Disclai​mer

This isn't meant to be the end-all, be-all to ways that alterhuman terms are defined, and, in fact, is largely based around how I personally understand them. So with that said,  please do not take this glossary as gospel or attempt to "read in-between the lines" in regards to how it's made or how certain terms are defined. (As the kids say, it's not that deep.) That's also, in part, why I don't include citations and sources for a majority of these. While this glossary ​can be used as a resource and jumping off point for investigation or understandings, it's not meant to be compared to or take the place of some of the much more in-depth and fleshed-out dictionaries and lexicons that others have made.

I encourage you (read: I beg you) to check out other glossaries besides my own when building up your own definitions for the various complex phenomena and identities that exist within alterhuman spaces. Some personal favorites for such endeavors that I strongly recommend include:

Beyond Humanity's Alterhuman Dictionary. 
Managed by Kiera Ember and updated fairly regularly, this dictionary tries to stay true to the original coinings and ways that words have been defined in writing. It's extra wonderful in that it offers clickable citations for most terms.

Orion Scribner's Abridged Otherkin Lexicon
Originally created by Orion Scribner, the Otherkin Lexicon is a little out-of-date (last updated in 2013), but still remains a valuable resource for defining historical terms and older terms. Contains citations to original sources, coining dates, and multiple definitions for words when applicable. This was one of my favorite resources when I first joined the alterhuman community myself, back in 2014.

How to use

Terms the we coined  are prefaced with this icon: ✷  

Terms are sorted  alphabetically

It is recommended that you  Ctrl+F  when looking for specific words while on a desktop.

Alterhuman  (Coined by Malchior on September 26, 2014)
An umbrella term and identity created for anyone who feels they have an identity which extends beyond the scope of how one might typically think of “being human.” Communities such as otherkin are generally considered to be under the umbrella. 
Similar: Alterbeing

Awakening
The moment or period of time when someone realizes that they do not identify wholly as human, or the moment or period of time in which someone confirms a specific nonhuman identity. 
Synonyms: Awere

Cladotherianthrope  
A type of therianthrope where someone identifies as a larger group of similar animals (such as a clade or genus) rather than as one singular species. 
Synonyms: Cladotherian 

Co-conscious  
When two or more members of a system are experiencing or otherwise aware of what the physical body is experiencing but may or may not be exhibiting any control over the body’s actions. 
Similar: Co-fronting 

Co-fronting  
When two or more members of a system are actively controlling the physical body and/or aware the body. 
Similar: Co-conscious 

Contherianthrope  (Coined by Joshua Lion Templin on January 19, 1997.)
A type of therianthrope. Contherians do not experience any separation nor fluctuation between their human species identity and nonhuman species identity, and as a result do not experience shifts. This has been referred to by some as a wholly “static” identity, and has been compared much to the same way non-therian humans experience their humanity.
Synonyms: Contherian 

✷ Copinglinker  (Coined by Page Shepard of the Sol System on August 26, 2015)
Someone who voluntarily takes on an identity or strong relation with something else, usually for the purpose of coping. 
Similar: Otherlinker, funlinker, aestheticlinker

Dishuman ( Coined by stratic-eing on October 22, 2021? )
Someone who has nonhuman experiences which influence their ability to differentiate reality from imagination/fiction/general unreality, and who has experienced exclusion or ostracization on a societal level (such as for being queer, for being disabled, etc.)

Endel  (Coined by babydog/Xenethes on April 22, 2021)
A term created for psychotic and delusional nonhumans to reference an involuntary nonhuman or fictional human identity which is affected by, caused by, or originates from a delusion. Endels may or may not also identify as alterhuman, depending. 
Antonyms: Undel

✷ Epinoema  ( Coined by Dash L. Duke of the Sol System on October 29, 2021 )
A label, identity, concept, or emotion which feels important to the formation of one’s identity and arises from or is in direct connection to a noema or noemata. Can also be used as a descriptor term attached to a label or other identity marker, such as having an “epinoematic hearttype.” 
Synonyms: Ephnoema 
Plural: Epinoemata
  

Exotrauma
A term used to reference traumatic experiences that did not occur in this body, life, and/or universe. 

Extranthrope  (Coined by neutrois-lesbadger in 2018)
A member of a multiple system who is nonhuman, or who otherwise experiences their body within the inner world of the system as being nonhuman. 
Synonyms:
Extranth 

Factkin
Someone who identifies as a separate human person who exists or has existed. Originally coined by anti-otherkin on Tumblr for the sake of trolling.
Synonyms: Factualkin 

Fictherian  ( Coined by Daski/indornaga on February 18, 2021 ) 
Someone who identifies partially or entirely as a fictional individual or creature, and whose experiences within their identity are marked by a unique animality. 
Similar: Therian 

Fictionflicker  
A phenomena where someone temporarily takes on the identity of or characteristics of a fictional character or species, typically after consuming media which includes them. 

