Are you trying to discuss your spirit animal, but you’re worried the phrase is insensitive or offensive?
Well, you’re in luck!
This article is here to help you understand more about using spirit animal in your writing.
We’ve gathered some alternatives to show you what else can work just as well.
7 Alternative Ways to Say “Spirit Animal”
Check out these alternatives to spirit animal to learn more about the best phrases to include in your writing:
- Animal guide
- Totem creature
- Animal companion
- Inner beast
- Kindred spirit
- Nature ally
- Guardian animal
1. Animal Guide
Feel free to start with animal guide instead of spirit animal. This is a great way to remove negative connotations from the original phrase.
Removing the need to say spirit in the phrase is what takes away from the insensitivity.
Instead, you can use this to liken yourself to an animal. It’s direct and obvious, making it clear to readers what you’re trying to say when explaining yourself.
You can refer to these examples to learn more about it:
My animal guide is probably more ferocious than I give myself credit for. Maybe it’s about time I looked into it.
A tiger is easily my animal guide. I’m certain it’s true, and it’s why I know I’m going to succeed here.
2. Totem Creature
Next, we recommend totem creature as another way to say spirit animal. This synonym might not be as common, but it’s an effective way to sound less offensive.
Try using it to talk about creatures you relate to in the wild. It’s a good conversation starter that shows you’ve considered your spirit animal in the past.
Most people use this when talking positively about themselves. However, you can also use it to talk negatively about other people if they’re similar to less appealing animals or creatures.
Here are some great examples if you still need help understanding it:
My totem creature is easily a horse. I love them, and I feel like I have a lot of similar mannerisms with them.
I’m sure his totem creature is a rabbit. He’s so small and timid, so I don’t think he’ll be able to get through this.
3. Animal Companion
We recommend animal companion as a politically correct way to say spirit animal.
This synonym works well in many situations.
For the most part, you can use it when likening yourself to an animal or spirit. It’s a great way to let people know what to expect from your personality.
However, you can also use it to talk about your animal companions in general. For instance, it might refer to a pet or something you care for in your life.
Also, you can check out the following examples to learn a bit more:
I’d say my animal companion is a rhinoceros or something like that. I haven’t thought about it too much, though.
It’s good to think about what your animal companion might be. You should always try and compare yourself to see what your personality is like.
4. Inner Beast
Try using inner beast as an alternative to spirit animal. It’s non-offensive and removes the negative connotations surrounding the original phrase.
Therefore, it’s a great choice to include in your writing.
However, some people think saying inner beast can sound a bit scary or troublesome.
So, it’s best to use it when likening yourself to large animals (like tigers, rhinos, or elephants). Basically, if you consider it a beast, you can use this phrase instead of spirit animal.
Here are some great examples to help you understand more about it:
My inner beast is always lurking. I wish I could control it, but sometimes I just get carried away.
Oh, my inner beast is an antelope. I’m very surprised you think I’m more of a hunter, honestly.
5. Kindred Spirit
A good synonym for spirit animal is kindred spirit.
You can use this to show that you connect with an animal on a primal level. It’s a good way to sound more interesting when discussing connections.
Also, a kindred spirit doesn’t just have to refer to an animal.
It also works well when referring to people, items, and other things. Therefore, this is a very well-rounded phrase that works best when trying to figure out what you relate to.
You should also check out these examples to learn a little more:
My kindred spirit is a lion. I’m strong, but there are quite a few people out there who still underestimate me.
I’m working on my kindred spirit right now. It won’t be long until I figure out where I stand in this world.
6. Nature Ally
It’s worth using nature ally to help you mix things up in your writing.
This is an interesting choice that’s not as common as spirit animal. Nevertheless, it’s still a great option to include in your writing.
You can use this when asking others for their nature ally. It suggests you’d like to learn more about someone or the animal they most relate to.
For the most part, this could be a good conversation starter. So, give it a go when you want to get to know someone better.
You can also check out these examples if you’d like to learn more:
What’s your nature ally? Mine is definitely a turtle because I find myself connecting to so many parts of it.
Do you have a nature ally? I’m trying to determine what mine might be, but I don’t even know where to start.
7. Guardian Animal
Finally, you can write guardian animal instead of spirit animal.
After all, most people feel protected by their spirit animals. Therefore, it makes sense to use something like guardian animal to suggest that your animal is watching over you.
It’s a really impressive phrase to include in your writing. It also gets people thinking.
So, you can ask others about their guardian animal to see if they’ve put any thought into it. Then, you’ll be able to discuss your own and how it relates to your emotions.
You can also review these examples to learn a bit more about it:
I’m not sure what my guardian animal is just yet. However, I’m certain I’ll figure it out with more time here.
What do you think his guardian animal will be? I think he’s a lot stronger than he gives himself credit for.
Is It Okay to Say “Spirit Animal”?
It is okay to say spirit animal in friendly situations.
However, it is sometimes considered offensive to Native American writers and speakers.
The phrase itself is culturally insensitive. While it’s okay to use in friendly messages between friends, it’s not okay to use in front of Native American speakers who believe in spirit animals.
Still, it’s worth seeing how to use spirit animal in a sentence to learn more about it:
My spirit animal is a sloth. I’ve never been able to do anything with passion or speed in my life!
I’ve looked into it to find out what my spirit animal is. I’m still trying to decide if I’m a tiger or a seahorse!
So, if you want to avoid accidentally insulting someone, it’s worth exploring some alternatives. Luckily, this article has provided a great list for you.
