One of the most difficult sentiments to express in a text message is being moved or touched by something.
When someone says, “Aww,” what they usually mean is that something you have done or said is sweet, cute, or touching.
However, because so many of the interactions we have in which we express emotion and gratitude traditionally take place through body language and facial expressions, it can be hard to accurately portray our feelings when we’re communicating via words on phone screens.
Here is a handy guide to help you figure out how to appropriately respond to “Aww” in any number of circumstances.
18 ways to respond to “Aww”
- I’m glad you liked that.
- It’s nice to see you appreciate it.
- Aw, I’m touched that you’re touched.
- I’m happy you care. I can’t wait to talk to you about it in person.
- I thought you’d like that ☺
- Are you saying I’m cute?
- I knew you’d think that was sweet ☺
- Yes, everyone was complimenting you the whole time, it was so sweet. I wish you could have heard it.
- Don’t worry, I know it didn’t work out this time, but we’ll definitely make it happen in the future.
- Aw please don’t be disappointed! I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to you.
- Oh no, are you sad?
- What are you feeling?
- Tell me what you’re feeling disappointed about.
- I’m really sorry, I hope you don’t feel too down.
- It’s just bad luck, but I get why you’re sad about it
- I know, she’s so cute, isn’t she?
- It was so lovely; I wish you had been there.
- Isn’t that such a sweet story?
How to respond to “Aww” when someone is expressing being moved by you
One of the most common reasons why someone would send you a message that says “Aww” is because you have said something sweet that they appreciate.
If you have sent them a nice compliment, they may even be feeling slightly embarrassed and feel unsure what to say. After all it can be hard to know how to respond when someone says (or implies) you are sweet.
The best way to know what someone means when they send a message that says, “Aww,” is to look at the context in which they’ve said it.
If the last thing you sent the person you’re talking to was a compliment––or if you’ve just told them about something nice that you want to do together––and they respond “Aww,” they probably mean something like, “That’s sweet, I’m touched, thank you.”
Here are a few ways you could respond to “Aww” in this situation.
1. I’m glad you liked that.
If you’ve given someone a cheesy compliment or have told them something sweet and they respond “Aww,” you might send back, “I’m glad you liked that.”
What you’re saying is, “I can tell from your text that you are touched by what I said, and I’m glad to see that.”
While there can be a whole lot of subtext involved in modern day digital communication, as long as you are on the same page as the person you’re talking to, there should be no misunderstandings.
Example:
A: You are my favorite person on earth.
B: Aww!
A: I’m glad you liked that.
2. It’s nice to see you appreciate it.
If you’ve just told someone about something you’ve done for them, and they then respond “Aww,” they’re probably trying to express that they’re touched by what you’ve done and that they are grateful for it.
You can respond by telling them that you appreciate that they appreciate what you’ve done.
After all, complimenting your partner is an important part of maintaining a healthy relationship.
As confusing as this might all sound, it makes quite a bit more sense when you see it in context. Check out the example below for more guidance.
Example:
A: I managed to finish laying the patio stones this afternoon, which makes me happy because it means it’ll be ready to eat meals on when you get here on Saturday!
B: Aww, that’s so great!
A: It’s nice to see you appreciate it.
3. Aw, I’m touched that you’re touched.
Similarly, if someone says “Aww” as a way of showing you that they’re moved by what you’ve done, you can express that the fact that they are moved is moving for you.
Again, since this all sounds rather confusing, it may be necessary to see what this looks like in practice. Take a glance at the example below for some helpful context.
Example:
A: Babe, I got your winter tires put on your car, so you don’t have to worry about doing that anymore!
B: Aww, thank you! I’m touched you went out of your way to do that.
A: Aw, I’m touched that you’re touched.
4. I’m happy you care. I can’t wait to talk to you about it in person.
Essentially, “Aww” is the sound we make when something makes us feel something.
If you tell someone something and they respond, “Aww,” it is usually an indication that what you have said is important to the person you’re talking to.
If something has gone well for you recently and you then tell someone who responds “Aww,” this is generally an indication that what you have told them has made them feel something.
