Alterhuman - Alterhuman is an umbrella term encompassing all those with non-human identities of some kind. Therians, otherkins, etc all fall under the broad category of alterhuman. Alterhuman is a newer term when compared to therian and otherkin, having been coined by user phasmovore on Tumbler in 2014. The original definition reads as follows “A category of personal identity which encompasses identification that is alternative to the common societal idea of humanity”.

Awakening - An awakening is the point where a person recognizes and begins to understand their therian identity. For many, this happens during early childhood, even though a person will not have the term “therian” to describe their experiences at that point. For others, it happens later in life. For some it happens quickly while for others it may be a long process.

Cameo Shift - A cameo shift is when a person experiences a “shift” of an animal that is not their theriotype.

Contherian - A therian that does not experience shifts. The therian is always shifted to some degree.

Gear - Some therians choose to wear masks, tails, or other items commonly referred to as gear, as a way of connecting to their theriotype.

Fictionkin - A fictionkin is a person that identifies as a fictional character or being.

Kin - Kin is the short hand version of the term “otherkin”. Someone that is an elf otherkin is said to be “elfkin” while someone that is a wolf can be “wolfkin”.

Mental Shift - Some therians experience what are known as mental shifts. This is when a therian mentally shifts from feeling and experiencing the world as a human to doing so as a non-human animal for a period of time. The intensity and expression of mental shifts very greatly depending on the therian. For some, it may be so strong that the therian can not speak in human language for the time being. For others it may express itself as an urge to engage in animal behavior, such as chasing a squirrel.

Otherkin - Otherkin is an umbrella term used to describe those with non-human and mythical identities. For example, otherkin may identify as an angel, an elf, or fae. A therian falls under the otherkin umbrella, but not all otherkin are therians.

Phantom Shift - Phantom shifts are so called after the term “phantom limbs”, which someone might experience after losing a limb. Except that therians, being of human body, did not originally have the limb to begin with. A therian may feel as though they have fur, paws, or a tail, or any other number of animal parts.

Polytherian - A polytherian is simply a therian with more than one theriotype.

Quadrobics - Quadrobics is an activity involving jumping around on all fours and imitating one’s theriotype. It is meant as a way to express one’s theriotype and alleviate symptoms of species dysphoria.

Shift - A shift is any experience where one experiences being their theritype in some way, which deviates from their normal baseline. For example, see mental shift and phantom shift.

Shifter - A person who shifts. Not all therians experience shifts and “a shift does not a therian make”.

Species Dysphoria - Species dysphoria is when a therian experiences distress at being in a human body, as opposed to the body of their theriotype. It can also manifest as distress at not being able to do things their theriotype would normally be able to do, for example being able to fly as a bird therian.

Suntherian - The therian is always animal to some degree, but the amount that their animal side expresses themselves fluctuates.

Therian - A person that identifies as non-human on some personal level. Therians understand that they are physically human, but may believe they have the soul of an animal or that psychologically they are an animal.

Theriotype - A theriotype is the animal or animals a therian identifies as. For example, a wolf therian has a wolf theriotype.

Were - Back in the old days, when the therianthropy community was just forming, therians used to refer to themselves as “weres”.