Racial terminology

Template:Multisource This is a page for racial terminology in Warcraft lore.

Hybrid races

Half-breed

Half-breed is a term used to categorize any species or individual born of two (or more) separate species. The term "half-breed" was used by orcs and ogres to refer to Rexxar in the Third War. Half-orcs, half-elves, half-ogres are examples of half-breeds.Template:Cite Template:Cite Rexxar and Med'an examples of half-breeds. It can be used as both a technical or derogatory term. Half-breeds are hybrid races (but not all hybrid races are half-breeds)

Demi-human

Demi-human is a term used to describe other races such as elves, orcs, gnomes, and dwarves.Template:Cite

While no specific Warcraft definition has been given, demi is a word that is defined as either "half" or "one that partly belongs to (a specific type or class)"[1]. Demi-human is a term that originated from Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. These humanoid races were defined as subdivisions of Homo sapiens.[2] It is synonomous to the terms near-human and metahuman in other sources of fiction. The definition is not far off the mark considering that most races can be traced back to common ancestry through the titans.

See The Alliance of Lordaeron.

Near-human

Medivh used the term to describe Garona's parentage if other than human.Template:Cite Garona calls this race human (see Humans#Draenor "humans"), whom she believes she has part, though she is half-orc half-draenei. These "humans" may be "near-human" and that draenei may be near-human biologically as well.

While no specific Warcraft definition has been given, in other fantasy/sci-fi (ex. Star Wars[3] & Doctor Who[4]), near-human has meant a race that evolutionarily diverged from humans (or have mixed ancestry with other species). In some cases the term is used to describe a race that evolutionarily converged into a species biologically related to humans. Often humans & near-humans are genetically compatible. This term is synonymous with the term "demi-human" or "metahuman" and sometimes half-breed or hybrids from other fiction.

Half-draenei

Half-draenei is the term used for the offspring of one draenei parent or half-draenei and another species such as an orc. They show a blending of orc and draenei features.Template:Cite Lantresor is half-draenei.

Half-orc

Half-orc is the term for the offspring of an orc or a half-orc and other species (such as human, draenei or ogre). Most half-orcs are half-human.Template:Cite Famous half-orcs include GaronaTemplate:Cite and Rexxar.Template:Cite

Half-troll

Half-troll is the term used to describe someone who has descended from a parent that is a troll or half-troll and a parent of any other species. Lelior's mother is said to be a half-troll. While it may only be a "your mother is a" joke, he also doesn't deny it.

Half-elf

Half-elf is the term used to describe the offspring of an elven or half-elven parent and parent of another species. Most half-elves are half human and half high elves.Template:Cite Template:Cite Template:Cite

Half-ogre

Half-ogre is the term used to describe the offspring of an ogre or half-ogre parent and parent of another species. Rexxar and Leoroxx are examples of a half-ogres.Template:Cite It is a technical term, and a term of self-identity.Template:Cite

Half-human

Half-human is the term used to describe someone who has descended from a parent that is a human or half-human and a parent of any other species.Template:Cite Template:CiteTemplate:Cite The half-draenei, half-orc Garona has been described as being half-human, as have half-ogres of human descent.

Half-human half-ogre

Half-human half-ogres are a rumored race created from the union of humans and ogres.Template:Cite

Half-ogre mage

Half-ogre magi are the theoretical offspring between ogre magi and orcs.Template:Cite

Half-night elf / Half-kaldorei

Half-night elf (aka half-kaldorei) is the term used to describe the offspring of humans and night elves.Template:Cite Template:Cite

Half-blood elf

Half-blood elf is the term used to describe the offspring of humans and blood elves.Template:Cite

Half-giant

Half-giant is the term used to describe someone who has descended from a parent that is a giant or half-giant and a parent of any other species (such as humans).

half-dragon

Drakonid (and/or dragonkin) are described as being "half-man, half-dragon". While it is still unclear if this is literal or figurative, dragonspawn are known to have human heritage.

Mongrelman

Mongrelman is a term used for a race of miscellaneous hybrid individuals from various races.Template:Cite

Ogre (half-breed)

Ogre not only refers to the race of full-blooded ogres but also a race of half-breed warriors that roam Kalimdor, much like the half-ogres.Template:Cite

Ogrillon

Ogrillon are another race of half-orc and half-ogre descent.

