21 Subtle Signs A Shy Girl Has A Crush On You

While some women are confident and open about their feelings, those who are inherently shy may not be so forthcoming. Even so, when feelings are at play, certain shifts in a woman’s behavior toward the person she’s falling for are inevitable. In these shifts lie the signs a shy girl likes you, however subtle they may be. To catch these, you need to sharp attention to detail. 

As per research, shy women fear rejection, which is why they’re often guarded about their feelings but do drop subtle hints to let you know that they’re interested in you without actually saying it. Shy girls in love want the object of their affection to make the first move. But given their guarded personalities, it can be hard to decipher whether taking that plunge is the right move. 

Now, if both partners keep playing this cat and mouse game, the opportunity to act on their feelings may get away from them. Then, all you’re left with are regrets and “what ifs”. To make sure that doesn’t happen, we’ve put together this guide on signs a shy girl likes you but is trying not to show it.

​​25 Subtle Signs A Shy Girl Likes You

Is she shy or not interested? Mixed signals from a girl can leave you wondering about this, contemplating whether it’s even worth pursuing this connection or if you’re barking up the wrong tree. In such cases, being aware of the subtle signs a shy girl likes you and paying attention to whether you can notice them in her behavior can steer you in the right direction. To tide over this conundrum of whether or not a shy girl likes you, treat this list of signs as your guide: 

1. She’s super talkative on text but super quiet in person

A reserved woman may not be as confident when you meet her in person as she is when you interact with her online. That’s why the signs she likes you but is hiding it first appear in your text interactions with her. She wants you to approach her but just isn’t brave enough to say it to you directly. So, she does the next best thing: using the comfort of space and distance in virtual interactions to connect with you because that’s right in her comfort zone. 

You may find it odd that she transforms into a super quiet person after being super talkative online. But remember, this is not her playing games or acting hard to get. It’s just who she is. Even then, you may notice that she makes more of an effort to interact with you than anyone else. This is among the lesser-known signs a shy girl likes you but is hiding it. 

2. She helps you out even if it’s inconvenient for her

Another one of the surefire signs a shy girl likes you, she’ll go out of her way to help you out. Since she cares about you deeply—introverted people are known to feel emotions more deeply than others—she won’t be able to resist lending you a helping hand when you’re in need of one. An example of this could be how she volunteers to help you with your project work, even if she has deadlines of her own looming large. Or if a shy girl has a crush on you at work, you may notice that she steps up to help you with presentations, reports, and everything else in between, even if she has plenty to do herself.

3. She finds you funny even if most people don’t

One of the most obvious signs she secretly likes you is that she’ll find you hilarious, more often than not. So, if you’re wondering, “Is she shy or not interested?”, pay attention to these:

• If a shy girl laughs insanely even at your most borderline funny jokes, chances are, she has a crush on you
• If you humor isn’t known to be your stronger suit, her cracking up at whatever you say or do is because she finds everything about you charming

Related Reading: How To Make A Girl Laugh – 11 Failproof Secrets That Work Like A Charm

4. Her friends giggle when she’s around you

In addition to noticing how a shy girl reacts when she’s around you, also pay attention to how her friends react in your presence. Do you notice that her friends giggle when she’s around you, or tease her when you enter the room? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then this is among the most obvious signs she secretly likes you.

5. She’s interested in knowing about your life

In general, when you’re interested in someone, what’s the first thing you do? Try to find out more about them! Shy girls in love do the same. 

• If you notice that she suddenly asks you more questions to try to get to know you better, she might like you
• A shy girl can ask you these questions directly or she prefers to learn about you through your mutual friends, in a non-creepy way
• When someone wants to know everything about a person, it usually means that they care about the latter
• So, if a girl is interested in knowing everything about your life, your likes and dislikes, your goals, even your family members, it could mean that she’s into you

6. A shy girl remembers even the most unimportant details about you

Does she often mention various, often inconsequential, events from your past that you may have mentioned to her in the passing? This may be a sign that she is interested in you. People tend to pay more attention to someone’s details or stories when they are romantically interested in them.

