Return To Nonhuman Directory | Home

Other Alterhuman Terms Glossary

Written by The Dragonheart Collective

Version 1.0.0 | Last updated 6/2/2024


This is a non-comprehensive dictionary of common terms that are not about nonhuman or fictional related identity used currently in alterhuman spaces. Many dictionaries and glossaries are either not good enough for the current vernacular, or they are loaded with rarely used and redundant labels that make it difficult to learn the lingo. Hence this guide.

This guide is for only the the more common terms people use as of writing this that can let you get a foot in the door regarding the language of the community. Not every term is going to be in here.

All nonhuman identity related terms are found [HERE] instead of on on this list, as well as all fictional related identity terms which may be found [HERE]. This is to properly organize terms.

Plural terms are also largely not included in this dictionary. To see the plural-specific glossary, go [HERE].

If there are terms you come across that are not listed here, asking the person who posted them to define the terms they are using is the recommended option.


This will be broken up by category;

Navigation: Click on the section name to go to that section of the Glossary.


Nonhuman and Fictional Identity Terms:

Alterhuman - Someone who experiences a personal identity that does not conform to what society considers a common or average human identity. Alternately, it may also be defined as having an identity that is alternative to humanity or to have a alternate experience of humanity. This term has controversy largely due to how broad it is and that it includes plurality by default. Regardless of this controversy, the term remains one of the best ways to casually refer to all the nonhuman and fictional related identities. Alterbeing is a similar term.

Archetrope - An alterhuman identity where one identifes as or with an archetype, trope, or other common character model. A purposefully vague term that can be used to describe a broad range of identity experiences.

Factkin - Someone who identifies as a real life person. This very contriversal label was created and popularized by anti-otherkin trolls and is widely considered to still be a trolling label, though some legitimate individuals who use this label exist.

Fictionfolk - An umbrella label for all those with fictional-related identities. Includes both 'as' and 'with' identities.

God-Shard - A piece of a deity in a human vessel that acts out that deity's will. Being mortal, they do not have the powers of that deity. This is a specific community that has its own longstanding culture and language.

Hearthome - A location or biome -real or otherwise- that one has a strong connection to and considers 'home', often despite not ever having been there. A person is not a hearthome, they have a hearthome

Kardiatype - A past life that strongly affected you but that you do not still identify as, unlike in the case of fiction/otherkind with past lives.

Otherhearted - Someone who identifies in part or in whole with something on an integral level. May also be called otherkith or having a Synpath. The specific identity is called a hearttype.

Otherhuman - Someone who identifies as another species of the human genus, fictional or real (ex- fantasy human variants, neanderthals, etc)

Nonhuman - An umbrella label for all those who identify as not human in some way.

Plural - Someone who is more than one entity in a body. Many plural systems contain entities that have nonhuman or fictional identities, but certianly not all of them. There is contriversy regarding including plurality under the alterhuman label as the wider community was not consulted and it equates what is in most cases a VERY stigmatized neurodivergence to being nonhuman while not including any other neurodivergence as a 'non-normative human identity'. Many plural systems are uncomfortable or upset with this.

Starseed - Someone who believes they're from or have had a past life on another planet, universe, or dimension. This label has been used in the past to dehumanize and abuse autistic people, and has been associated with cultlike groups in the past. Due to this history this is a contriversal term, even in the context of autistics reclaiming it.

Transhuman - Someone part of a philosophical movement centering around improving the human condition with technology and science. Transhumanists are usually interested in using science to enhance cognition, memory, and physical ability and someday move beyond what is traditionally thought of as human.

Vampire - Also known as a real life vampire. Someone who craves the energy of other living beings and must obtain this energy through means such as blood consumptions, psychic energy draining, or some combination of both. The vampire community developed seperately from other nonhuman-adjacent communities and may not always consider themselves as other than human.


Other

Astral Plane - A plane of existence common to a number of spiritual schools of thought, though different people believe different things about what it is, how it can be accessed, and what populates it. One common view is that is is a mirror plane of existence to the material reality that contains non-coporeal spirits and the collective consciousness of all living things in the material reality. Many alterhumans believe in the astral plane in some form.

-punk - A kind of subculture around a ideaology centered in non-conformity, anti-authoritarianism, anti-consumerist, and direct action beliefs. Expression of the subculture may be found in fashion, music, literature, film, art, and politics. There are many subcommunities of punk that have different values and aesthetics. There are several alterhuman-related punk subcultures.