Glossary entry
Kintype
The kind of being an otherkin identifies as, such as dragon, elf or fae. The otherkin counterpart of a theriotype.
In depth
Kintype was formed by analogy with theriotype. Where a therian names the animal they are, an otherkin names the being they are, and that being is usually one known from myth and legend: dragon, elf, fae, gryphon, angel, and many more. The word is neutral about cause. It records what a person identifies as and leaves the why to them.
A kintype is discovered, not selected. People describe arriving at it through long patterns in their inner life: an abiding sense of wings, an unshakeable familiarity with a kind of place or a kind of time, a way of thinking that matches a description they later read. As with theriotypes, a person may have more than one, and their understanding may sharpen over the years.
In practice
- A person whose kintype is dragon describes a lasting awareness of wings and a tail, a protectiveness toward a home territory, and a sense of having been much larger.
- A person whose kintype is elf describes a feeling of belonging to old woodland and of being out of step with the pace of the present age, constant since early childhood.
Common questions
Can someone have both a kintype and a theriotype?
Yes. A person may identify as an earthly animal and as a mythic being, and use both words.
Is a kintype something you pick because you like it?
No. Liking dragons does not make dragon a kintype. The word is reserved for an identity that is involuntary and lasting.
Related terms
Read further. The page on kintypes walks through the beings most often named.