From Eros To Philia, Here Are 8 Different Types Of Love (2024)

It goes without saying that the love you feel for a friend, family member, or romantic partner are all distinctly different things. In fact, there are so many variants that make "love" what it is, the word itself almost doesn't cut it. That's why the Greeks came up with eight different words for the many types of love we commonly experience throughout our lifetime.

Here's what they're all about, plus how to know which one(s) you're feeling.

What does love really mean?

According to clinical psychologist Kristina Hallett, Ph.D., research has defined two major types of interpersonal love: passionate love (which is what we think of as romantic love, involving attraction and sexual desire) and attachment (also known as compassionate love, which can be between caregivers and children, between long-term romantic partners, and other deeply bonded relationships).

Nevertheless, she adds, "We can certainly love people in a multitude of ways, and often do. When we think about the different Greek words for love, it's possible to see how these connect to the greater categories of passionate and compassionate love."

The question of what it means to love someone has been the inspiration behind so many songs for a reason: It's a very complicated emotion that we all experience differently. Take the five love languages, for example. Everyone has their own way of giving and receiving love, especially with different people.

Below are the eight types of love described in the Greek language and how to navigate each one.

Eros is all about romance, passion, and attraction. It describes the intoxicating and thrilling emotions that the initial stages of a relationship can induce. "Relationships often begin with passion, including infatuation and attraction," marriage therapist Jason B. Whiting, Ph.D., LMFT, tells mbg. "As exciting as this is, it is mostly a fusion element, designed to draw people together."

Hallett adds, "Sexual interest, lust, or passion don't necessarily evolve into lasting compassionate love."

A tip for eros:

Enjoy each other's company and the attraction you feel for each other while it is fresh and new. Over time, this type of love will often transition into another type—or simply fade away.

Pragma is sometimes translated to practical love, referencing the kind of love grounded in duty, commitment, and practicality. While this might apply well to the type of love that blossoms in an arranged marriage, this is also the love you see in long-standing relationships and life partnerships—like when you see an old couple that's been together for decades and decades. These are couples who find a way to make it work over time.

Pragma requires a commitment to each other and might be thought of as a conscious choice or perhaps as the type of love that takes years to develop through bonding and shared experiences. Whiting notes: "The brain's response to a cherished long-term partner looks like contentment, caring, and nurturing."

Hallett adds that eros can develop into pragma, and, in fact, many romantic relationships involve both: "Strong romantic relationships involve a combination of passionate love and compassionate love, which promotes an enduring and positive relationship."

A tip for pragma:

The initial rush of attraction when you first meet someone, according to Hallett, "frequently stabilizes over time, which may lead people to feel that their partner 'doesn't love' them as much. To counter this, partners can work together to communicate honestly, to recognize the deeper feelings of connection and compassionate love."

Ludus is very flirtatious and fun, without the strings that come with eros or pragma. It can be seen in the very early stages of relationships, when two people are flirting, courting each other, and crushing on each other. It often involves laughing, teasing, and feeling giddy around a person. It's very childlike in that way, though it can certainly evolve.

A tip for ludus:

Remember that all your crushes don't need to "get serious" or pan out into full-blown relationships. Sometimes there's great joy and pleasure in just enjoying the flirtation and the will-we-or-won't-we game.

Agape is selfless love, like the kind you might associate with saintly figures like Mother Teresa or activists like Malala. Hallett describes this love as a compassionate love for everyone, also known as universal loving-kindness. It's the love you feel for all living things without question, that you extend knowingly without expectations for anything in return. It's a very pure and conscious love. It's similar to what we sometimes refer to as unconditional love.

A tip for agape:

Feeling that agape flowing through your veins? Practice a loving-kindness meditation, and lean into work that allows you to give back and help others.

Philia is the love that develops over a deep, long-lasting friendship. It's platonic, but nevertheless, you feel very close to those you have philia toward and can confide in them, trust them, and respect them on a very personal level. And according to Hallett, these friendships can be just as impactful as romantic relationships. "People may be surprised by the depth of pain and loss related to a long-standing friendship," she says. "Often the loss or 'breakup' of a friendship is as painful and challenging as the loss of a romantic relationship."

A tip for philia:

Philautia has actually been having a bit of a moment lately—and rightly so! This love is all about self-love and self-compassion. It may seem obvious, but the relationship we have with ourselves is very important, and yes, it needs to be nurtured. Philautia is important for our own confidence and self-esteem, and it will also influence how we interact with the world. More love of self equals more love to offer. You can't pour from an empty cup, after all.

A tip for philautia:

Pamper yourself with your favorite self-care activities, create a self-love ritual—literally anything you can give to yourself that makes you feel good, do it! (Here are some tangible ways to practice self-love.)

Storge is the love shared between family members (typically immediate family), and sometimes close family friends or friends from childhood. It differs from philia in the way that it's reinforced by blood, early memories, and familiarity. There's a reason people say "friends are the family you choose." You don't choose your family, and whether they actually like your family members or not, many people often do love them instinctually. Storge is compassionate, protective, and deeply rooted in memory.

A tip for storge:

While some might argue this isn't really "love," the Greeks did have a word for "obsessive" love, and that's mania. This is what we would describe as a toxic relationship or codependent relationship, where there's usually some imbalance of affection causing one person to become overly attached. It can be hard to come back from mania, but if you can, there will need to be a healthier balance of affection.

A tip for mania:

Notice any patterns of possessive or codependent behavior and ask yourself what's causing these feelings of insecurity and clinging. Let your partner know you're struggling with it and try to pinpoint what needs to change. (Here's more on how to stop being codependent.)

How can I tell which type of love I have?

Knowing what type of love you're experiencing usually involves some level of self-awareness about the nature of your feelings toward a person.

Be honest with yourself: Is it romantic, selfless, friendly, or playful? Another way to tell which kind of love you're experiencing is to consider how long you've known each other.

"Generally speaking," Hallett says, "when we feel a strong, positive connection to someone and find ourselves caring about their well-being and supporting them through our actions, this is compassionate love, and likely involving elements the Greeks referred to as philia, ludus, and agape."

Importantly, you can absolutely feel a combination of different loves for different people. Some common combos are:

The takeaway

There's no shortage of definitions and versions of love, with everyone experiencing their own combination of types with all their loved ones.

"There are many versions of attraction that draw people together, especially in intimate relationships, but for a long-lasting relationship, it is important to have both passion and friendship," Whiting noting. "In the brain, these two states light up in different but overlapping areas."

No matter who or how you're loving, giving and receiving love is one of life's greatest joys, and understanding what we're feeling for the people in our lives can help us nurture our relationships to be the most fulfilling they can be.