What does it mean when a girl hugs you first?
Does it mean she likes you, like, a lot?
Is she just being friendly?
There are a number of things it can mean when a girl hugs you first – but there will be signs and clues to look out for that’ll help you figure out how she feels about you!
Here are 10 things it may mean when a girl initiates a hug and how you can better decipher her body language:
What Does It Mean When a Girl Hugs You First? (10 Explanations!)
1. She Hugs Everyone!
It feels great when we hug, especially if it’s a girl that we like.
But before jumping to conclusions, you should observe how she acts around others.
If this girl hugs everyone, you shouldn’t read any more into it than she’s just a friendly, touchy-feely type of person.
2. It’s a Cultural Thing
Some cultures are more hug-friendly than others, so it’s important to remember that a girl may just be following her cultural norms.
Even if it’s totally out of the norm for you and makes you feel uncomfortable.
I have a French friend who insists on kissing me on each cheek almost every time we meet, even after years I still find this a little uncomfortable!
3. She Was Happy/Celebrating Something at That Moment
Some people get a little carried away when they’re excited about something, and they may dish out hugs as a result, even if it’s out of character.
If she was just celebrating or happy about something and initiated a hug, you can probably chalk it up to her being excited.
4. She Wants to Get Closer to You and Is Testing Boundaries
This is one of the explanations I’m sure a lot of you reading this will be hoping for.
If a girl hugs you and it’s not how she usually acts, then it’s possible she’s developing feelings for you and is seeing how it feels to hug you.
She’s also going to see how you react, so it’s worth thinking about what signals you gave her.
5. She Thought You Looked Like You Could Do With A Hug
If you were in need of a little comfort or reassurance at the time, or maybe you weren’t but she thought you were, she may have hugged you.
Hugs are actually very effective at helping comfort someone.
When we make physical contact and hug someone it actually stimulates the release of endorphins, which are hormones that make us feel happy and relaxed.
6. She’s in Need of Some Comfort Herself
It’s also possible she initiated a hug because she was the one in need of comfort.
Hugs are a great way of giving and receiving comfort, so if she was feeling low or overwhelmed with her emotions she may have turned to you for that.
Not everyone is the hugging type, but for those who are it means a lot to them to feel that close physical contact.
7. She Is Attracted to You
Let’s touch on another meaning you probably want to hear to explain why a girl may have been the one to hug you first, it might mean she is attracted to you!
When we’re attracted to someone it’s natural to want to be close to them, and hugging is a great way to do this.
It’s also a chance to see if there is any physical chemistry there and see how the other person reacts.
8. She Likes You a ‘Little More’ Than Just a Friend
I don’t want to get your hopes up too far for you only to be disappointed.
There is a comfortable ‘friend zone’ where a lot of people like to get to where hugging is normal, but it doesn’t mean anything more to one party than they’re just friends.
If you come across as open or as a touchy-feely person and she is too, she may have picked up on this and feels comfortable hugging you.
9. She Likes You a Lot!
This is one step further than being attracted to you!
If a girl likes you and wants to get to know you better or make it a little more obvious she likes you, then she might initiate a hug.
Hugging someone is one of the best ways to get closer to them, it has the benefit of being innocent while releasing those feel-good hormones and giving you the chance to get close.
If you like her I’d definitely be looking for more signs that she likes you, such as making eye contact, touching you more, laughing at your jokes, and generally being around you a lot.
10. She Thinks He Will Not See You Again for A While
Sometimes a hug can be a farewell to someone you care about – even if you’re not a hugger.
If you’re not going to see each other again for a while, it’s possible she felt the need to give you a goodbye hug.
I bet it felt good, too, right?
Related – What it means when a guy touches cheeks while hugging!
How Do You Know if A Hug Is More than Just Friendly?
In many cases, it’s easy to tell the difference between a friendly hug and a hug that has more meaning behind it.
If the girl is smiling, making prolonged eye contact with you, touches cheeks, or gets very close, and holds you for a few seconds longer than normal – then chances are the hug means more than just friendship.
If you’re unsure, it’s certainly a step in the right direction and opens up the door for you to hug her back.
Keep an eye out for other signs that she likes you, such as complimenting you, trying to stay close to you, and generally being positive around you.
These are all good indications that a girl likes you and the hug is the icing on the cake that she’s trying to get close to you.
How Should You React When A Girl Hugs You?
When a girl hugs you first, no matter how much you like her it’s important to keep your cool!
The last thing you want is to come across as desperate or weird.
A simple smile, a gentle hug back, and a polite compliment are all you need to show her that you appreciate the gesture.
You can then either go with the flow of what happens next, if anything, or take the time to figure out why she hugged you and if there was any more meaning behind it than ‘just’ an innocent hug.
Image credits – depositphotos.com/stock-photo-love-story-of-beautiful-happy
Phil lives in England, UK, and has around 20 years experience as a professional life, career and executive coach. He started this blog to help others find and define their own self development journey. Blogging about a wide range of topics to help facilitate a better future.