Fictionkin
Someone who identifies as partially or entirely a fictional creature or character, typically non-physically. This identity is usually spiritual or psychological in nature and is considered to be involuntary. Generally considered to be both a subset of the otherkin community (especially for nonhuman identifying fictionkin) as well as its own community. 
Synonyms:
Mediakin, Fickin
Similar:
Otakukin, Ota-kin, Fictherian

Fictive
A member of a multiple system who originates from a published fictional source in some form: this can include literal characters from fictional media, fictional species/creatures, and members who otherwise claim ties to fictional worlds. 

Fictotype
A fictionkin’s specific species or character identity. 
Similar:
Kintype, Theriotype

✷ Folcintera  (Coined by Page Shepard of the Sol System in February 2021)
1) Someone who non-physically identifies as an animal from or deeply intertwined with mythos/folklore. 
2) Someone who experiences a form of involuntary, intrinsic nonhumanity with aspects of both animality and sapience, and which originates from or is personally intrinsically tied to mythology, folklore, or other forms of cultural legend. Folcintera may or may not also identify as alterhuman or otherkin, depending.  
Similar: Theriomythic 
 
Fronting  
The act of a systemmate being in control of the physical body and being aware of the body’s actions. 
Similar: Co-fronting

Furry
A member of the furry fandom, a fandom which focuses around the appreciation of anthropomorphic creatures. Some furries, such as “furry lifestylers” and “postfurry” individuals may view themselves as alterhuman due to how they interact with the fandom and incorporate it into their sense of selves. 

Godshard  
Someone who considers themselves to have a linked “shard”, part, element, or other similar aspect of a deity, spirit, or other mythic entity within their self. 

Greymuzzle  
1) An individual who participated in alt.horror.werewolves in 1995 and is still active within nonhuman circles. 
2) An older adult individual who has been an active, recognizable participant in nonhuman communities for over ten years. 
3) An individual who has contributed to or changed one or more nonhuman communities in monumental ways over a period ranging from several years to several decades. 
4) (Most commonly used) A combination of definition 2 and 3. A community-bestowed term, rather than a self-appointed one.
Synonyms:
Graymuzzle, Elder, Old Fruit

Hearthome
A real or fictional location, landscape, region, or place which evokes a strong sensation of emotional attachment and familiarity. 

Heptagram
The seven-pointed star often used to represent the otherkin community. Traditionally depicted as a {7/3} heptagram or acute heptagram. 
Synonyms:
Septagram, Seven-pointed star, Elven star, Faerie star. Fae star

Howl  
An in-person meetup of nonhuman-identifying individual, especially those who identify as therianthropes. Past recorded howls have been as small as four individuals, and as large as forty individuals.
Synonyms:
Gathering, Yowl, Hiss

Inner world
A shared, non-physical space where system members live and reside. Some systems may consider this realm to be purely a mental construct, while others may have more spiritual or religious explanations. Not all systems have inner worlds, and some singlets experience similar phenomena under different names (ex. mind palaces, mind libraries). 
Synonyms: Mindscape, Headspace, Otherworld, Soulscape, Wonderland, Mindspace 
Similar: Mind Palace


Kintype
An otherkin’s specific nonhuman identity. 
Synonyms:
-kin 
Similar: Theriotype, Fictotype 


Median
A type of plural system where all systemmates are dependant on a singular individual or multiple “core” members. Some systemmates may be described as extensions of the “core” individual or individuals. 

Medusan  ( Coined by Queer-Buccaneers on December 26, 2017 )
Someone who is alterhuman, or who otherwise identifies as nonhuman, who is romantically or sexually attracted to other alterhumans and/or sapient nonhuman creatures. Medusan individuals may or may not also be attracted to humans. 
Similar:
Terato, Teratosexual

Multiple
1) A type of plural system where the systemmates are all entirely independent from one another and possess a self-identity distinct from each other. 
2) A physical body which has more than one entity or individual existing within it.  

Nephesh mavar  ( Coined by swiftfoxn on January 7, 2021) 
An individual whose alterhumanity or alterhuman identity is influenced by Jewish spirituality, theology or philosophy.

Noema ( Coined by Poppy/aestherians on January 8, 2019 )
 
Knowledge or information gleamed about one’s kintype, or the life of one’s kintype. 
Plural: Neomata  

Otherhearted  
Someone who experiences a deep connection or relation to a something. Also used as an umbrella term which encompasses animalhearted and fictionhearted experiences. 
Synonyms: Kith, Synpath, ‘Hearted 

Otherkin  (Coined by Torin/Darrin Stalder in 1990)
Someone who identifies as partially or entirely nonhuman, typically non-physically. This identity is usually spiritually or psychological in nature and is considered to be involuntary or otherwise integral to one’s sense of self. Often used as an umbrella term which encompasses fictionkin and therian experiences, but also functions as an individual identity label. 
Synonyms:
‘Kin. 