Forlarren

Forlarren is a term used for a half-night elf half-demon race.

Racial terms used in multiple Warcraft sources

Aberration

An aberration has a bizarre anatomy, strange abilities, an alien mindset, or any combination of the three.Template:Cite These are often offshoots of other creatures including humanoids, undead, beasts, and insect-like creatures, etc.Template:Cite Nerubians and forgotten ones are aberrations for example. This is reflected in World of Warcraft as aberrations appearing in the game are usually offshoots of some undead or elementals.

Arakkoa

Arakkoa are a generally flightless vulture-like race who wear colorful robes and plumed headdresses found in Outland primarily in Terokkar Forest, but also encountered in Hellfire Peninsula and Blade's Edge Mountains.Template:Cite

Draenei

Draenei is a term that can refer to three separate races: uncorrupted eredar, the Broken draenei, and the draenei Lost Ones. In Warcraft III, the draenei mostly appeared as Broken draenei or draenei Lost Ones.

Dwarf

The term dwarf was the term humans gave to the race of short, stocky, and bearded humanoids once known as the Earthen. At the time the Dwarves did not know that the word literally meant "diminutive". They are glad they weren't called worse by the humans, for example "beard-men" or "rockheads" or something like that.

The name stuck, and now all races around the world use it to describe dwarves, even the Dwarves themselves. While it might have originated out of an apparent racial slur, today dwarves are proud of the term, and do not see it as being a negative terminology, and in fact gladly call themselves dwarves. Template:Cite

Hill dwarf

Hill dwarves is a term used for clans of dwarves that live primarily in the hills. They construct their buildings above ground, with roofs opened to the sky (rarely digging very deep into the hills).Template:Cite Some hill dwarves were familiar with and known to elven rangers.Template:Cite

Mountain dwarf

Mountain dwarves is a term used to describe various clans of dwarves that live primarily in the mountains. The primary clan of mountain dwarves is the Bronzebeard clan.Template:Cite At least some of the wild dwarves are also called mountain dwarves as well.Template:Cite

Wild dwarf

Wild dwarves is a term for the dwarves of the Wildhammer clan.Template:Cite Template:Cite Template:Cite Perhaps "wild dwarves" are a sub-type of hill dwarves or it is a term derived from Wildhammer.

The Khaz Modan hill dwarves and Aerie wild dwarves are shown to have racial enmity to each other, although they call each other "cousin".Template:Cite

Earthen

Earthen are stony humanoids created by the titans during the forming of Azeroth; some later degenerated into troggs, while others transformed into dwarves. Most of the dwarves were thought to have originated from earthen in Uldaman.Template:Cite

Eredar

Eredar refers to both the members of the parent race who became corrupted man'ari (led by Archimonde and Kil'jaeden)Template:Cite and joined the Burning Legion and to their rebel cousins, the draenei, who rejected the recruitment of Sargeras. They are now otherworldly demons.Template:Cite Template:Cite

Ethereal

Ethereals are a race of pure energy, who call non-energy races "fleshlings", that have come to Outland to profit from the turmoil there and battle between their own factions (the Ethereum, the Consortium, and the Protectorate) for various goals. They live and travel in the Twisting NetherTemplate:Cite after having been driven from their homeworld of K'aresh.

Fey

A fey is a creature with supernatural abilities and connections to nature or to some other force or place. Fey are usually human-shaped or have human-shaped portions (such as a humanoid torso and the body of a stag or other wild creature).Template:Cite Faerie dragons are also fey, and this is reflected in the names of certain subtypes such as Fey Dragon and Fey DrakeTemplate:Cite Dark fey and other agents occasionally assist carnivorous trees in their feeding.Template:Cite

Note: While fey is used to describe a few specific races with similar characteristics, it does not mean that all are related.

