Calling a guy cute may seem like a friendly or flirty way to refer to someone – but is it really that way? Perhaps, calling someone cute has other implications you’re not aware of.
Nine out of ten times, you’re all clear when you call a guy cute. The word itself is hardly ever considered impolite, disrespectful, or threatening – so there’s nothing to worry about at all.
Of course, it always depends on how you say it and the context of it all – but, more likely than not, it’s not a bad thing!
If you have any doubts about whether you should call a guy cute or not, you can find out all about it down below.
Our Survey
We asked 105 mostly younger people in the U.S. if they think it’s okay to call a guy cute.
86% of the people we surveyed think that calling someone cute is a great way to refer to someone in a positive manner. Only 14% think that this is not okay.
In fact, most people love to be called cute, guys and girls alike.
There’s something about the word „cute“ that makes it okay to say, it has a certain light-heartedness about it.
Of course, you have to remember there’s a time and a place to do it. In certain formal scenarios, you may prefer to choose other better-suited words.
Don’t let that discourage you from calling a guy cute or feeling bad if you did it already.
When is it wrong to call a guy cute?
Even though it’s not rude to call a guy cute, you may get in trouble for doing so.
Now, before you ring any alarms, wait! That doesn’t mean calling a guy cute is wrong – it means you have to do it to the right guy.
For example, if you call someone else’s boyfriend cute, his significant other may take it the wrong way – but that doesn’t mean you were doing something wrong.
Situations like these hardly ever happen – but sometimes they do.
These little issues happen because, sometimes, people interpret the word „cute“ differently. We’ll talk more about it down below.
It’s not how you say it but who you say it to
Something important you should note is that even though the word „cute“ is okay to say in almost every scenario, be careful who you say it to.
Calling a guy cute in a formal situation may not be the best idea.
Let’s say you call your boss cute – that may not be the right choice under the circumstances.
Then again, you can call your co-workers cute – as long as you have that type of amicable relationship with them.
Always keep that in mind. What you say is as important as who you say it to.
Should you never call a guy cute?
A lot of people like the phrase, “never say never,” and, for this particular question, we agree!
If you overthink it, calling a guy cute might seem more important or difficult of a situation than it really is. If you’re unsure, don’t worry.
As a rule of thumb, as long as you’re having light-hearted fun with someone else, it’s okay to call a guy cute.
Remember, how you say it is important as well. If you’re nervous about calling a guy cute, it might come out different than you think it would – and that’s not what you want.
So, if you’re unsure about it, take a deep breath and think about it. If you remain unsure after that, maybe try to think about something else to say.
There’s more than one way to call a guy cute!
Now, you might be wondering, how is it possible to call a guy cute in more than one way? Well, it’s simple: it all depends on your vocal tone.
For example, calling a guy cute in a neutral or positive voice is okay. There’s nothing terrible about that.
But, calling a guy cute in a snarky voice or a sarcastic tone might seem like the wrong, impolite thing to do.
And, sometimes, there’s a fine line separating these two scenarios listed above. If a guy is feeling low about his looks, calling him cute might sound a little too open-ended.
Not to worry, you can always clear things up by saying, “I really mean what I say.” That applies to several areas in life, and not this scenario in particular alone.
Keep in mind „cute“ may have different meanings for different people
You’re probably thinking calling a guy cute is not a bad thing – and most likely it’s not! Most people consider it something that isn’t rude to say.
Then again, there’s a small portion of people who may find it a little rude. Why is that? Because different people may perceive the word „cute“ differently.
You may think, if a guy is cute, he is handsome, beautiful, or similar. For other people, someone cute acts like a puppy: small, non-threatening, and defenseless.
That’s why context is important! These small differences tend to be better understood under the right context.
What if someone else calls you cute?
A great way to put what we have explained in perspective is to switch places. How would you feel if someone else called you cute?
Well, for starters, it depends on who said it to you! Then, you’d have to consider the tone of voice and intentions behind that action.
All in all, it depends on several factors – but, more likely than not, it’s not rude to call a guy cute. And, if someone else calls you cute, it’s not that big of a deal.
Remember, calling a guy cute is not rude, but it all depends on how, why, and when you say it.
Matt Vargas is an author and public speaking coach with a degree in sociology and more than ten years of practical experience. Matt is responsible for the empirical surveys at everyday-courtesy.com, is a passionate recreational musician, and blogs here about his experiences in the field of interpersonal communication.