21 Secret Ways To Say “I Love You” In Text

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Saying those three words to someone isn’t really the easiest thing to do. The things they signify, what they communicate, and the response they elicit can all drive you crazy with anxiety before even saying them! This is why a few secret ways to say “I love you” in texts won’t hurt anybody.

By “secret ways”, we mean the indirect, symbolic, or emotionally rich text messages that say I care, I miss you, I adore you; without using those three exact words. These subtle signals carry warmth, effort, and emotional depth that can make your partner feel truly seen.

Top 5 Secret Ways To Say I Love You In Text

Memory trigger: “Remember that rainy evening when we got lost? Still one of my favorite days”
Everyday check-in: “Did you eat?” or “Text me when you reach home”
Compliment in disguise: “You make even Mondays feel better”
The hidden code: “143,” “ily but in Morse,” or an inside emoji only you two get
The gratitude text: “Thanks for always being there, even on my worst days”

Secret Ways To Say “I Love You” In Text: 21 Examples

Table of Contents

First things first, a hidden message to say I love you way might just fly over this person’s head, especially if your text is a little too cryptic. You can’t just expect to say something like, “We both LOVE pizza! I wonder what else we love…” and have them understand what you’re saying. They’re just going to think you really like pizza.

With that said, sometimes you do need to subtly let the person know what you’re feeling, without coming on too strong. Let’s take a look at creative ways to say “I love you,” so you don’t end up hoping some hieroglyphics on your Instagram story will get the job done.

Quick Tips: How To Choose Your Secret Method

Not every secret “I love you” needs to be poetic or mysterious. What matters is how natural it feels between you and the person you’re texting. Here’s how to pick the right approach:

Match their communication style: If they’re playful, go with memes or emojis. If they’re sentimental, try song lyrics or poetry
Think about your comfort zone: If being direct makes you anxious, lean into humor or coded gestures first
Keep context in mind: A romantic playlist works for someone you’re dating; a flirty GIF may not suit early conversations
Build gradually: Start with light hints. Once you sense reciprocation, you can go deeper emotionally
Be authentic: Don’t copy someone else’s texting style. The best “secret” message feels like you

Digital playfulness

A wink, a meme, or a GIF can slip affection into a conversation without saying a single word. These playful gestures feel natural in today’s texting culture; they keep things light while still carrying warmth.

1. Send those emojis

How a person uses emojis is highly subjective. The emojis guys send when they’re in love are different from the ones girls incline towards, and every person has a different favorite emoji. If you’re someone who can’t use an emoji to save your life, maybe refrain from this one. But if you’re someone who usually sends a bunch of hearts and emojis with almost every text, go ahead and knock yourself out.

A red heart, the one with heart-shaped eyes, or even the ones that are blushing, can hint at a lot more than you think.

Related Reading: Addictive Flirty Texting: 70 Texts That Will Make Him Want You More

2. A few reaction GIFs never hurt anybody

Looking for hidden ways to say I love you? Go ahead and send a GIF of Michael Scott Hugging Jim after they say something nice. And if you’re feeling extra brave, maybe text them something like, “Wish you were Jim and I was Michael Scott.” Who doesn’t love a bit of Office romance?

3. Send cute videos off the internet

No, we don’t mean a video of Charlie biting his brother’s finger. Send across a cute video of two lovers reuniting and say something like, “Don’t videos like this make you melt? I wish I had something like this.” On paper, it’s still a secret way to say “I love you” in text, but you still have to be able to take some risks.

4. Memes to the rescue

If you’ve never used memes to flirt before, you’re missing out. One of the most effective secret ways to say I love you in texts without ever even saying it is by simply sending a meme. So the next time you’re scrolling through your Instagram discover page, take a screenshot of one that you like and send it across. At the very least, you might make them laugh.

Pop culture cues

Sometimes a song, a movie line, or a poem says it better than you ever could. Sharing art you love, or that reminds you of them, builds emotional intimacy. It’s about connection through shared taste and emotional resonance.

