Alterhuman Terms

Here are some basic alterhuman terms that are good to know. I assume if you're here you already know a good majority of them, but it's always good to have a quick reference.

Otherkin - A human who identifies as a non-human creature on a non-physical level. Can be based on spiritual beliefs, psychological beliefs, or a mix of the two.

Therian/Therianthrope - A human who identifies as a non-human animal on a non-physical level. Can be based on spiritual beliefs, psychological beliefs, or a mix of the two.

Fictionkin - A human who identifies as a person, creature, or race from a fictional source on a non-physical level. Can be a canon character or a non-canon character in the same world, or an AU.

Alterhuman - An identity that falls outside the range of what society deems a normal human identity.

Theriotype - The non-human animal that a therian identifies as.

Fictotype - The fictional character or species that a fictionkin identifies as.

Kintype - The creature or being an otherkin identifies as.

Copinglink - Someone who takes on a non-human or fictional character identity to cope.

Kin - A shortened version of otherkin or fictionkin, sometimes having an apostrophe at the beginning.

Kith - A strong identification to a nonhuman creature or a fictional character, sometimes used interchangeably with “otherhearted.”

Otherhearted - A human with a strong connection with a non-human creature.

Synpath - Having a strong resonance with something but not identifying as them.

Shift - When a therian, otherkin, or fictionkin feel more like their therio/kin/fictotype in some way. Some therian, otherkin or fictionkin may feel many different kinds of shifts throughout their lives or never experience them.

Phantom Shift - A shift in which the shift in which one feels like they currently have a non-human body part that relates to their kin/ficto/theriotype.

Mental Shift - A shift where one experiences what they believe to resemble the mentality of their kin/therio/fictotype.

Dream Shift - Any kind of shift experienced in a dream.

Cameo Shift - A shift of any kind (most often referring to phantom shifts) that is not representative of one’s non-human identity

Sensory Shift - A shift where one experiences heightened or altered senses that they feel resemble the senses of their kin/therio/fictotype.

Source - The piece of media that a fictional character or species is from.

AU - Standing for alternate universe, it’s generally used to describe fictionkin and fictives who are not quite consistent with their source or canon’s version of themselves. The differences vary from only a little different from the canon, or wildly different.

Kinfirm - A way to say you confirm having a kintype. More often used in the fictionkin part of the community.

Awaken/Awakening - The process/event of realizing one identifies as something besides human.

Kinsidering/Questioning - A way to say you're questioning whether or not you are a certain kin/therio/fictotype. Some people really dislike the term "kinsidering."