Here is an example of how someone saying “Aww” may be a way of them demonstrating that they care.
Example:
A: I finally came out to my grandma today!
B: Aww!
A: I’m happy you care. I can’t wait to talk to you about it in person.
5. I thought you’d like that ☺
Someone might also say “Aww” in response to a particularly good story.
If you someone responds “Aww,” it is usually an indication that they care about the story you’ve told and have been paying attention.
Example:
A: And guess what? She worked there, so she got us a 50 percent discount on the whole order!
B: Aww yay!
A: I thought you’d like that ☺
6. Are you saying I’m cute?
If you tell someone something about yourself and they respond with “Aww,” they are usually using these three letters to call you sweet or cute.
You can tease them a little by responding to their “Aww” by making them spell out more explicitly what they mean.
Example:
A: I really like you a lot.
B: Aww
A: Are you saying I’m cute?
7. I knew you’d think that was sweet ☺
Someone might say “Aww” in response to some aspect of a story you’ve told.
If you’ve told someone a story specifically because you think there is an element of it that will speak to them and they then respond with “Aww,” you can tell them that you knew they’d enjoy that part of the story.
Example:
A: And then, my niece kissed the dog and said, “You’re the one I’ll marry.”
B: Aww
A: I knew you’d think that was sweet ☺
8. Yes, everyone was complimenting you the whole time, it was so sweet. I wish you could have heard it.
The other common reason why people use “Aww” when texting instead of being more expressive about what exactly they mean, is that they are being complimented and feel pleasantly embarrassed.
If you’ve told someone about something nice that someone else said about them and they respond with “Aww,” it is fair to assume that they are expressing that they are touched by what was said.
In this case, you can double down on the nature of the compliment they received.
Example:
A: And she said you were the prettiest girl she’d ever seen in person.
B: Aww!
A: Yes, everyone was complimenting you the whole time, it was so nice. I wish you could have heard it.
How to respond to “Aww” when someone is expressing disappointment
The other major reason besides showing they’re touched that someone would say “Aww,” is that they’re disappointed about something.
For example, if you let someone know that the concert you were planning to attend together has been cancelled, a natural response would be for them to say, “Aww, that’s too bad.”
If you can tell from the context that someone is expressing disappointment about a situation, the best thing to respond is something that shows compassion for their disappointment while also trying to cheer them up.
Here are a few ways you could respond to a disappointed “Aww.”
9. Don’t worry, I know it didn’t work out this time, but we’ll definitely make it happen in the future.
If you’ve had to cancel plans unexpectedly, and the person you’re cancelling on responds with “Aww,” reassure them that you want to make it up to them in the future.
Example:
A: Hey there, I’m so sorry but I’m feeling really under the weather. I think I have to call in a rain check on our plans for tonight.
B: Aww, shucks. I’m sad, but of course I understand. I hope you feel better soon.
A: Don’t worry, I know it didn’t work out this time, but we’ll definitely make it happen in the future.
10. Aw please don’t be disappointed! I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to you.
If you feel like you’ve let someone down by having to back out of plans last minute, it is possible that they will respond to your cancellation message with “Aww.”
The best thing you can do in this situation is reassure them that you will find a way to make it up to them.
Example:
A: Hey, I can’t make tonight, I’m so sorry.
B: Aww no!
A: Aw please don’t be disappointed! I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to you.
11. Oh no, are you sad?
You may not have realized that the person you were speaking to was sad until they texted you “Aww.”
If this is the case, follow up with a quick message to check in and see whether they are in fact sad.
In the ambiguous world of text communication, it never hurts to get some clarity. Plus, asking someone whether they are sad gives them an opportunity to talk about their feelings, which can often help them feel better.
Example:
A: So, unfortunately, the festival has been cancelled because of the rain.
B: Awww
A: Oh no, are you sad?
12. What are you feeling?
You may have received a message saying “Aww” that you don’t completely understand.
If you need clarity about what it is the person you’re talking to is feeling, don’t be afraid to ask. After all, only a mind reader would be able to interpret every texted “Aww” correctly.
