love language

This song is based on marriage counselor Gary Chapman's 1992 book The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. Chapman suggests that romantic couples express and experience love in five different ways, which he calls "love languages." They are acts of physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, gift-giving, and quality time. Grande starts off this song by encouraging her partner to keep teaching her his "love language" as she enjoys the way he speaks to her and treats her. By the time we get to the bridge, things have gotten decidedly horny as the singer makes clear how he is turning her on.

The song is likely inspired by Grande's relationship with real estate agent Dalton Gomez. Because Gomez lives his life out of the spotlight, they got to know each other away from the public eye; the Positions album is the first time she's spoken about their romance. She references during this song how Gomez keeps her calm: You soothe me You hold it down with every word you speak, oh babe Baby Been a minute since I had something so sweet Grande has been open about her anxiety attacks, which were intensified by the deadly terrorist attack at her Manchester, England concert. She previously referenced her mental health issues on the Sweetener track "Breathin."

Ariana Grande wrote the song with her frequent collaborators Victoria Monét and Tayla Parx ("Thank U, Next," "7 Rings"). Atlanta R&B songwriter Kam Parker also contributed to the writing of the track, his first collaboration with Grande.