protective. They wrap their arms around you as much as they can and stay there for a long time, until they think you’re feeling a little better.

They do not necessarily convey support because they often occur in the context of some situation that cannot really be solved, such as the loss of a loved one or some other tragedy.

Its intention is to demonstrate empathy and make you see that, at least emotionally, you are not alone.

15. I support you superficially

There is a kind of deceptive and opportunistic hug that pretends to convey unconditional support, but in reality says: “I will support you as long as it suits me or does not bother me.”

It is similar, as you may have already imagined, to the “I am here for whatever you need” hug, with the subtle difference that, being distant, the person does not lean towards you, but rather away from you; like he didn’t want to get too involved with you.

It is very likely that in this type of hug your interlocutor will touch or squeeze your shoulders. It’s the kind of hug you get, for example, from a co-worker who knows they’re going to fire you, but wouldn’t confess it to you.

Formal hugs

These are the hugs that we normally see in the work or business context; also in politics. They don’t express so much friendship, but they do express collaboration and camaraderie.

16. Business hug

The business embrace seeks to convey trust and formality. The idea is to predispose the interlocutor that making deals will be safe and advantageous for both. That is why it tends to be energetic and firm, but brief, because it has no emotional connotations.

At the same time, it is common to include pats on the shoulder, since these represent approval.

17. Bullying Hug

This is a hug whose objective, far from generating trust and bonding, is to scare or intimidate. It is an act that for others may seem like a simple energetic hug, but for the person receiving it it can be uncomfortable and disturbing.

Typically, it is very firm and the other person squeezes the arm, back or shoulder as a symbol of dominance. It also lasts two or three seconds longer than it should, as it is a way in which the other tries to impose the force of his presence on us.

What does a hug from behind mean?

A hug from behind means that the person hugging you never wants to let you go. He projects that not only does he like you, but that he feels great tenderness towards you and his ideal is to have a romantic relationship with you. This kind of hug is almost always loving.

What does a friend’s hug mean?

A hug from a friend can mean a lot of different things. Depending on the intensity, duration and position, it can convey anything from simple camaraderie to unconditional support at a difficult time in your life.

How many hugs a day do you need?

According to psychologists and experts in the sciences of happiness, human beings need at least three to five hugs a day to feel full and happy. Especially when we are little, it is very important that we are always surrounded by many types of hugs for children.

What does it mean to dream about a friend hugging you?

When…