o it isn’t just women who like to hear good things about themselves. Men too love an occasional dose of sweet words that can pep up their spirits and make them feel better instantly. Here’s a list of things any man would love to hear from his woman.

1. You’re good in bed

Say this to your partner and watch his face light up. Telling a man he’s hot in bed not only boosts his self-esteem but may also make your relationship stronger. “This is something every man wants to hear. Contrary to the belief that only women want to be told that they’re hot, men too want to hear from their partners that they are great at lovemaking,” says Sahil Bhattacharya, a 26-year-old finance executive.

2. You’re great at your workSince most men are conditioned to believe that they will eventually be their family’s breadwinners (gender stereotypes being strong as ever), the last thing they want to hear is that they’re not doing well on the professional front. “Men like to be reassured that they’re on their way up on the career graph. They are very sensitive about it,” says 29-year-old lawyer Peter Saldanha.

3. You’re so witty

With “a good sense of humour” high on the list of qualities women seek in a man, it is no wonder that most men want to be told they’re witty. For city-based musician Howard Pereira, 33, nothing beats the feeling of being able to make a woman laugh. “If I say something that’s followed by laughter from a woman, then that works for me,” he says.

4. Oh, you hardly look that oldThis is something that works with both genders. “Men love compliments as much as women do, and there’s no better feeling than being told that one looks way younger than his years. But I feel that’s true of only men over 30. Because those in early to mid-twenties actually want to look a little more mature,” says Saldanha.

5. You have the best mom in the whole world

Whether your partner is a mama’s boy or not, the last thing he wants to hear from you is that you don’t like his mom. Since most men are close to their mothers, they’d love it if their girlfriends acknowledged how great a woman she is. Ladies, never mind whether you can stand your partner’s mom or not. Unless she’s a monster, telling your partner that he does indeed have the best mommy could work in your favour.

6. Looks like you’ve been working outEven if he may not sport ripped biceps and a toned tummy, hearing from their loved one that he looks fit could be a turn on for most men. But as much as they’d like women to drool over their bodies, men also know how women play their cards. “Women know how to stroke men’s egos,” says Pereira.

7. You cook so wellWhile few men actually get beyond shapeless omelettes and watery chai, they’d all like to hear otherwise. “Even though my boyfriend’s experiments in the kitchen may not always be a success, I still tell him that he cooks well. That encourages him and brings us closer,” says 24-year-old management trainee Sheetal Prasad.