Reserved women in particular tend to make a mental note of these details. If she remembers things like your opinion on a random movie or a friend you miss dearly, chances are, she’s into you.

7. She becomes friends with your group to know more about you

Since a shy girl doesn’t feel confident enough to talk to you directly, she’ll try to insert herself in your social group just to be in your orbit. This way, she gets to learn more about you without asking you directly. And it increased her chances of getting to spend more time with you. A win-win!

Rachel, a student from Philadelphia, shares, “I would get very shy around my crush and wouldn’t be able to put two sentences together. Even though I wanted to know everything about him, I was unable to ask him questions. So I became friends with his friends instead. I’d blush while talking about him, but I did finally understand him and get the courage to talk to him.”

Related Reading: 26 Love Yourself Quotes to Build Your Confidence

8. Her friends try to befriend you

One of the rather hard to decipher signs she likes you but is hiding it is that her friends may try to befriend you. They do this to not only find out more details about you, but also to gauge if you’re right for her. They’re perfectly aware of who she is, what’s good for her and what’s not, which is why they do their best to ensure you’re suitable for her.

9. She blushes a lot when you compliment her

Any person, regardless of gender, can experience uncontrollable blushing when talking to their crush. This means that shy girls in love can easily blush due to embarrassment or feeling self-conscious around someone they have feelings for. A great way to find out if a shy girl likes you is to compliment her or even subtly flirt with her. If she turns red when you smile, it could mean that she reciprocates your feelings.

However, there is a fine line between flirting with someone subtly and coming on too strong. You should always pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues when you do this with a reserved person. If there is even the slightest hint of discomfort, stop flirting immediately. Remember to ask yourself, healthy flirting isn’t damaging but are you crossing the line? You also need to be present and observant to understand whether she blushes while receiving compliments from anyone or acts differently around you.

Related Reading: Want To Make Someone Blush? Here Are 12 Adorable Ways!

10. She’s nervous or awkward around you while she is otherwise calm and composed

If a shy girl is awkward, tongue-tied, or nervous around you while being generally calm, there’s a chance that she’s into you. Quora user, Savannah Jaye, writes, “On the off chance that I do somehow end up in a conversation with my crush (i.e. I am talking with a mutual friend, and he joins in), I tend to completely lose my cool”. Her being awkward or nervous around you can also be considered among the signs a shy girl likes you but is trying not to show it.

11. You find her looking at you multiple times in a day

Quora user, Lanie, shares her perspective on the topic, “If a shy girl likes you, she will NEVER EVER look directly at you, even when you enter the room.” You’ll find that she steals glances at you multiple times a day. This is obvious as she isn’t able to maintain eye contact with most people, let alone the person she likes. However, you can only arrive at this conclusion if she steals glances at you and nobody else.

12. A shy girl would lean toward you if she likes you

It’s said that girls lean toward those they are comfortable with. John-Paul Wilson, a Quora writer, says, “It’s a sign that she’s physically comfortable with you, but not necessarily a strong indicator of romantic interest. Like most things, it depends a lot on context. If she’s leaning on you for support while tying her shoe, that’s not very significant at all. If you’re sitting side by side and she leans her head on your shoulder that probably indicates some affection, though it need not be romantic”.

So you need to be able to differentiate the body language signs of attraction during different situations. If she is interested in you, you’ll also find her giving you just a small brush of touch while walking past you quite frequently.

13. She shows her feelings indirectly through her social media posts

If you want to know something about a person in today’s world, you need only check their social media. According to a study, social media use has skyrocketed over the past decade and a half by almost 70%. And another research reported that “social media provided better chances to self-disclosure: it was easier to tell some things about yourself or you just happened to reveal information via social media to your partner that you would not necessarily say otherwise.”

No wonder a shy girl will let you know that she’s interested through her social media posts and activities. An example of this could be sending you posts about romantic songs and movies. This should also be considered among the most obvious signs a shy girl likes you but is trying not to show it. 

