How much for a hug
25 Different Types Of Hugs (With Pictures) And Their Meaning
A hug can reveal much about how you feel about the other person in a relationship.
Specialty: Perinatal Health
Ashley Baldwin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who specializes in Perinatal Health. After her Master’s in Counseling, she did certifications in Perinatal Mental Health and is a Certified Addictions Counselor (CACII), with more th. more
Shikha is a writer-turned-associate editor at MomJunction. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship t. more
A hug is one of the best and widely accepted ways to show your affection and love. It communicates many emotions that words fail to express. There are different types of hugs that express different emotions. When you feel low, angry, distressed, or sad, a hug is all you need to lift your mood. A heartfelt hug can heal broken hearts and resolve any differences. Hugs are also a form of greeting people and showing friendliness. However, they can sometimes be misinterpreted if you don’t read the subtext. This post talks about different styles of hugs and their meanings.
25 Different Types Of Hugs And What They Mean
1. The tight hug
A tight hug is a kind of full-bodied, warm embrace where you completely wrap your arms around your loved one. An extra squish highlights the closeness you share with the person. This type of hug usually happens in emotional situations when you do not have enough words to explain, such as when you meet someone after a long time or when you bid farewell. Only people whom you have known for a while will be comfortable with a tight hug.
2. The side hug
The side hug is relatively less intimate and mostly shared between friends. It is more relaxed and often showcases that you are in a good mood. You can see employees sharing such a hug at the workplace or when people pose for photographs. A side hug may appear casual, but often could be genuine and meaningful. Long-term acquaintances share a side hug on certain occasions or at parties to give positive energy.
3. Polite hug
The polite hug is a formal hug usually shared with colleagues or distant relatives in an attempt to create a social bond. A polite hug tends to be short and quick. You should pay attention to the finer nuances of such a hug as the receiver may seem uncomfortable or awkward.
4. The bear hug
The bear hug is probably the most genuine and meaningful hug. A real and tight hug is usually shared in moments of joy or excitement. A lot intimate, such a hug involves wrapping your arms around another person. Typically, such hugs are platonic! The tight embrace fills you with warmth and relieves you of stress and anxiety. The hug is a reassurance of how much you care for the relationship.
5. The long hug
The long hug is typical of long-term relationships or shared between friends. A comforting and strong embrace, you may yearn for such a hug when you feel low. You take the other person in your arms and hold them tight to send out a message that you are there for them. The hug provides much-needed warmth and emotional support to your romantic interest, and speaks of your incredible chemistry.
6. The back hug
The back hug is a surprise hug that signifies deep feelings or is often shared during happy moments. The back hug expresses your strong physical connection in trustworthy and intimate relationships. Such a hug indicates that the two people are fond of each other. A gentle backstroke can express what a million words cannot.
7. The straddle hug
A full body close embrace with deep eye contact, the straddle hug is often shared between romantic partners. A private and intimate gesture, the hug often has an underlying sexual overtone. The hug highlights a good physical connection and mutual trust between the two people.
8. The London Bridge hug
The London Bridge hug involves the upper part of the body touching while the lower body stays apart. London Bridge hug is a formal hug or cordial embrace when two people maintain a certain distance from one another. This is the most awkward hug. We often see such hugs between diplomats or politicians. Such hugs are often shared to strike a social bond or to establish a non-personal relationship.
9. The eye-to-eye hug
The eye-to-eye hug is common to new couples and people with deeper feelings. Such a hug could often be an expression of romantic love when two people get lost in each other’s eyes. The eye-to-eye hug is a personal and intimate one, which indicates a strong and deep bond between two people. Slow dancing with your soul mate often results in this type of hug with a gentle squish.
10. The pickpocket hug
The pickpocket hug is also a kind of passionate embrace but can be casual. You put your hands on their hips closer to their back pockets, and it is reciprocated similarly. A pickpocket hug is a sign of your affectionate feelings for each other, along with the security of your relationship.
11. Patting hug
A hug accompanied by a gentle pat is meant to pep up the mood of a sad or a dejected person. Such a hug is platonic and an excellent indication of camaraderie.
12. Quick hug
A quick hug is often misconstrued as unaffectionate or cold, but may not always be true. A quick hug rarely has a romantic subtext.
13. Buddy Hug
Ever placed a hand around your buddy? That is a buddy hug! A buddy hug is not shared in a romantic relationship. You can see siblings sharing a buddy hug, which is never one-sided.
