Wesen

Wesen is a German noun meaning beings, creatures, or essences. In everyday German, it denotes the nature or essential character of something: its Wesen. In philosophy, the term is used to refer to the essential nature that underlies appearances (essence).

In popular culture, Wesen is prominently featured in the American television series Grimm (2011–2017), where Wesen are supernatural humanoids descended from animals. Most Wesen appear fully human but retain an animalistic nature and, in many cases, specific abilities or senses. They typically live secretly among ordinary humans and may align with various cultural groups, guilds, or species-based communities. An overarching set of laws and customs governs interaction with humans, and a human investigator known as a Grimm is trained to recognize and combat dangerous Wesen.

Commonly depicted Wesen are named after animals or folkloric beings and can range from wolf- or fox-like to more exotic forms. Some groups maintain their own languages, customs, and rivalries, adding complexity to the human–Wesen dynamic.

See also: Werewolf, shapeshifter.