What this is
A phrasebook for the two Circassian dialects: Kabardian (East Circassian) and Adyghe (West Circassian). Every line comes from the Circassian app’s audio course, whose scripts were reviewed by a native speaker of each dialect, and every line has a listen button.
Pick the dialect your family speaks, or keep both side by side. The switch below hides one column if you only want one dialect, and the page prints cleanly if you want it on paper. Not sure which dialect is yours? Kabardian vs Adyghe explains the difference.
Kabardian (East Circassian)Adyghe (West Circassian)
Show
Greetings and goodbyes
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| Hello. | ФIэхъусF'eĥus | СэламSelam |
| Good morning. | Уи пщэдджыжь фIыуэ.Wi pshcheddzhyzh f'ywe. | Уипчэдыжь шIу.Wipchedyzh sh'u. |
| Good day. | Уи махуэ фIыуэ.Wi makhwe f'ywe. | Уимафэ шIу.Wimafe sh'u. |
| Good evening. | Уи пщыхьэщхьэ фIыуэ.Wi pshchyheshchhe f'ywe. | Уипчыхьэ шIу.Wipchyhe sh'u. |
| Good night. | Уи жэщ фIыуэ.Wi zheshch f'ywe. | Уичэщ шIу.Wicheshch sh'u. |
| How are you? | Дауэ ущыт?Dawe ushchyt? | Сыдэу ущыт?Sydeu ushchyt? |
| I’m well, and you? | Сыузыншэщ, уэ щэ?Syuzynsheshch, we shche? | Сыпсау, оры?Sypsau, ory? |
| Fine, thank you. (Adyghe: Everything’s fine, thank you.) | Хъарзынэщ, упсэу.Kharzyneshch, upseu. | ЗэкIэ дэгъу. Опсэу.Zek'e deghw. Opseu. |
| Are you well? | Уузыншэ?Uuzynshe? | Упсауа?Upsawa? |
| Goodbye! | Узыншэу!Uzynsheu! | ХъяркIэ!Khyark'e! |
| See you soon! | ЩIэх дызэрылъэгъунщ!Shch'ekh dyzerylheghwnshch! | ШIэхэу тызэрэлъэгъущт!Sh'ekheu tyzerelheghwshcht! |
| See you tomorrow! | Пщэдей дызэрылъэгъунщ!Pshchedyey dyzerylheghwnshch! | Неущы тызэIукIэн.Nyeushchy tyze'uk'en. |
| Safe journey! | Гъуэгу махуэ!Ghwegu makhwe! | Гъогумаф!Ghogumaf! |
Introductions
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| What’s your name? | Хэт уэ уи цIэр?Khet we wi ts'er? | УицIэр сыд?Uits'er syd? |
| My name is Madina. | Сэ си цIэр Мадинэщ.Se si ts'er madineshch. | Сэ сцIэр Мадинэ.Se sts'er madine. |
| Pleased to meet you. | УкъызэрысцIыхуар си гуапэщ.Uqyzerysts'ykhwar si gwapeshch. | Сигуапэ хъугъэ.Sigwape khwghe. |
| Are you Circassian? | Уэ адыгэ?We adyge? | Уадыга?Wadyga? |
| Yes, I’m Circassian. And you? | НтIэ, сыадыгэщ. Уэ щэ?Nt'e, syadygeshch. We shche? | Ары, сэ сыадыг. Оры?Ary, se syadyg. Ory? |
| Where are you from? | Дэнэ ущыщ?Dene ushchyshch? | Тыдэ укъикIырэ?Tyde uqik'yre? |
| I’m from Turkey. | Сэ Тыркум сыщыщ.Se tyrkum syshchyshch. | Сэ Тыркуем сыкъекIы.Se tyrkuyem syqyek'y. |
| I’m from America. | Сэ Америкэм сыщыщ.Se amyerikem syshchyshch. | Сэ Америкэм сыкъекIы.Se amyerikem syqyek'y. |
| Are you from here? | Мыбы ущыщ?Myby ushchyshch? | Мыщ ущыща?Myshch ushchyshcha? |
