Subculture
What does Otherkin mean?
People who understand themselves, on some plane, as not human: myth, creature, another species.
Definition
Otherkin is an umbrella. Therian usually points at an earthly animal; otherkin opens to dragon, elf, fiction. It is not furry — a fursuit is a scene, not necessarily an identity. The lexicon describes the name the group uses. It does not validate metaphysics and does not mock the account. The border with roleplay is the point the community itself argues.
Origin
English from 1990s lists and forums.
History
From the mailing list to Tumblr and alterhuman TikTok.
How it emerged
People who did not fit human needed a collective noun.
Usage examples
Otherkin is not carnival fantasy.
Therian is a branch; otherkin is the wider canopy.
Translations
- pt otherkin
- en otherkin
- es otherkin
Synonyms
- alterhuman
- nonhuman identity
- kin
Related terms
Questions
What is otherkin?
The name for people who understand themselves, at some level, as another species or creature.
Furry?
Not necessarily. Furry is fandom and aesthetic; otherkin is an identity account.
An illness?
This lexicon does not diagnose. It describes the term in circulation.