• This is especially true if she keeps sending you pictures and images that remind her of you
• Additionally, if she’s interested in you, she’s more likely to like and/or comment on all of your pictures, even if they don’t naturally appear on her timeline
• If she is interested in you, she may drop subtle hints about you in her social media posts. It can be the lyrics of your favorite song or she might tag you in a quote

Related Reading: 21 Flirting Signs From A Woman You Never Knew About

14. She does her best to look great when she’s with you

As they say, presentation is everything! You can see it whenever someone tries to woo their love. The same can be said about shy girls. If she suddenly changes her appearance when she’s around you, it could be a sign that she likes you. You will notice changes in the way she dresses and styles her hair. 

Being a reserved person, she won’t be much of a talker, but she’d still want you to notice her. So, she may try to catch your attention by experimenting with her appearance. If she’s been going the extra mile to look like a million bucks whenever she’s with you, this could be a sign that she has a crush on you.

15. She takes an interest in your hobbies even if they don’t naturally interest her

If she’s taking an interest in your hobbies which don’t interest her naturally, it could indicate she’s into you. Examples of this could be:

• She’s a fan of thrillers and scary movies, but she starts taking an interest in romantic movies, knowing you’re a fan of those
• She starts to play or learn about the sport you love
• She might start to read the kinds of books you read

16. She finds ways to keep the conversation going

While a shy girl won’t usually initiate a conversation, she’ll do her best to keep the conversation going if she’s into you. She’s perfectly aware of her skills when it comes to initiating a chat, so she makes it up by stretching it as much as possible. Don’t assume she’s playing hard to get because she’s just a shy girl waiting for you to make the first move.

• She may be reticent about sharing her personal stories, but she’s always ready to listen to yours
• You will be surprised to hear yourself pouring your heart out while she patiently listens
• She likes to hear things you thought someone would never be interested in. That’s because she wants to get to know you better

Related Reading: 25 Ways To Keep A Conversation Going With A Girl

17. Her voice changes when she’s with you

Research shows that we change the tone of our voice while talking to someone we’re into, in hopes of making a romantic connection. A woman’s voice becomes more high-pitched in such situations. If you’ve noticed this happening, this could also be a sign she secretly likes you. 

Abby Rose, Quora user, shares, “If a girl’s voice is not naturally high in pitch, and you notice this change around you, the chances she likes you are great. This is common in girls who are attracted to a boy or father figure. Higher pitched voices are seen as attractive or youthful by certain males and just happens naturally in females when they are around a guy they like or favor.”

18. She waits for you at the end of the day

A shy girl who has feelings for you may make an extra effort to wait for you, just so she can steal a few quality moments with you at the end of the day. For instance, if a shy girl has a crush on you at work, she may stick around in the office until you finish work so that you can both leave the office together. She realizes that she doesn’t have the confidence to talk to you in front of everyone, so it’s best to wait for a time when there are few people around, and spend time with you. Or if you’re her gym crush, she may wait for you to finish your work out and then spend some time chatting you up before heading out. 

19. She copies your mannerisms unknowingly

When we like someone, we copy some aspect of their mannerisms unknowingly and the same applies here. Nick Hobson, a behavioral and brain scientist, says in this Forbes article, “If a person likes you, they will spontaneously mimic your physical postures and gestures. This ‘affiliative mimicry’ is an ancient evolved process rooted in the brain’s Mirror Neuron System which is the social glue that binds people together”.

Sean Kernan, a Quora user, shares his opinion, “If a girl has a crush on you, even the shyest girl, there are always signs. The signs are often subconscious behaviors.”

Related Reading: 11 Powerful Intense Attraction Signs

20. She compliments you regularly

A shy girl who has a crush on you will compliment you regularly in hopes of winning you over. If a girl likes you, she notices everything about you and compliments you.

• It could be the way you talk or the way you play sports
• Women know that compliments can get one very far and this is her subtle way of flirting with you
• While complimenting, she’ll often give you just a small brush of touch. Physical touch is a great indicator of a shy girl’s interest in you. She’ll communicate more through her actions rather than words

21. You often find her at your favorite spots

Someone who has a crush on you will do their best to find out your likes and dislikes. This includes your favorite spots to hang out. If she’s shy, but not introverted, she will start hanging out at your favorite spots in hopes of catching you there and spending time with you.