| He is my friend. | Ар си ныбжьэгъущ.Ar si nybzheghwshch. | Ар синыбджэгъу.Ar sinybdzheghw. |
Speaking Circassian
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| Do you speak Circassian? | Адыгэбзэ пщIэра?Adyghebze pshchera? | АдыгабзэкIэ угущаIа?Adəgabzek'e wgushcha'a? |
| I speak a little. | ТIэкIу сопсалъэ.T'ek'u sopsalhe. | ТIэкIу сэгущыIэ.T'ek'u segushchy'e. |
| Do you understand Circassian? | Уэ адыгэбзэ къыбгурыIуэрэ?We adygebze qybgury'were? | О адыгабзэ къыбгурэIуа?O adygabze qybgure'wa? |
| I understand a little. | ТIэкIу къызгуроIуэ.T'ek'u qyzguro'we. | ТIэкIу къызгурэIо.T'ek'u qyzgure'o. |
| I understand. | КъызгурыIуэQyzguryI'we | КъызгурэIоQyzgureIo |
| I don’t understand. | КъызгурыIуэркъымQyzguryI'werqym | КъызгурэIорэпQyzgureIorep |
| Speak slowly. | Псалъэ хуэмурэ.Psalhe khwemure. | Жъажъэу къэгущыIэ.Zhazheu qegushchy'e. |
| I don’t know. | Сэ сщIэркъым.Se sshch'erqym. | Сэ сшIэрэп.Se ssh'erep. |
| I like Circassian. | Адыгэбзэ сфIэфIщ.Adygebze sf'ef'shch. | Адыгабзэ сикIас.Adygabze sik'as. |
Polite words
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you. | УпсэуUpsew | ОпсэуOpseu |
| Please. | кхъыIэkh'yIe | сыолъэIуsyolheIw |
| Excuse me. | КъысхуэгъэгъуQyskhwegheghw | къысфэгъэгъуqəsfegheghu |
| Yes. | нтIэnt'e | арыarə |
| No. | хьэуэh'ewe | хьауhaw |
| Yes, thank you. | НтIэ, упсэу.Nt'e, upseu. | Ары, опсэу.Ary, opseu. |
| No, thank you, I’ve eaten. | Хьэуэ, упсэу. Сэ сышхащ.Hewe, upseu. Se syshkhashch. | Хьау, опсэу. Сэ сышхагъ.Hau, opseu. Se syshkhagh. |
Visiting and at the table
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome! | Къеблагъэ!Qyeblaghe! | Къеблагъ!Qyeblagh! |
| Sit down. | КъэтIысQet'ys | КъэтIысQet'ys |
| Dear guest. | ХьэщIэ дахэ.Heshch'e dakhe. | ХьакIэ дахэ.Hak'e dakhe. |
| Your house is beautiful. | Уи унэр дахэщ.Wi uner dakheshch. | Уиунэр дахэ.Wiuner dakhe. |
| Do you want tea? | Шей ухуей?Shyey ukhuyey? | Щай уфая?Shchay ufaya? |
| I want tea. | Шей сыхуейщ.Shyey sykhuyeyshch. | Щай сыфай.Shchay syfay. |
| Tea or water? | Шей е псы?Shyey ye psy? | Щай е псы?Shchay ye psy? |
| I want water. | Псы сыхуейщ.Psy sykhuyeyshch. | Псы сыфай.Psy syfay. |
| Do you want anything? | Уэ зыгуэр ухуей?We zygwer ukhuyey? | О зыгорэ уфая?O zygore ufaya? |
| Bring me tea, please. | Шей къысхуэхь, кхъыIэ.Shyey qyskhweh, qhy'e. | Щай къысфэхь, сыолъэIу.Shchay qysfeh, syolhe'u. |
| This is delicious! | Мыр IэфIщ!Myr 'ef'shch! | Мыр IэшIу!Myr 'esh'u! |
| I’ve eaten. | Сэ сышхащ.Se syshkhashch. | Сэ сышхагъ.Se syshkhagh. |
| Come visit us. | Ди деж хьэщIапIэ къакIуэ.Di dyezh heshch'ap'e qak'we. | Тадэжь къакIо.Tadezh qak'o. |
Family
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| Who is this? | Хэт мыр?Khet myr? | Хэт мыр?Khet myr? |