14. The hug with resting heads on each other
Resting your heads on each other while in a warm embrace is a cozy cuddle. It is a deep and long-lasting romantic hug that makes one feel secure. You are madly in love with the special person if you rest your head on your partner’s head. This type of hug is an intimate gesture that indicates the mutual trust and deep commitment you share with the person.
15. The hug with twirling you around
The hug with you twirling around is an example of happy hugging. In this type of hug, a taller person lifts a relatively shorter person and twirls her or him around with a tight hug. You can often see such hugs at airports when two people meet each other after a long time.
16 The hug around the waist
A hug around the waist can indicate a strong or casual relationship. This type of hug can signify that the person wants to spend as much time together as possible. A more intense one can grow into a warm, loving embrace and is typical of a passionate relationship. Observing one’s body language can reveal a lot about how they truly feel!
17 The ragdoll hug
The ragdoll hug is an interesting type of hug, which signifies a one-sided relationship. The ragdoll hug may indicate that the other person may not want to walk the extra mile to take the relationship to the next level. This type of hug can be considered cold and off-putting. However, there is a possibility of misreading the other person’s true intentions. It could be that the person is a dear friend who is too shy or not too comfortable with physical affection.
18 Sloppy hug
The sloppy hug is mostly shared at happy occasions or parties, where you need to appear to be warm and friendly to form social bonds! This type of hug may last longer but may not mean anything. You do it because it is polite. The sloppy hug is not intimate and often common between male and female friends.
19 Slow dance hug
A slow dance hug is a sweet and intimate gesture, possibly seen on dates with your Valentine or at weddings during a waltz. This type of hug signifies your shared desire to remain locked in a close hug. The whole world tends to fade away when this is accompanied by deep eye contact. The hug speaks about your incredible chemistry and connection.
20 The catcher hug
The catcher hug is the physical manifestation of missing someone. This can apply to all kinds of relationships. The catcher hug will be shared by two people in a long-distance relationship or when you meet your best friend after a long time. You rush towards them in excitement and share an intimate embrace. This hug exudes positive energy and displays your real emotions.
21 Flirty hug
A flirty hug is the sign of a newfound love or the onset of a new relationship. Such a hug involves light touch and subtle expression of extra attention. This is typical of outgoing people who are trying to explore your mutual chemistry without saying anything explicitly. The flirty hug is a nice gesture with an exclusive look that conveys your strong feelings.
22 Self-hug
The self-hug is a special type of hug. One cannot always depend on others for hugs and emotional reassurances. In such a scenario, self-hugs are ideal. Just wrapping your arms around yourself in a tight embrace is a wonderful feeling of the affection you have for yourself!
23 The cuddle hug
Cuddles form the basis of a serious relationship. The cuddle hug is a lovely way of showing your strong bond with your romantic partner and involves kisses and nuzzling. The cuddle hug is snug and cozy when you wake up in the morning or when you are on the couch watching television together. This type of hug signifies the loving and caring nature of your relationship.
24 Group hug
Assemble your squad for this one! They are your special people with whom you have developed a deep bond over the years. Be it your coveted inner circle trio or your entire gang, this hug is probably the friendliest type of hug. Nothing is as warm and comforting as being surrounded by your loved ones, locked together in a warm embrace.
25 One-sided hug
The one-sided hug is probably the most awkward of all hugs. The other person just isn’t involved in it. You may feel cold as the other person shrugs you off quickly. A one-sided hug may make you feel unwanted, but try to read your relationship dynamic beforehand. You should not encroach into the other person’s personal space.
Hugs have become a conventional norm in recent times. However, some people prefer to have their personal space and shy away from physical touch. They may open up only to their family members or romantic interest. If the person is an acquaintance or colleague, they may prefer something formal like a handshake. Try to reserve your tight hugs for your close friends and romantic partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an inappropriate hug?
A hug is considered improper when:
2. How long is too long for a hug?
In general, a hug is believed to be anywhere between five to ten seconds. But, you need to limit yourself to this timeframe, and if someone wants a long hug, you can embrace and comfort each other as long as you want.
3. What is a frame hug?
A frame hug is one where two people stand apart and hug by bending their waist and leaning forward so that only their shoulders are touching while hugging.
Hugs are therapeutic. They can bring comfort and can be de-stressing while also conveying your strong bond and emotional connection. Analyzing body language will tell you a lot about the nature of your relationship. Try to read your unique relationship with the other person and accordingly decide on the type of hug to avoid confusion.
