You’ve probably heard the terms introvert and extrovert thrown around in conversations about personality. Maybe you’ve even stumbled on ambivert, that middle ground between the two. But now, there’s a relatively new word making its way across social media: the otrovert.

Because it’s a new term, it’s still being explored, critiqued, and adopted (or rejected) in online personality discussions. But it’s already resonating with people who always felt “in between” or “beside” the usual categories.

What exactly is an otrovert?

An otrovert is someone whose social energy depends less on being alone or with people and more on who those people are. Otroverts aren’t afraid of attending a gathering of 10, as long as they know they will connect with the people there. Gen Z might call it a “safe space”, and otroverts thrive in these safe spaces, knowing they’re around the right people.

Otrovert is a relatively new personality label recently coined by Rami Kaminski, an award-winning New York City–based American psychiatrist. He describes “otrovert” as coming from “otro” (meaning “other”) and “vert” (from Latin vertere, “to turn”). While introverts are drained by social environments and extroverts are energized by it, otroverts get energy “by thinking their own thoughts”. They’re individuals who don’t seek validation from any group.

“They do not have to withdraw from the group in order to recharge, as it is not the group that is draining. It’s exposure to the group think,” said Dr. Kaminsky.

In other words, otroverts are not drained by social interaction per se, but they’re picky about who they spend their energy on.

Otrovert vs Ambivert

Ambiverts swing between introversion and extroversion depending on their mood or situation. Otroverts, on the other hand, are more consistent – and selective – about how they spend their energy. They don’t swing back and forth as much or depend on the environment and the energy levels of those they’re with. Otroverts just know who energizes them and who doesn’t.

Here’s a quick scenario, if you’re still confused:

Ambivert: “Sometimes I love parties, sometimes I ghost everyone. It depends.”
Otrovert: “I’ll go to the party if my people are there.”

Otroverts aren’t shy or antisocial. They’re just strategic with their social battery.

Signs you might be an otrovert

If otroversion is sounding more and more like you, but you still want to make sure before claiming this personality, here are a few telltale signs:

People do not drain you, you’re drained by the wrong people. Small talk with strangers is exhausting sometimes, but deep convos with two of your besties are energizing.

You enjoy hanging out, but only with your inner circle. This actually recharges you because you’re around your best friends. As an otrovert, you don’t need to be the center of attention. Hanging out with a friend or two is enough.

Quality over quantity matters. You’d rather be in a room with a few trusted people than in a massive, noisy party where you don’t connect with anyone.

You value shared experiences. Whether it’s co-working at a café, watching a movie together, or even just running errands, you enjoy doing things side by side with someone.

You’re social, but not necessarily outgoing. You like being around people, but you don’t always initiate conversations or dominate them. You become selectively social and only fully engage when you know the vibe will match your energy.

So, are you an otrovert?

Otroverts carve out their own category by showing us that you don’t have to be loud, outgoing, or the life of the party to love people. It’s more about drawing energy from others’ presence than about chasing constant social stimulation. Otroverts know their social sweet spot and they know how to protect it.

But perhaps the best thing about otroverts is how they move with intention. They won’t spend energy or entertain the idea of going to gatherings if they know they aren’t feeling it. Many might label this characteristic as flaky, but we’d rather call it being selective.

Walking the line between introversion and extroversion isn’t the coolest thing about otroverts, it’s the fact that they know themselves well enough to engage or pull back. For otroverts, there’s merit in exploring new connections but there’s even greater joy in cultivating deeper connections with those they already feel comfortable with.

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