5. Flaunt your Spotify playlists

Okay, you don’t necessarily have to send an entire playlist, but sending music recommendations can be a secret way to say “I love you” in texts. Maybe don’t outrightly send “I love you” by Billie Eilish, try to test the water with a bit of John Mayer first.

6. Send your favourite song lyrics

If the music recommendations don’t really work and you know they’ve never checked the song out, you can always get a bit more courageous and send across your favorite song quote. Bonus points if you send a vague one and they ask you what it means. Texting a girl to start a conversation can be as easy as sending a nice song!

7. Send a video with a cryptic message

Figuring out how to secretly text “I love you”? Sometimes you don’t even have to type anything, just send across a video.

The possibilities are endless, send a semi-vlog-ish one, or flaunt your talent and send one of you playing a musical instrument. Add in a line or two about how you wish you were with them, and you’re bound to get a cute reply in return.

Related Reading: 101 Sweet Things To Say To Your Girlfriend In A Text

8. Let Rumi do the talking

When you’re firing blanks while thinking of secret ways to say I love you in code, you can always use the help of legendary poets. If you have a favorite poem with themes of love, send it across. If they’re not someone who reads poetry all too often, however, this tactic might just make them think you’re a hopeless romantic.

9. Hit them with a movie recommendation or a quote

Who doesn’t have an all-time favorite rom-com they can curl up and watch at any time? If you’re figuring out how to secretly text “I love you” to someone, ask them about their favorite romantic movie, recommend one of your favorites, or even send across the cheesiest love quote from a movie.

10. If they’d rather read, send book recommendations or quotes

We don’t know about you, but we wouldn’t mind going through another John Green phase, especially if we’re feeling extra mushy. One of the best ways to let someone know you’d rather stop texting them and hug them as tight as you can is by asking them to read one of your favorite books, which also happens to be an incredibly romantic tear-jerker.

Related Reading: Why Do Guys Stop Texting And Then Start Again? 12 True Reasons Why

Visual and personal touches

Sometimes the smallest visual cue says the most. Whether it’s a selfie, a video, or an Animoji, sending a glimpse of your world, or your face, creates a sense of presence and vulnerability that text alone can’t capture.

11. Send cute pictures of yourself

If a guy is interested in you and likes to talk to you, sending him cute pictures of you is definitely going to get his attention. Take it one step further and caption it with something cute. Creative ways to say “I love you” don’t entirely depend on what you write down, use that beautiful face God gave ya!

Ways to say I love you — **Send pictures of yourself**

12. Send an Animoji

If you’ve both got an iPhone, sending a fun little Animoji can be a great way of communicating with each other while also making each other laugh. Take it a step further by telling this person a few cute things you admire about them, while you’ve disguised yourself as the cutest Animoji you can find. If you’re looking for things to text when a conversation dies, an Animoji is your best friend.

Related Reading: 31 Funny Ways To Start A Text Conversation And Get Responses!

13. Use that amazing voice and send an audio note

Audio notes can be a great way of telling a person something with a lot more intent than just through words. Forget about secret ways to say I love you in code and let them hear your lovely voice.

Wit and humor

A private joke or clever line is a love language of its own. Humor signals comfort, understanding, and shared rhythm, the hidden glue of emotional closeness.

14. Joke about it

“I tend to wear a lot of colors when I’m feeling sort of in love. On a completely unrelated topic, check out these glittered-up red and pink pants I just bought!” Okay, maybe you can come up with more humorous texts to say “I love you” in different ways, but you get the point.

15. Be a little mysterious with it

If you’re looking for secret ways to say “I love you” in text symbols, maybe you can be a little more cryptic with it. Send across a few zodiac love compatibility articles, letting them know that your sun signs might be a good match.

Maybe, you can even tell them what you and this person have in common and why you think you get along so well. Just make sure they don’t get tired of the mystery and leave.

16.Inside jokes to make things more personal

Just like Ted and Robin would instantly salute each other every time someone around them said the words “major” or “general,” “corporal” or anything to do with the army, a few inside jokes can make you very close to this person. Plus, it’s a great way to keep a conversation going.

Crack a joke only they’ll understand, and try to subtly reiterate how cute it is that you two have things that only you can laugh at.

