🌊 Common Terminology 🌊

There's some terms and phrases that this website and its pages will use fairly often. This specific page will go over them.

• Mer: The singular noun for the aquatic creatures this website is about.
◦ The plural form can be "Mers" or "Merfolk".
◦ The terms "Merman" and "Mermaid" may be used for Mers that identify as male and female. The original is gender-neutral.

• Pup: The common noun for young Mers.
◦ Very young Mers may be called "fry".
◦ The point which a Mer transitions from a Pup to an Adult is a bit unclear. In addition, some communities will always consider certain members to be pups, especially within close-knit family groups.

• Social Sickness: A term used within Mer communities to describe the phenomenon that occurs when a Mer is separated from their social group. It is often fatal, not just due to the Social Sickness, but the body growing weak enough for other illnesses or injuries to cause death.
◦ This term is a bit of a misnomer, as it's not an illness in the traditional sense. Merfolk are easily stressed, especially when removed from their social groups. Social Sickness is, in reality, the Mer's body deteriorating due to extreme stress.