Valentine's Day and Google searches 👩‍❤️‍👨

If your heart is already beating faster as Valentine's Day approaches, you are not alone. According to Google, millions of people search at this time of year for the most original ways to surprise their other half on Valentine's Day.

But that is not all: people using the search engine are also looking for advice, emojis and much more. To celebrate the most romantic day of the year, and the ways people around the world show their love, the tech giant put together a report taking a global look at how people say “I love you”.

What is love?

This remains one of the most popular searches worldwide. Apparently, many people are still not quite sure what love is, according to Google Trends. Another frequently asked question is “what are the five love languages”.

This is the title of Gary Chapman's 1995 book, which continues to attract attention as people try to understand how they and their partners prefer to express love. Interest in love languages remains high.

So, let us look at the questions on this subject most frequently asked in the United States since last Valentine's Day.

1. How can I spend quality time with my partner?

2. How can I set boundaries with my partner to spend quality time?

3. How can I have more quality time with my partner?

4. What does spending quality time with my partner mean?

5. What should I do when my partner wants physical affection and I just want quality time?

In Portugal, the most searched-for topics at this time of year are “gifts” and “messages”. And if Google trends teach us anything, it is that finding the words can be difficult. That is why so many people want to know how to express their feelings.

Here are the top “how to say” searches relating to romantic relationships.

1. How can I apologise to my partner?

2. How can I wish my ex a happy birthday?

3. How can I congratulate my partner?

4. How can I tell my husband or wife something difficult?

5. How can I tell my partner I love them?

Expressions of physical touch, the next love language, are clearly on people's minds and in their searches too. “Kiss” is searched for more than “hug” in every country and, on average, receives seven times as many searches worldwide.

So, what do people want to know about a meeting of lips? Here are the simplest, sweetest answers.

1. How to kiss a girl?

2. How to kiss a boy?

3. How to kiss someone?

4. How to kiss well?

As for hugs, these have been the main search topics since the last day celebrating love:

1. How to cuddle?

2. How to hug a girl?

3. How to hug?

4. What is cuddling?

5. How to hug a boy?

Note that these searches were made in English, with phrases such as “how to cuddle” or “how to hug a girl”; we translated them in the Portuguese version to make their meaning clearer.

“Gifts for someone” also tends to feature among the top searches as 14 February draws closer. For shops, this is the second-busiest week of the year, after Christmas.

And if your partner appreciates a special gift that shows real effort and admiration, perhaps something homemade (do it yourself or DIY) could be the answer.

Here are the top requests for help on Google over the past 12 months:

1. DIY gifts for him

2. DIY Valentine's Day cards

3. DIY Valentine's Day decorations

4. DIY Valentine's Day box

5. DIY gifts for her

What language do you express your love in?

Saying “I love you” should not be limited to your native or preferred language. Every year around this time, Google Translate also sees a spike: searches for translations of “I Love You” double in February.

English-to-Spanish translation tops the list, but the list is long. Here are the ten main languages Americans search for. Yes, Portuguese comes next!

1. Spanish

2. Portuguese

3. Korean

4. French

5. Arabic

6. Russian

7. Japanese

8. German

9. Indonesian

10. Chinese

Call Doctor Love

When in doubt, it is simple: call Doctor Love, or Doctor Google. It can help translate what you want to say to your other half into any language, teach you how to perform a serenade and even help you find inspiration.

For example, did you know that male penguins propose to female penguins by tossing the prettiest pebble they can find towards them? If she picks it up, they are engaged!

You can also find the most romantic songs for Valentine's Day or tell your boyfriend or girlfriend you love them in Hindi or Mandarin. Anything is possible.

An emoji is worth a thousand words

There is nothing better than an emoji when words do not seem enough. Whichever one you choose, emojis are becoming increasingly popular.

Here are a few facts about these new keyboard companions.

1. The 😍 emoji is the fourth most popular, followed by ❤️ in fifth place.

2. And if one emoji is not enough, doubling up could be the answer. Half the most popular pairs are genuine love duets (without repetition), such as 😍😘, 😘❤️, 😍❤️ and ☀️😘.

3. Some languages love love more than others: ❤️ is the most-used emoji among people writing in French, Portuguese and Dutch.

4. Hindi speakers use the 🌹 emoji more often than any other.

5. Living in a country with a famously romantic reputation, Italians use 💋 more than any other emoji. A bacio (kiss) for everyone!