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Nonhuman Related Glossary

Written by The Dragonheart Collective

Version 1.0.0 | Last updated 8/30/2023

This is a non-comprehensive dictionary of common terms used currently in spaces where people have nonhuman-related identities. Many dictionaries and glossaries are either not good enough for the current vernacular, are not specifically only covering all nonhuman groups, or they are loaded with rarely used and redundant labels that make it difficult to learn the lingo. Hence we made this glossary.

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.

Many of these terms are not exclusive to nonhuman identity experiences, but are used within the space so they have been listed.

This will be broken up by category;

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


Things you are:

Aspecies - Someone who identifies as not having a species.

Dragonic - Someone who identifies with or as dragons strongly. This is a specific community that has its own longstanding culture and language seperate from dragonkin and dragon therians.

Endel - A nonhuman who has an identity that is rooted in, influenced by, or caused by delusions. This is a specific community that has its own culture and language.

Extranth - A nonhuman headmate. May also be called an extranthrope.

Furry Lifestylers - Furries for whom the fandom is a lifestyle and a strong part of their identity that extends into their daily life. They usually strongly identify with or as their fursona and often act out nonhuman behaviors to get closer to their fursona. This is a specific community that has its own longstanding culture and language.

Greymuzzle - An honoriffic for an older or more experienced member of the therian or otherkin community. This title is gifted by the community, rather than something one calls themselves. It is gifted to those who have been active in the community for a long time(often around 10+ years), or who have contributed a lot to the community. This title is also used by furries in a more lax way for older community members in general, and originates from that use.

Medusan - An orientation label for nonhumans who are sexually or romantically attracted to other nonhuman sapients. Intended as a substitute for teratophile, xenophile, or monsterfucker within the community

Nonhuman - Someone who identifies as nonhuman in some way, in part or in whole. This may be used as an umbrella term, though some nonumans only identify as a nonhuman.

Otherkin(d) - Someone who identifies in part or in whole as something nonhuman on an integral level. May also be shortened to kin. This is a specific community that has its own longstanding culture and language.

Therian - Someone who identifies in part or in whole on an integral level as a nonhuman animal. May also be called a therianthrope or a were. This is a specific community that has its own longstanding culture and language.

Transspecies - Someone who identifies as a species they are not usually perceived as. Transspecies individuals often either wish to transition physically into another species, or are someone who's gender and species identification and/or transition are inseperable. It has more to do with transhumanism than with being transgender in concept for many people, however.

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.

Otherlinker - Also may be called a copinglinker. Someone who chooses to form an identity as something nonhuman or fictional, usually (but not always) to cope with neurodivergence or trauma. This identity may be dropped at will. The specific identity is called a linktype.


Things you experience or have:

Awakening - The process of discovering one's nonhuman identity. Otherkin and therian communities tend to put a level of significance on this process/life event. Often capitalized when used in a sentence. Awakening may happen prior to encountering nonhuman communities. Used to be called becoming Awere.

Fursona - An anthropormorphic animal character a furry creates to represent themselves. Many furries strongly identify with or as their fursona.

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.

Kinfeels - A strong feeling of being closer to or reminded of on'es kintype. Often may be triggered by outside stimuli and may induce various experiences associated with having a kintype.

Kinfirm - When someone confirms a kintype and finishes their Awakening. A pun on 'kin' and 'confirm'.

Kinsidering - When someone is quesntion if something is a kintype. A pun on 'kin' and 'considering'.

Kinsona - A original character created by an otherkin based on their kintype's characteristics. If the otherkin is a furry, this may also be their fursona. Portmanteau of 'kin' and 'persona'.

Kintype - The specific identity that someone who is otherkin or fictionkin has.

Noemata - All knowlege about one's kintype. The singular version is noema.

Pack - A group of otherkin who all know each other fairly well and communicate regularily. Many packs are somewhat to heavily formal and may have joining applications, specific rules, or formalized social ranking systems. Other packs are just a group of friends that decide to label that way for fun.

Phantom limb - The sensation of having a non-coporeal body part. May also be called in the context of alterhuman experiences supernumerary phantom limbs or abbreviated as SPH.

Shifting - The act of becoming more like your kintype in some way. There are a large number of more specific terms which may be found [HERE]

Shifter's Disease - A phenomenon where someone researching otherkinity, fictionkinity, or therianthropy for the first time may accidentally induce shifts or fabricate exomemories, leading them to falsely believe they are otherkin/fictionkin/therian for a short time after.

Species Dysphoria - A feeling of distress or dissatisfaction around the percpetion that one's body or social perception by others is of the wrong species.

Species Euphoria - A feeling of happiness or contentment around the perception that one's body or social perception by others matches their species identification.

Theriotype - The specific nonhuman identity that a therian has. May also be called a therioside


Other terms:

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 therians and otherkin believe in the astral plane in some form.

Elven Star - The seven pointed star symbol generally accepted by otherkin to represent the otherkin community. Also known as the fairie star.

Glamourbomb - An anonymous public act or distributed/displayed artwork that is done to try to cause others to think they have just experienced a mysterious or magical occurance and inspire belief in magic and/or the fae. This breaks down the barriers/the veil between the mundane and the fantastical. It is not inherently an otherkind practice, but many early adopters of this practice were otherkin.

Howl - An organized gathering or meetup of therians or otherkin in a physical location. Typically includes actually howling or otherwise making a lot of noise at some point during the meetup.

Kin For Fun - Often abbreviated to KFF. A term for those who claim that the word 'kin' is ONLY to be used for fun and that is ONLY a choice and means identify with/relate to instead of 'identify as' and the culture the people who said this built on their stolen word. Our testimony on the subject may be found [HERE]. The terms 'fluffy' and 'wishkin' are old derogatory terms for similar kind of people. Those who had some element of choice in their identity, those who have fun with their genuine identity, or those who label their experience kin when they don't quite match the general definition but otherwise don't force that definition on others are NOT KFF.

Multiverse Theory - The theory of multiple alternate universes existing at once in addition to the one we currently reside in. This theory is a common way fictionkin and otherkin explain their experiences and the discrepencies in noemata that are common between those who share sources.

-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.

Quadrobics - The practice of doing athletic activity on all-fours. Popular with young therians on tik-tok.

Theta-Delta - The theta character inside a delta character symbol generally accepted by therians to represent the therian community.