| This is my mother. | Мыр си анэщ.Myr si aneshch. | Мыр сянэ.Myr syane. |
| This is my father. | Мыр си адэщ.Myr si adeshch. | Мыр сятэ.Myr syate. |
| This is my brother. | Мыр си къуэшщ.Myr si qweshshch. | Мыр сшы.Myr sshy. |
| This is my sister. | Мыр си шыпхъущ.Myr si shypkhushch. | Мыр сшыпхъу.Myr sshypkhu. |
| Mother and father. | Анэ икIи адэ.Ane ik'i ade. | Нанэрэ татэрэ.Nanere tatere. |
| They are my family. | Ахэр си унагъуэщ.Akher si unaghweshch. | Ахэр сиунагъо.Akher siunagho. |
Time and weather
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| What time is it? | Сыхьэтыр дапщэ?Syhetyr dapshche? | Сыхьатыр тхьапшы хъугъэ?Syhatyr thapshy khwghe? |
| What day is today? | Нобэ сыт махуэ?Nobe syt makhwe? | Непэ сыды маф?Nyepe sydy maf? |
| Today is Sunday. | Нобэ тхьэмахуэщ.Nobe themakhweshch. | Непэ тхьаумаф.Nyepe thaumaf. |
| Today is warm. | Нобэ хуабэщ.Nobe khwabeshch. | Непэ фабэ.Nyepe fabe. |
| Today is cold. | Нобэ щIыIэщ.Nobe shch'y'eshch. | Непэ чъыIэ.Nyepe chy'e. |
| Tomorrow, rain. | Пщэдей уэшх.Pshchedyey weshkh. | Неущ ощх.Nyeushch oshchkh. |
| I’m going now. | Иджыпсту сокIуэ.Idzhypstu sok'we. | Джыдэдэм сэкIо.Dzhydedem sek'o. |
| Tomorrow I’ll go. | Пщэдей сыкIуэнущ.Pshchedyey syk'wenushch. | Неущ сыкIощт.Nyeushch syk'oshcht. |
Getting around
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the shop? | Тыкуэныр дэнэ?Tykwenyr dene? | Тыдэ щыI тучаныр?Tyde shchy' tuchanyr? |
| I have to go to the shop. | Сэ тыкуэным сыкIуэн хуейщ.Se tykwenym syk'wen khuyeyshch. | Сэ тучаным сыкIон фай.Se tuchanym syk'on fay. |
| I’m going home. | Унэм сокIуэ.Unem sok'we. | Унэм сэкIо.Unem sek'o. |
| I’m going by car. | Сэ машинэкIэ сокIуэ.Se mashinek'e sok'we. | Сэ машинэкIэ сэкIо.Se mashinek'e sek'o. |
| It’s far. | Ар жыжьэщ.Ar zhyzheshch. | Ар чыжьэ.Ar chyzhe. |
| It’s near. | Ар гъунэгъущ.Ar ghwneghwshch. | Ар благъэ.Ar blaghe. |
| Is there tea? | Шей щыIэ?Shyey shchy'e? | Щай щыIа?Shchay shchy'a? |
| Yes, there is. | НтIэ, щыIэ.Nt'e, shchy'e. | Ары, щыI.Ary, shchy'. |
| No, there isn’t. | Хьэуэ, щыIэкъым.Hewe, shchy'eqym. | Хьау, щыIэп.Hau, shchy'ep. |
Shopping
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| How much does this cost? | Мыбы дапщэ и уасэр?Myby dapshche i waser? | Мыщ тхьапша ыуасэр?Myshch thapsha ywaser? |
| This is beautiful, but expensive. | Мыр дахэщ, ауэ лъапIэщ.Myr dakheshch, awe lhap'eshch. | Мыр дахэ, ау лъапIэ.Myr dakhe, au lhap'e. |
| This is cheap. | Мыр пудщ.Myr pudshch. | Мыр пыут.Myr pyut. |
| Do you have money? | Уэ ахъшэ уиIэ?We akhshe wi'e? | О ахъщэ уиIа?O akhshche wi'a? |
| I have money. | Ахъшэ сиIэщ.Akhshe si'eshch. | Ахъщэ сиI.Akhshche si'. |