These 15 different types of hugs reveal what your relationship is really like
There is nothing quite as comforting as a hug from the right person. Whether between parents and children, friends or lovers, hugs strengthen our bonds while making us healthier and happier.
You may not have thought about it, but there are different types of hugs that convey different messages between people.
This is also true of hugs between potential life partners.
Hugs can say a lot about your relationship. Let’s see what these fifteen different types of hugs reveal as shared by Bright Side.
1. The hug from behind
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You are busy in the kitchen cooking or cleaning up, and your guy comes from behind and puts his arms around you. In this hug he is covering your body from behind, protecting you while pulling you close to him, making you feel wanted.
This man is ready to protect you and is not afraid of responsibility. Even if he hasn’t said the words yet, a guy who holds you like this is in love.
There’s actually a new theory in relationship psychology that goes to the heat of why men hug women like this.
According to this theory, a man will only fall in love with a woman when he feels like a provider and protector.
In other words, he wants to be your hero.
I know it sounds a bit silly. In this day and age, women don’t need someone to rescue them. They don’t need a ‘hero’ in their lives.
And I couldn’t agree more.
But here’s the ironic truth. Men do still need to be a hero. Because it’s built into their DNA to seek out relationships that allow them to feel like a protector. When he hugs you from behind, it’s clear he wants to protect you.
2. The hug at the waist
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Even if the man hasn’t confessed his feelings to you yet, this embrace speaks for itself. This kind of hug is an intimate gesture, and it shows that he wants to spend as much time together as possible. He trusts you and is happy to see you.
But be careful, these men are often quick to fall in and out of love in a relationship.
3. The hug with a pat on the back
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We all know this hug, and it’s not a romantic one. If he is your friend, the hug is just that, a hug from a friend and the friendship is unlikely to go any further.
If you are already in a relationship and this is the kind of hug you mostly get from him, you might consider that he’s not really than into you. You are more like a preferred buddy. Maybe time to move on and find the one that will really be into you?
4. The hug while looking into the eyes
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A tender hug from him while looking into your eyes spells a deep connection between you. He cares for you deeply. Hold onto this one!
5. The “London Bridge” hug
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In this hug, there’s an actual distance between you and the whole affair looks awkward. If a guy hugs you like this, he’s not into you and most likely doesn’t want to hug you in the first place. If the distance between you is spontaneous, then obviously you feel the same and are only doing the polite thing.
6. The one-handed hug
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When he embraces you by pulling you close with one arm around your shoulder, it is a vivid image of him taking you under his wing. This guy will protect you and be ready to offer help and support when needed.
If you are only friends, then the man offers his help and support. Likewise, a girl who hugs a guy like this is signal that the guy is just a friend and things will probably not go any further.
7. The naughty hug
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This is the hug where the guy’s hand travels down your back and maybe rests on your buttock. He’s ready for some bedroom action. No patience here.
Even though you might not be in a relationship yet, he is quick to establish his “claim” on you as his.
If indeed you are not in a relationship, his behavior demonstrates lust, not love. If however, you are in a relationship, his clearly still has the hots for you.
8. The strong hug
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If a man hugs you firmly and gently strokes your back, you have everything you need: someone that both protects and cherishes you. He is committed and wants a long-term relationship that includes the whole nine yards. If that’s what you want to, then you’re in luck.
If you’re a guy and you want to get a girl to like you, this is a hug.
9. The hug that lasts
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This kind of hug keeps on without either person having to say anything. It is a silent expression of love and support that doesn’t require any words. It is not only expressed between couples but also between loved ones in general.
Whoever hugs you like this, will always stand by you through thick and thin.
All these hugs beg the question: what type of hugger are you?
10. The bear hug
This hug involves wrapping your arms completely around another person. It’s a sign that they want to protect them.
It’s easier to implement if one person is much bigger than the other. It’s common for men to do this to a woman they want to look after.
It’s not sexy or romantic but is rather a sign that the hugger truly cares for them.
It’s also one that parents use on their children to show that they’re there to protect them.
It can either be done from the front or back.
11. The straddle hug
This hug is what the title suggests – a hug that doesn’t last long at all. It has no romantic connotations to it, and may even appear a bit rude. But don’t be fooled, it’s not exactly rude.
Generally, it means that there is affection there, but it’s kind of weird to hug each other, so it’s best to keep it quick.
Guys who are awkward and don’t know the girl well might do this hug.
It doesn’t mean that they don’t want to develop a deep connection with you (otherwise they wouldn’t hug you at all!) but they’re just being a bit awkward about having a real hug.