Paleotherian  (Coined by Windigo The Feral on January 25, 1997)
A type of therian whose theriotype is an extinct or presumed-extinct animal. 
 
Paratype  (Coined by Poppy/aestherians in March of 2019) 
A fictional character, a nonhuman creature, an object, or a concept which does not fall into any pre-established category of identity such as kintype, theriotype, fictotype, nor hearttype, but which feels important to one’s established identity.  

Physical Shifter/P-shifter  
An individual who believes themselves to have the power to change their physical appearance and biology at will, despite all scientific evidence proving otherwise. These people are not otherkin nor therians, but will frequently claim to be in order to attempt to gain access to the community. 

Phytanthrope (Coined by Darahagh of HouseofChimeras in February of 2013) 
Someone who identifies partially or entirely asa plant or fungus, typically non-physically. 
Synonyms:
Plantkin, greenkin 

Plural
An umbrella term of experiences and identities which encompasses all phenomena in which more than one entity or consciousness may exist within a single physical body. 
Synonyms: Multiple

Polymorph
A subset within the otherkin community. Someone who identifies as a type of shapeshifter with no distinct default or “true” form.
Synonyms:
Polyshifter 
 
Shifting
A temporary, often sensorily transformative, experience that one relates or attributes to their nonhuman or alterhuman identity, or similar factors. While non-alterhuman humans can experience shifts, this terminology is generally considered specific to the alterhuman and nonhuman communities. Originated from the therian/were community, likely in reference to werewolf mythology and shapeshifting.

Species dysphoria  
Discomfort, disorientation, discontentment, restlessness, dissatisfaction, depression, anxiety, or other feelings of deep unease that someone may experience due to a mismatch between their biological species and species identity. 

Suntherianthrope  ( Coined by WordWolf on April 18, 2005 )
A type of therianthrope. Suntherians do not experience any separation between their human species identity and nonhuman species identity, and do not experience mental shifts. 
Synonyms:
Suntherian, Syntherianthrope, Syntherian
Similar:
Vacillant therian 


System
A group of consciousnesses or entities sharing a single, physical body. 

Systemmate
A member of a multiple system, or one individual in a physical body which otherwise houses multiple individuals. 
Synonyms:
Headmate. 

Therianthrope
Someone who identifies, typically non-physically, as partially or entirely nonhuman, either specifically as an animal species that exists or has existed on Earth, or as a nonhuman species which experiences particularly animalistic instincts or urges. Often viewed as a subset of the otherkin community, though the original therian community developed independently. 
Synonyms:
Therian, Were, Animalkin 
Similar: Fictherian


Theriomythic
1) An individual who identifies non-physically as a type of categorically fantastical creature, but whose experiences within their identity are marked by a unique animality. 
2) An individual who identifies non-physically as a creature from mythology, folklore, or another form of legend. Originally created for identities and individuals which do not fit neatly into either “otherkin” nor “therian” communities. 
Similar: Folcintera, Folcinteric, Fictherian 

Theriotype  
A therianthrope’s specific species identity. 
Synonyms:
Therioside, Wereside, Phenotype
Similar:
Kintype, Fictotype


Theta Delta  
A symbol created to represent the therian community, which consists of the Theta and Delta Greek characters overlaying one another 

Transspecies
A term without a strict, singular definition. Some nonhumans use this term to reference a desire to modify or transition their bodies into something less human, often driven by species dysphoria; others may utilize this term to describe their complex relationship with their body, especially as someone who may be both transgender and nonhuman. Transspecies individuals may or may not also identify as alterhuman due to their identity. 

Vacillant therianthrope
A type of therianthrope. Vacillant therians do not experience any separation between their human species identity and nonhuman species identity but may experience gradual shifts and fluctuations between the two. Some refer to vacillant therianthrope shifts as “sliding shifts” due to this unique aspect. 
Synonyms:
Vacillant therian
Similar:
Suntherianthrope, Suntherian, Syntherianthrope, Syntherian

Walk-in  
1) An individual systemmate who appears in a system after-birth, oftentimes with fully formed memories of a separate existence prior to when they appeared in the system. 
2) An individual who appears within an inner world, who may or may not be a part of the system. 
Antonyms:
Walk-out

Werewolf sympathizer  
An obsolete term from the were community, to reference non-weres within, adjacent to, or interested in weres and were community spaces. 
Synonyms:
Symp