Alterhuman: 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. Coined by
Malchior on September 26, 2014.
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: 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. Coined by Joshua Lion Templin on January
19, 1997.
Copinglinker: Someone who
voluntarily takes on an identity or strong relation with something else,
usually for the purpose of coping. Similar: Otherlinker. Coined by Who-is-Page on August 26, 2015.
Dishuman: 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.) Coined by stratic-eing on October 22, 2021?
Endel: 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. Coined
by babydog/Xenethes on April 22, 2021.
Epinoema: 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. Coined by
Dash L. Duke of the Sol System on October 29, 2021.
Exotrauma: A term used to reference traumatic experiences that did not occur in this body,
life, and/or universe.
Extranthrope: 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. Coined by neutrois-lesbadger
in 2018.
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.
Fictherian: 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.
Coined by Daski/indornaga on February 18, 2021.
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. Similar: Fictional introject.
Fictotype: A fictionkin’s specific species or character identity. Similar: Kintype, Theriotype.
Folcintera: 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.
Coined by Page Shepard of the Sol System in February 2021.
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. Synonyms: Graymuzzle, Elder.
Hearthome: A real or fictional location, landscape,
region, or place which evokes a strong sensation of emotional attachment and
familiarity.
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: 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. Coined
by Queer-Buccaneers on December 26, 2017.
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: An individual whose alterhumanity or alterhuman identity is influenced by Jewish
spirituality, theology or philosophy. Coined by swiftfoxn on January 7, 2021.
Noema: Knowledge or information gleamed about one’s kintype, or the life of one’s
kintype. Plural: Neomata. Coined by Poppy/aestherians on January 8, 2019.
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: 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: A type of therian whose theriotype
is an extinct or presumed-extinct animal. Coined by Windigo The Feral on
January 25, 1997.
Paratype: 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. Coined by
Poppy/aestherians in March of 2019.
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: Someone who
identifies partially or entirely asa plant or fungus, typically
non-physically. Synonyms: Plantkin. Coined by Darahagh of
HouseofChimeras in February of 2013.
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.
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.
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. Click here for a comprehensive list of coined shifting terms and related terms.
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: 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. Coined by
WordWolf on April 18, 2005.
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.