Abridged definitions of some alterhuman-related terms you may see on this site.

Alterhuman: A collective term for those with identities that differ from the common/traditional idea of "humanity". Alterhumans typically, though not always, identify as partially or entirely nonhuman. This can include therians, otherkin, fictionkin, other/animal-hearted, furries, vampires, etc.

Animalhearted: A term for those with a deep, fundamental connection to another animal. Often defined as strongly "identifying with" a certain animal instead of "identifying as" it.

Awakening: Commonly used in the therian community as a term to describe the moment one realises they are a therian/nonhuman.

Hearttype: The being/species someone who is animalhhearted identifies with.
(Example: I feel a deep kinship with hyenas and consider myself hyenahearted. Hyena is one of my hearttypes.)

Kintype: The specific nonhuman identity of someone that is otherkin.
(Example: I am dragonkin, meaning "dragon" is my kintype.)

Noema: (Plural: Noemata) Inherent knowledge about one's theriotype/kintype, regardless of origin (be it explained through psychology, spirituality, etc.). This can include memories, appearance, habits, environment, etc.

Otherkin: Those who identify as partially or entirely nonhuman on a fundamental level.
Historically and by large, otherkin specifically identify as mythological or supernatural beings, such as elves, dragons, angels, etc., though the modern definition includes anyone with a nonhuman identity. While modern otherkin and therians often overlap and mingle, both terms and their respective communities have unqiue histories and developed separately.

Paleotherian: A therian whose theriotype is an extinct / prehistoric creature.

Polytherian: A therianthrope with multiple theriotypes.

Shifting: A phenomenon often experienced by therians and those with alterhuman identities.
"Shifts", in this context, are changes in one's mental state and/or perception from human to nonhuman, or from one (nonhuman) state into another. These can be involuntary or voluntary, caused by external or internal stimuli and triggers.

Most common types of shifts:
⋗ Phantom shift: Experiencing phantom supernumerary limbs or other physical parts of one's theriotype/kintype, such as a tail, wings, fins, whiskers, horns, feathers, different physiology, etc. Some report having sensation in these "phantom" body parts.
⋗ Mental shift: Shifting into the mental state of one's theriotype/kintype. Usually affects thought patterns, perception of the environment, behaviour, vocalisations, senses, etc.
⋗ Cameo shift: Any type of shift of a creature that isn't one's theriotype/kintype.
⋗ Dream shift: Becoming (or being) one's therio/kintype in a dream.

Therian: Shortened form of therianthrope. A term describing individuals that experience therianthropy. A therian identifies as a nonhuman animal on a fundamental level; They perceive themselves as partially or entirely nonhuman.

Therianthropy: The deeply personal, intrinsic and commonly involuntary experience of being a nonhuman animal. Commonly entails having nonhuman instincts, urges, "shifts", a nonhuman self image and/or other traits that lead someone to identify as a different animal.
Explanations and views about the origin or cause of this phenomenon vary greatly from spiritual (reincarnation, displaced soul, etc.) to psychological (brain wiring, imprinting, etc.).

Theriotype: The species/animal a therian identifies as.
(Example: I am a wolf therian. My theriotype is wolf.)