Asking what someone is feeling is a great way to demonstrate your care, so whatever the situation may be, you can never go wrong with this response.
And anyway, modern communication and dating is hard enough without making it more complicated by holding back.
Whatever your question, whether it regards readiness for a relationship or clarification on a shopping list, you could always feel comfortable asking your partner what they mean and what they feel.
Example:
A: Basically, we won’t be able to move into the flat for a few more weeks.
B: Aww
A: What are you feeling?
13. Tell me what you’re feeling disappointed about.
Asking someone to express themselves clearly is a kind way to show them you care about what it is that they’re actually feeling.
In a world of text-based communication, a lot of nuance can get lost. Sticking to your guns and asking follow-up questions is sure to go a long way with the people you care about.
It shows them that your heart is truly invested in how they feel and that you aren’t just performatively chatting to them.
Even if the person you’re talking to is genuinely upset and it takes a little while to work through things, just remember that even happy couples argue.
Example:
A: I guess we might have been a little ambitious with the interior design.
B: Aww.
A: Tell me what you’re feeling disappointed about.
14. I’m really sorry, I hope you don’t feel too down.
If you have to give someone bad news and they respond with a text that just says “Aww,” it’s probably a good idea to follow up with them by letting them know you’re sorry about their situation and that you hope they don’t feel too down.
This shows that you care about them and also gives them an opportunity to get anything they might want to off their chest.
Example:
A: The end result is basically that we won’t be able to afford to re-do the bathroom floors.
B: Aww
A: I’m really sorry, I hope you don’t feel too down.
15. It’s just bad luck, but I get why you’re sad about it
Showing compassion and expressing that you understand someone’s disappointment when they’ve received some less than positive news usually goes down very well with person who is feeling under the weather.
So, if you and the person you’re talking to are both involved in something that isn’t going particularly well and they seem down about it, try to comfort them.
Saying, “It’s just bad luck,” is a great way to express that the situation you find yourselves in is no one’s fault but is just the result of unlucky circumstance.
Even if you’re finding it hard to deal with this difficult situation, at least you aren’t sitting around worrying about how to respond to a breakup text.
Example:
A: I’m so sorry, but I won’t be able to be your date to your friend Janine’s wedding.
B: Aww
A: It’s just bad luck, but I get why you’re sad about it.
How to respond to “Aww” when someone is responding to a cute story
Another reason why someone you’re texting might respond “Aww” to something is that you’ve told them a sweet story.
If someone says “Aww” under these circumstances, they are usually doing it to show you that they are paying attention to what you tell them and that they are invested in your life.
If someone responds “Aww” as a way of demonstrating their investment in a story you’ve told them, here are a few ways you could respond.
16. I know, she’s so cute, isn’t she?
If you’ve told the person you’re texting a story about your niece or dog, or about some other cute part of your life, they may respond to the sweet punchline of the story by saying “Aww.”
In this case, you can confirm their reaction by reaffirming what it is about the story that is cute.
Example:
A: In the end, there was just melted chocolate ice cream all over her face.
B: Aww
A: I know, she’s so cute, isn’t she?
17. It was so lovely; I wish you had been there.
If you’ve told the person you’re texting a story about an event you experienced, say, for example, a friend’s wedding or a hike, and they respond “Aww,” you can express that you wish they had been there to enjoy it with you.
Example:
A: And then, after they finally said their vows, they both just couldn’t contain their happiness.
B: Aww
A: It was so lovely; I wish you had been there.
18. Isn’t that such a sweet story?
If someone says “Aww” in reaction to something that you’ve told them, you can respond by agreeing with the sentiment their expressing.
Saying, “Isn’t that such a sweet story?” confirms that you agree with their assessment of the circumstances you’ve communicated.
Example:
A: And then, they found the cat under the plant pot!
B: Aww!
A: Isn’t that such a sweet story?
Hey, it’s me, Steven. Dating and relationships have always fascinated me. On Dategosu, you will find my best tips to make sure your next date is a great success!