Does being multilingual make you more attractive?
Self-report surveys and dating-platform data show being multilingual is a modest positive attractiveness signal for men, mainly as a proxy for intelligence, education, and cultural openness rather than physical appeal. A Babbel/EliteSingles survey of 6,000-plus people across 11 countries found 75% say it is attractive when someone speaks more than one language and 42% would be more inclined to date a multilingual person. A Lingoda survey of 1,000 single US adults found 66% (77% among 25-34s) more likely to swipe right on a multilingual person. The magnitude is real but soft: it acts as a tiebreaker and conversation hook, not a primary driver, and the evidence is survey/marketing-grade rather than peer-reviewed.
Evidence & sources
- Babbel and EliteSingles dating survey (6,000-plus people, 11 countries)
75% find it attractive when someone speaks more than one language; 93% rate language skills more appealing than an athletic six-pack; 42% more inclined to date a multilingual person; survey of 6,000+ across 11 countries.
- Lingoda survey of 1,000 single US adults (Newswire press release, Feb 2023)
66% more likely to swipe right on a multilingual person, rising to 77% among 25-34-year-olds; 45% admit lying about language fluency on dating profiles; n=1,000.