What Is The Therian Symbol (and Where Does It Come From)?

Download Article

Learn about the therian symbol’s meanings and ways to use it

Co-authored by Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil. Reviewed by Reagan Conley

Last Updated: July 13, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Therian Symbol Meaning & Origin

|

Therian Emojis

|

About Therians

|

FAQs

|

Video

|

Q&A

Have you seen the therian symbol (an overlapping variation of ΘΔ) and wondered what it means? We’ll break down the origin, meanings, and uses of this recent social media phenomenon. Along the way, you’ll learn more about who uses the symbol and what it means to them personally.

What does the Therian symbol mean?

Therian culture expert Rory Conley says the Therian symbol is called the Theta Delta. It's composed of the Greek letters theta and delta, and was created around 2005 in an online forum for Therians. Therians use the Theta Delta as a way to express their identity and connect with others in the community.

Section 1 of 4:

Therian Symbol Meaning & Origin

Download Article

The therian symbol is a Greek Theta Θ and Delta Δ interlocked. The symbol is used by the therian community, which is made up of people who identify as therians. A therian identifies as a particular non-human being, usually some kind of animal, like a dog, bird, or fox. The Greek Theta (Θ) means “wild animal” and the Greek Delta (Δ) symbolizes change. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
- The symbol represents how a person identifying as a therian slips into animal-like behavior and thinking. It originated in 2003 on the Werelist online forums.

Section 2 of 4:

Therian Symbol Emojis

Download Article

1
The therian symbol emoji is used by therians on social media. People use the therian symbol as an emoji on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or X so others will recognize that they identify as therian. It's a sign of solidarity among the small but proud therian community online.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- There is no interlocking therian symbol to type as text, so to use the therian symbol on social media, you can copy & paste the Greek Theta followed by the Greek Delta (ΘΔ).^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
2
Therians use emojis depicting the animal they identify as. They use specific animal emojis more often than the therian symbol itself.^{[4]
X
Research source}Popular therian emojis use whatever animal emoji you identify as, followed by a paw print emoji, a question mark emoji, or a dizzy emoji.
- For example, the emoji combi 🐺🐾 would indicate the person identifies as a wolf. The combo 🦊❓stands for a fox, and the combo 🐻💫 stands for a bear.

Section 3 of 4:

What does it mean to be a therian?

Download Article

Therians feel spiritually and/or psychologically connected to a specific animal. Psychologically, they often connect to a certain animal as a child and develop into full-grown therians as adults. The type of animal a therian identifies as is called a theriotype. They feel that their chosen animal represents their inner self. Therians don’t always express this identification outwardly but can exhibit animal-like behaviors through a “shift,” when they mentally or spiritually transform into their animal.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Therians often cite past lives or reincarnation beliefs as the origin of who they are spiritually.
- Therians differ from otherkins, who identify not with an animal, but with a mythical or fantasy-based being.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
  - Standard therians identify as a single non-human animal.^{[7]
    X
    Research source}
  - Polytherians identify as more than one theriotype. For example, they may identify as a rabbit and a mouse at the same time.
  - Cladotherians identify with an entire genus instead of a single species, like a cat, not a specific cat species.
  - Suntherians experience minor shifts in personality and identify more as a human than an animal.
  - Contherians constantly feel like their inner animal self without any mental shifts.
  - Paleotherians identify with an extinct species of animal, like a wooly mammoth or a dodo bird.^{[8]
    X
    Research source}

Section 4 of 4:

Therian Symbol FAQs

Download Article

Signs you may be a therian include feeling a deep connection to a specific animal, often since childhood. You may experience a shift into animal-like behavior or react in an animalistic way, by growling or snarling. Feeling at home when you embody your therianthrope means you may be a therian. Those in the therian community believe being a therian is not a choice.
Many therians feel that you don’t choose to be a therian, but you do choose to be a furry. Furries identify with the outer physical elements of an animal (and often express themselves more in this way), while therians identify with the inner qualities of that animal. They may or may not express themselves as their therianthrope.^{[9]
X
Research source}
Some therians practice a sport called quadrobics, which involves walking or running on all fours like an animal. It can help therians connect more to their inner animal but isn’t a requirement for all therians and remains an individual choice.^{[10]
X
Research source}

Join the Discussion...

How to explain the difference between Therian and Furry?

WikiFoxGirl496

I'm just a therian, and when wearing gear or practicing quads, people make fun of me and call me a furry when I'm not. How do explain the difference? Help!

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Do I need to have a tail or mask of that therian type?

WikiFoxGirl496

Community Answer

A therian is still a therian even if they don't wear gear. It's your choice, and therians can express their inner self in different ways!

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 20
Question

Can I be both a furry and a therian?

It's Jeff!

Community Answer

Yes, you can be both, but the two terms are not interchangeable. Therians are not always furries, and furries are not always therians.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 10
Question

How can I get stronger in quadrobics?

IndigoTheTherian

Community Answer

Focus on exercises that strengthen your arms and legs, especially your arms, since you're not used to using your hands like paws. Gradually increase your practice time.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 13