What Is My Love Language? A Simple 5-Minute Test

But how do you know what your love language is? Here's our helpful guide based on The Five Love Languages book—plus a simple test to help you learn how you give and receive love.

Here's a quick basic overview of each love language:

Words of affirmation are any verbal expressions of affection, validation, or care. People who have this love language usually really like receiving compliments, hearing their partner say what they like about them, and the words "I love you" and all its sweet variations.

Physical touch includes any form of physical contact between two people to show affection, such as kissing, holding hands, sex, and cuddling. People with this love language tend to enjoy "touchy" relationships, public displays of affection, and being held close by their partner.

Quality time is the time two people spend together really enjoying each other's company. People with this love language really value partners who make plans regularly, show up, and just want to spend tons of time hanging out with them, whether it's a fancy date night or chilling on the couch talking until dawn.

Gifts are exactly what they sound like: physical items given to show someone you're thinking of them or to express feelings of love or care. People with gifts as their love language feel most loved when their partners bring them tangible gifts, particularly ones that are clearly meaningful, personalized, or seemed to take a lot of time, effort, thought, or resources to give.

Acts of service are thoughtful gestures meant to meaningfully make someone's day better or easier, such as making them coffee in the morning, bringing them food when they're sick, or being willing to make a personal sacrifice so they feel content. People with this love language see meaning in actions and feel loved when their partner is really making an effort for their sake.

"We all may relate to most of these languages, but each of us has one that speaks to us the most," marriage and family therapist Sunny Motamedi, Psy.D., recently told mbg.

The more important one to pay attention to is the receiving language—how you want to receive love and how the people around you want to receive love. The giver should attune to the receiver's love language, as the point is always to make the receiver feel loved in the way they will actually appreciate.

"Discovering your and your partner's primary love language and speaking that language regularly may [create] a better understanding of each other's needs and support each other's growth," Motamedi said.

Knowing your love language is important so you can let your romantic partners and other important people in your life know how to give you the validation you need. And knowing your partner's love language is equally vital, as that should guide how you treat them.