Appreciative texts

True affection in words often hides behind kindness, curiosity, and support. When you check in, encourage, or express gratitude, you’re saying I love you through genuine care, not performance.

17. Send a few words of appreciation

Appreciating their presence in your life may not necessarily scream out “I love you,” but it’s still a nice gesture. Tell them how much you value their input or just appreciate their recent success and tell them you only wish the best for them. And that you’d love to see how their life shapes out, very, very closely.

Related Reading: Should I Wait Or Should I Text Him First? The RULEBOOK Of Texting For Girls

18. A bit of wishful thinking can be cute

A secret way to say “I love you” in texts can be as simple as telling this person how you wish you were with them right now. Maybe even a “wouldn’t it be nice if we went on a small vacay together?” if you’re feeling extra courageous.

19. Talk about things you look forward to

Are you meeting this person soon? Do you have any plans with them? It doesn’t matter if it’s a vacation or just watching a movie together, drop in a, “I can’t wait to meet and spend time with you.” How to secretly text “I love you” can sometimes be as simple as just telling this person you really like spending time with them.

20. Tell them you care about them

You won’t really be shouting out you love them but letting them know you care about them and want to be supportive is a secret way to say “I love you” in text. Go ahead and send something like, “I just wanted to let you know I admire you as a person and I care about your wellbeing. I hope good things come your way, and I hope I can help you on your journey.” It’ll make their day.

21. Just flirt!

Sometimes, to say “I love you” in different ways, you’ve got to use the most common tactic available: flirting. Although, what’s important is the intent behind your flirting. Make sure it doesn’t seem like you’re only doing this to get in their pants. Let those winky-face emojis and suggestive texts go for a hike. You’re in this for the long haul, let out the hopeless romantic in you.

What Not To Do

Even the sweetest texts can backfire if they feel forced or confusing. Avoid these traps:

Don’t overdo the mystery: If they have to solve a riddle to figure out your feelings, the moment loses warmth
Avoid sending mixed signals: Joking too much about love or hiding behind sarcasm can make your feelings unclear
Skip clichés if they don’t fit you: Everyone has seen the “143” code; make it personal instead.
Don’t flood them with content: Sending ten memes in a row can come off as noise, not affection
Don’t force a reaction: Love expressions work best when you give space for the other person to respond naturally

FAQs

1. How indirect is too indirect?

Being subtle is charming, but not when it becomes confusing. If your message sounds like a riddle or your person has no clue it’s affectionate, you’ve crossed into “too indirect.” The key is emotional clarity. The reader should feel warmth, care, or a soft undertone of love even if the words aren’t direct. For example, “You always make my day easier” is subtle but emotionally unmistakable.

2. What if they don’t understand my hint?

Don’t panic or feel embarrassed; subtle gestures take time to decode. The goal is connection, not perfection. If they miss your hint, keep things playful and consistent. Try a slightly clearer follow-up like, “You didn’t catch my hidden compliment last time, did you?” That creates curiosity while keeping the tone light. Over time, people start recognizing your texting “language” naturally.

3. Can I use secret ways if we’re already in a relationship?

Definitely. In fact, these secret gestures are what keep long-term relationships fresh and intimate. Over time, love can settle into routine; sending small coded messages, inside jokes, or “thinking of you” texts reintroduces novelty and affection. It reminds your partner that love isn’t just about grand gestures; it’s also about the quiet, thoughtful ones that appear on ordinary days.

4. Is it okay to use these if I’m not sure they like me back?

Yes, but tread gently. When you’re unsure of their feelings, keep your approach light and friendly. A meme, a song lyric, or a “this reminded me of you” message works better than emotional declarations. It opens the door without pressure. If they engage or respond warmly, you can gradually move toward more personal or romantic text messages. Respect their pace; love grows best when it feels mutual, not pushed.

Final Thoughts

The secret ways to say I love you without saying it can seem confusing, but they really don’t have to be. Instead of sending them a non-coherent text that kinda says you’re in love but also kinda says you’re a stalker, use any of the tactics we listed out. We know for a fact you won’t be freaking out about their reply when you see them typing.

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