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Recently I was talking with one of male friends, and he expressed that he would be glad to help me. In response to his kind concern of offering me help, I replied "You are so gallant". After a few minutes, when I looked up the dictionary, this is how the word has been defined:

(of a man) charmingly attentive and chivalrous to women (Adjective).
a man who is charmingly attentive to women (Noun).

This word seems to misstate my feelings which is I'm glad that he is ready to offer me help and that doesn't involve any romantic affair. But gallant seems to misrepresent it. I don't see his concern as charmingly attractive to me rather it appears to me great words of concern from a good friend. Is there any other single word to express this? For man who is so kind and helpful towards women that doesn't come under romantic affair-one word (Adjective, preferably)?

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    I don't think gallant necessarily implies romantic intentions. In any case, the idiomatic response is "Thank you, you're such a gentleman."
    – michael.hor257k
    Apr 30, 2017 at 9:54
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    Gallant has a heroic aspect to it. It would need to be used light-heartedly, and it would hearten your Galahad. Gentleman, on the other hand, does serve to keep any personal involvement at arm's length.
    – Phil Sweet
    Apr 30, 2017 at 12:49
  • Galahad-? A gallant seems to be a powerful word!
    – Harini
    Apr 30, 2017 at 13:24
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    You are so polite. You're far more likely to hear that than you are so Gentlemanly. But as the above comments say or otherwise hint, you are such a gentleman is the idiomatic way to compliment the guy.
    – Arm the good guys in America
    Apr 30, 2017 at 13:29
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    'Gallant' seems perfectly appropriate. It sounds a bit old-fashioned, but is a reasonable synonym for the situation.
    – Mitch
    Apr 30, 2017 at 20:03

3 Answers 3

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If you are comfortable with a genderless equivalent, and if you are in North America, I can suggest

mensch

A person of integrity and honour. (origin Yiddish)

(Oxford)

Your situation:

A friend said he would be glad to help me. In response to his kind offer, I replied, "Thanks for being such a mensch."

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    For those not in the know, you might want to add that "mensch" is a Yiddish word. This is the first word that came to my mind, when I read the question.
    – user227547
    May 1, 2017 at 6:03
  • This word is so beautiful as it's meaning.Thanks for sharing this @aparente001 :) Never heard of this word
    – Harini
    May 1, 2017 at 6:19
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    I would define it as meaning decent, doing the right thing.
    – aparente001
    May 1, 2017 at 6:28
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You seem to be considering "charmingly attentive" as equivalent to "romantic". One can be charming and attentive without any romantic intentions too.

In any case, a related and probably more relevant word (appearing multiple times already in this question and responses) is chivalrous.

M-W:

chivalrous

adjective

3 b :  marked by gracious courtesy and high-minded consideration especially to women 

A chivalrous man offered the woman his seat on the crowded bus.

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  • I didn't consider "charmingly attentive" equivalent to "romantic". But the other gender does ;) chivalrous is the Synonym of gallant and it fits well :)
    – Harini
    May 1, 2017 at 3:45
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    Did the "other gender" (using your words, not mine) collectively tell you so? if it was only one person, then that person was misinterpreting the word gallant.
    – alwayslearning
    May 1, 2017 at 4:37
  • Agreed! Also I find both gallant and chivalrous can be used interchangeably.
    – Harini
    May 1, 2017 at 6:16
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From Google:

gent·le·man ˈjen(t)lmən/ noun noun: gentleman; plural noun: gentlemen

1.
a chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man.
"he behaved like a perfect gentleman"
    a man of good social position, especially one of wealth and leisure.
    (in the UK) a man of noble birth attached to a royal household.
    synonyms: man; More
    nobleman;
    informalgent;
    archaiccavalier
    "a fine steed suitable for a gentleman such as yourself"
2.
a polite or formal way of referring to a man.
"opposite her an old gentleman sat reading"

gen·tle·man·ly

ˈjen(t)lmənlē/ adjective adjective: gentlemanly

(of a man) befitting a gentleman; chivalrous, courteous, or honorable.
"a paragon of gentlemanly conduct"
synonyms: chivalrous, gallant, honorable, noble, courteous, civil, mannerly, polite, gracious, considerate, thoughtful; well bred,

cultivated, cultured, refined, suave, urbane "gentlemanly manners came naturally to him"

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  • You mean? That's so gentle man of you? I'm looking for an adjective @Xanne. not a noun :) just Edited the question.
    – Harini
    Apr 30, 2017 at 9:46
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    I added the adjective to the answer
    – Xanne
    Apr 30, 2017 at 9:53
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    Gentlemanly may exist but it smacks of being literary or poetic to me. I don't think many native speakers would use it in everyday English. And people are far more likely to say something such as you are so polite if they stray from the idiomatic you're such a gentleman.
    – Arm the good guys in America
    Apr 30, 2017 at 13:23
  • Well, perhaps someone will come up with something better. "Brotherly" might be a possibility.
    – Xanne
    Apr 30, 2017 at 13:26
  • @Xanne lol. Brotherly, why dude? It's like 'Dude,you're so kind to help. Let me brother zone you' ?! Polite seems to be more appropriate and gallant,now I realise is too powerful to be used in my provided case.
    – Harini
    Apr 30, 2017 at 14:50

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