Human

Human is a term that refers to prolific race of humanoids on Azeroth formally known as the AzothaTemplate:Cite or to the mysterious race of humans or near-humans that lived on Draenor, Draenor "humans"Template:Cite

Humanoid

Humanoid is the technical term used to describe roughly human-like species. That is "having human form or characteristics". A humanoid usually has two arms, two legs, and one head or a human-like torso, arms, and a head. Humanoids have few or no supernatural or extraordinary abilities, but most can speak and usually have well-developed societies.Template:Cite Humanoid can refer to any race (not neccesarily sapient) that share at least some similarities to basic human build, at least from the torso up. Dryads, for example, are considered fey "humanoids" even though they have bestial lower bodies. Not all humanoid-like creatures are considered humanoids however, and many are classified as giants or undead. In some cases, these are smaller sub-categories within the term humanoid — for example, Goblinoid, giant, or some fey. It is a technical term, rather than a "racial slur".

Note: While humanoid is used to describe races with similar characteristics, it does not mean they are all related to "humans".

Giant

Giants are humanoid creatures of great strength. They are a very large size (above 3 meters/yards or so) and larger than most ogres (though ogres are considered as one of the races of giants of Draenor). This includes most semi-intelligent large humanoids and some intelligent. Most giants are the creations of the titans, birthed when the world was young.Template:Cite

Note: While giant is described races with similar characteristics, it does not mean that all are related to giants.

Lost One

Lost Ones are wretched "cousins" of the Broken draenei, draenei who have suffered so much that they have gone mad. They call themselves the "Lost Ones" in mourning of their former world.Template:Cite A mixture of these sad creatures somehow made the journey to Azeroth and settled in the Swamp of Sorrows, with those recovering from their madness living in the Harborage and those still suffering in the Fallow Sanctuary.

Racial terms described in the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Goblinoid

Goblinoid is a sub-category of the term humanoid, describing races with similar characteristics to goblins. Orcs and goblins are not the only goblinoids on Azeroth. Some of the previously unknown species are crossbreeds, while others seem to be races unto themselves. It is unknown who came up with the term "goblinoid". It is used very few times in Manual of Monsters, a technical bestiary manual. It is a technical term rather than a "racial slur".Template:Cite

Note: While goblinoid is used to describe only a few specific races that share similar characteristics, it does not mean that they are all directly related to "goblins". Although they are apparently biologically related enough to allow for offspring, see mongrelman

Outsider

An outsider is at least partially composed of the essence (but not necessarily the material) of some plane other than Azeroth. Some creatures start out as some other type and become outsiders when they attain a higher (or lower) state of spiritual existence.Template:Cite Outsider is sometimes used in context of race, I.E. Medivh was said to be of the outsider race.Template:Cite

Note: While outsider is used to describe a few specific races with similar characteristics, it does not mean that all are related.

Magical beast

Magical beasts are similar to animals but can have higher intelligences. Magical beasts often have supernatural or extraordinary abilities, but sometimes are merely bizarre in appearance or habits.Template:Cite

Note: While magical beast is used to describe a few specific races with similar characteristics, it does not mean that all are related.

Racial terms described in the Burning Crusade

This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

Broken draenei

Broken draenei are a sub-race of the draenei created by corruption during the battle with the Burning Legion. They tend to have flattened facial features and reduced stature compared to uncorrupted draenei. They are credited with bringing shamanistic powers and practice to the larger draenei population and therefore the Alliance.

Mag'har

Mag'har are brown-skinned orcs untainted by the Burning Legion who call Nagrand in Outland (once known as Draenor) their home. They also have an outpost in Hellfire Peninsula.

Sporeling

Sporelings are apparently a fungus-based humanoid who can only be found in the Zangarmarsh region of Outland. They develop from spore sacs in southwest Zangarmarsh. Their main settlement is called Sporeggar.

Racial terms described in Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

Frost dwarf

Frost dwarves are also known as the Frostborn. This mysterious race of dwarves were encountered by the Alliance Expedition within Storm Peaks in Northrend at their home of Frosthold.

Iron dwarf

Iron dwarves are a hostile race of dwarves newly encountered throughout Northrend, (most found within Howling Fjord,^{[citation needed]}  Grizzly Hills,^{[citation needed]}  and the Storm Peaks^{[citation needed]} ) but appear intent on destroying any archaeological connections to other dwarves, much to the chagrin of the Explorers' League.