9 Types Of Kisses & What They Mean

What does it mean when your crush gives you a hug, places their cheek next to yours, and mimes an air kiss? Do they have romantic feelings for you, or are they just French? Different kinds of kisses can mean different things depending on the context — kissing your toddler cousin on the cheek is very different from kissing your partner on the cheek, after all.

If you're trying to figure out whether that air kiss was platonic or romantic, well, we can't necessarily tell you. It all depends on the situation and the people involved. But we can help explain the different kinds of kisses out there — because an air kiss and a French kiss are very different, after all.

When it comes to any kind of kissing, communication and practice are key. "Great kissing is part knowledge, part attitude, and part skill," Eric Marlowe Garrison, an AASECT-certified clinical sexologist and author, previously told Refinery29. "There is also no universal definition of a great kiss, so learning how to kiss well is a game of show and tell.”

And remember, if you're unsure if someone wants you to kiss them — whether it's a friend you want to greet with a kiss on the cheek or a romantic partner you'd like to kiss on the neck — you can always ask.