Adyghe language

Adyghe, also known as West Circassian, is a Northwest Caucasian language spoken by the western subgroups of Circassians. Native to Circassia in the Caucasus, it is one of the two official languages of Adygea, the other being Russian. It is spoken in Russia, but mainly in Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Israel, where Circassians settled after the Circassian genocide by the Russian Empire. Adyghe literary language (Adyghe: Литературабз) is largely based on the Chemguy dialect, which was chosen for its simplicity, although there was significant input from Shapsug and Bzhedug dialects.

Adyghe is closely related to the Kabardian or East Circassian language; some reject the distinction between the two languages in favour of both being dialects of a unitary Circassian language, others argue they are closely related languages. Despite phonological differences, Circassian languages are reciprocally intelligible, with speakers being able to communicate. While the self-designation for both Adyghe and Kabardian language is Adyghe, in linguistic and administrative terms, "Adyghe" refers specifically to the language of the western tribes of Circassians, while "Kabardian" refers to the language of the two eastern tribes (Kabardians and Besleney). Ubykh, Abkhaz and Abaza are more distantly related to Adyghe.