Want to improve your relationship? Learn more about the five love languages!

Improving your relationship is easier than you think! In this blog, we want to introduce you to The Five Love Languages, a book written by Gary Chapman. The idea behind the book is that we all feel loved differently. Love doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all package. Chapman believes that relationship issues often have one simple cause: the partners speak a different love language.

What are love languages?

A love language refers to the way you prefer to express and receive love. The 5 ways in which we feel love each manifest themselves differently. Each language also requires practice to be expressed fluently. If your partner speaks a different love language, there’s a good chance that relationship problems will arise in the long term when someone starts to feel short-changed in the relationship.

The 5 love languages are:

1. Words of affirmation
   Compliments, encouragement.
2. Quality time
   Communicating, listening, showing interest in the other.
3. Gift giving
   Giving your partner a present that lets them know you were thinking about them.
4. Acts of service
   Doing something for someone else, such as washing the dishes, cleaning the house, bringing them breakfast in bed.
5. Physical touch
   A hug, intimate contact, an unexpected kiss, etc.

Everyone has their own favourite language. One partner may value physical contact more and feel loved when they receive a hug or a kiss. Someone else may appreciate being served breakfast in bed or feels loved when they receive a gift from time to time. Men generally have a stronger need for positive words and physical touch. Women, on the other hand, often have a greater need for gifts and service.

“One partner may value physical contact more and feel loved when they receive a hug or a kiss. Someone else may appreciate being served breakfast in bed or feels loved when they receive a gift from time to time.”

For this reason, men often complain about not getting enough sexual action or compliments, while women often complain about their husbands who never clean, always want sex and never bring flowers.

What’s your love language?

Curious to find out what your love language is? With the help of this questionnaire, you can find out your favourite language in no time. Try to answer as honestly as possible!

Speaking the languages of love

When you want to express your love, you tend to use your favourite love language. However, it’s also important to speak and understand your partner’s language. You’ll probably discover that your partner expresses their love more often than you think. While you’re waiting for that one cuddle, your partner is busy preparing a delicious meal for you. When you understand their love language, you’ll notice this sooner and enjoy it more!

“You’ll probably discover that your partner expresses their love more often than you think. While you’re waiting for that one cuddle, your partner is busy preparing a delicious meal for you.”

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

These are the basics of The Five Love Languages. To really dig deeper into each of these languages and how to speak them, we recommend reading Gary Chapman’s book!

What’s your love language? Share it in a comment below!