5 Love Languages: What's Yours?

You've probably heard of the 5 Love Languages - a book created by Dr. Gary Chapman that basically says relationships grow when we understand each other better. Everyone gives and receives love differently so it makes sense to understand how, and this is true for all types of relationships: couples, friends, family members, coworkers, etc. You can read the book or you can take the quiz online to find out your love language.

What Are the 5 Love Languages

Words of Affirmation: using words to build up the other person, like saying thank you for doing a task - thanks for taking out the trash; thanks for filing that paperwork; thanks for picking up the bill. Unsolicited compliments are important, and in a relationship, hearing the words "I love you" are the upper echelon.

"What's important to understand is that no one has one love language...it's your order of importance that really shows how you give and receive love."

Receiving Gifts: it might sound like this language is about being materialistic, but that's far from true. If this is your main love language, it means that you are in love with the thoughtfulness and effort behind receiving a gift. A gift or gesture shows you that the other person knows you well as they are treated as heartfelt symbols of someone's love.

Acts of Service: doing something for someone else that you know they would appreciate like cooking a meal, helping with homework, running an errand for them, etc. Anything that would ease the burden of responsibility speaks volumes. "Let me do that for you" is music to their ears. The act of service must be out of love and not obligation.

Physical Touch: hugs, kisses, and the like are all very important to someone who is into physical touch. To them, touch communicates warmth, safety, care and love. Even something like holding hands can hold a lot of weight for this love language.

Quality Time: this one is all about undivided attention - being present with the other person without distractions (like social media for example). Taking walks in the park together; sitting on the couch talking (with the TV off - this means no Netflix either); active listening - it's all about spending time together in a meaningful way.

My Love Languages, Ranked

What's important to understand is that no one has one love language. Instead, it's more of a ranking system. So it's likely that you can relate to all five, but it's your order of importance that really shows how you give and receive love.

My primary love language is Quality Time (10), followed by Physical Touch (8), Words of Affirmation (7), Acts of Service (4) and Receiving Gifts (1). The highest score you can get is a 12. This means that receiving gifts and acts of service aren't as important to me when it comes to relationships, whereas words of affirmation, physical touch and quality time are very common languages that I use to communicate love.

Not only is it important to know your love language (or just fun), but it's good to know the other person's love language as well. Quality Time might be imperative for me but could be low on the totem pole for my partner. They could be way more into Words of Affirmation.

Without taking the quiz, what do you think your primary love language is?

| Wearing: ASOS - cami jumpsuit with gathered bodice // Schutz - Ylanna flats |