22. She “accidentally” bumps into you often

At first, it may seem like a string of coincidences. You’re at the coffee shop before class and there she is. You take a different route to your usual hangout spot and she’s passing by. But when it starts happening a little too often, it’s probably not by accident. Shy girls may struggle to initiate conversation or make bold moves, so instead, they orchestrate moments where you might just notice them. For instance, 

• She joins the same club you’re part of, even if it’s not her style
• She’s suddenly around your usual lunch spot or gym time

Relationship expert Vanessa Van Edwards notes, “Proximity breeds familiarity, and familiarity breeds liking, especially for introverts who find direct interaction daunting.” These planned “accidents” are her way of being close without putting herself at emotional risk because she is wary of stimulating vulnerability in a connection till she’s absolutely sure she won’t get hurt in the process. 

23. She opens up only to you, bit by bit

Most shy people guard their personal life like a treasure chest, not because they’re cold, but because vulnerability feels risky. So, if she starts revealing bits about herself only to you, like her childhood memories, fears, or quirky dreams, it’s among the strongest signs a shy girl likes you. She’s emotionally investing in you, even if she’s not loud about it.

Take Elena, for example. Usually reserved, she surprised her classmate Ryan by texting him late one night about how she misses her hometown during the holidays. It was the first time she’d opened up emotionally to anyone in their group. That small act meant more than any flirtation from her ever could. Shy girls don’t share to impress, they share to connect. And if she’s connecting with you this way, you’ve clearly earned a unique spot in her world.

Related Reading: 21 Signs Of Chemistry Between Two People – Is There A Connection?

24. She notices your mood changes instantly

She may not say much, but a shy girl who’s crushing on you is likely observing everything about you. Shy people tend to be deeply perceptive because they spend so much time watching rather than talking. While others may miss that you’re quieter today or faking a smile, she picks up on these tiny shifts like radar. Signs she’s tuned into your moods include:

• She asks, “Are you okay?” when no one else notices something’s wrong
• She sends you a meme or a song link to cheer you up, without mentioning your mood directly
• She lingers nearby on your bad days, even without saying much

“She’s not trying to fix you,” says body language coach Blanca Cobb, “She’s just showing you, in her quiet way, that your happiness matters to her.”

25. She reacts when other girls get too close to you

Even if she’s the picture of calm and quiet otherwise, watch her body language when another girl is around you, especially one who’s a little too friendly. You might notice a flash of unease, 

• Her smile stiffens
• Her arms cross
• She suddenly becomes more withdrawn
• She glances your way repeatedly when another girl is talking to you
• She fidgets more than usual
• She disappears from the scene altogether, only to resurface later.

This is not because she’s an insecure woman displaying jealousy in the dramatic, possessive sense but more of an internal alarm ringing softly. If you have or do notice these shifts in her behavior, you can stop mulling over: is she shy or not interested? She most positively is. 

Related Reading: How Do Introverts Flirt? 10 Ways They Try To Get Your Attention

How To Talk To A Shy Girl And Make Her Comfortable

Now that you are aware of the signs a shy girl likes you, it’s time to address how to talk to her and get her to open up. Talking to a shy girl is a tricky thing because, on one hand, you want to know what she thinks of you. On the other hand, you don’t want to overwhelm her and be a part of an unpleasant memory that will live in her head for a long time. Therefore, be careful and gentle in your approach. Follow the steps mentioned below to know how to talk to a shy girl and make her comfortable:

John-Paul Wilson, the Quora writer mentioned above, wrote further, “It’s generally impossible to be sure someone likes you from hints and signals alone. Some people are totally blind to such signals, while others are apt to over-interpret every little gesture as a sign of interest. It doesn’t really matter though. Whether she was signaling that she likes you or not, if you ever want to go out with her, you’re still going to have to put your cards on the table and ask her out. Until she actually asks you out herself, that’s the only way it’s going to happen.”

Final Thoughts

That was our take on the signs a shy girl has a crush on you. Here’s hoping we were of some help on the matter, and you will now be able to detect her feelings. While we wish you the best of luck for your future, on the odd chance that she is not into you, let her know that this won’t affect your friendship and move on.

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