| I don’t have money. | Сэ ахъшэ сиIэкъым.Se akhshe si'eqym. | Сэ ахъщэ сиIэп.Se akhshche si'ep. |
Feelings and health
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| I’m tired. | СешащSyeshashch | СыпшъыгъSypshygh |
| I’m happy. | Сэ сынасыпыфIэщ.Se synasypyf'eshch. | Сэ сынасыпышIо.Se synasypysh'o. |
| I’m sad. | Сэ сынэщхъейщ.Se syneshchkhyeyshch. | Сэ сынэшхъэй.Se syneshkhey. |
| I’m sick. | Сэ сысымаджэщ.Se sysymadzheshch. | Сэ сысымадж.Se sysymadzh. |
| My head hurts. | Си щхьэр мэуз.Si shchher meuz. | Сшъхьэ мэузы.Sshhe meuzy. |
| I need a doctor. | Дохутыр сыхуейщ.Dokhutyr sykhuyeyshch. | Iазэ сыфай.'aze syfay. |
| Don’t be afraid! | Умышынэ!Umyshyne! | Умыщын!Umyshchyn! |
| Don’t worry. Everything’s fine. | Умыгузавэ. Псори хъарзынэщ.Umyguzave. Psori kharzyneshch. | УмыгумэкI. ЗэкIэ дэгъу.Umygumek'. Zek'e deghw. |
Likes and customs
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| What do you like? | Сыт уфIэфI?Syt uf'ef'? | Сыда уикIасэр?Syda wik'aser? |
| I like music. | Макъамэ сфIэфIщ.Maqame sf'ef'shch. | Музыкэ сикIас.Muzyke sik'as. |
| Do you like to dance? | Укъэфэн уфIэфI?Uqefen uf'ef'? | Укъэшъонэу уикIаса?Uqeshoneu wik'asa? |
| I like to dance. | Къафэн сфIэфIщ.Qafen sf'ef'shch. | Къэшъонэу сикIас.Qeshoneu sik'as. |
| Let’s dance! | Еуэ дыкъэфэнщ!Yewe dyqefenshch! | НекIо, тыкъэшъощт!Nyek'o, tyqeshoshcht! |
| Circassian custom is precious. | Адыгэ хабзэр лъапIэщ.Adyge khabzer lhap'eshch. | Адыгэ хабзэр лъапIэ.Adyge khabzer lhap'e. |
| Respect for elders. | НэхъыжьымкIэ пщIэ.Nekhyzhymk'e pshch'e. | Нахьыжъмэ шъхьэкIафэ.Nahyzhme shhek'afe. |
How to use this phrasebook
Listen first, then say it out loud: that is how the audio course teaches every line. Start with the first two sections, greetings and introductions, which are enough for a first conversation. The one-phrase pages go deeper, with scenes from the course: Hello · Thank you · How are you? · Good morning · Good night · Goodbye · Welcome! · Please and excuse me · My name is… · Happy birthday · Mother, father and family.
Free on iPhone & Android
Say it out loud with Circassian lessons
Pick Kabardian or Adyghe and learn the everyday phrases with audio, a few minutes a day.
4.9 on the App Store 50,000+ people in 100+ countries
Circassian phrasebook: questions
Is there a Circassian phrasebook with audio?
Yes. This page has 97 everyday phrases in Kabardian and Adyghe, each with audio from the Circassian app’s audio course.
What are the most useful Circassian phrases?
Hello (ФIэхъус / Сэлам), thank you (Упсэу / Опсэу), how are you (Дауэ ущыт? / Сыдэу ущыт?) and please (кхъыIэ / сыолъэIу): the first in Kabardian, the second in Adyghe.
Should I learn Kabardian or Adyghe?
The dialect your family or friends speak. Kabardian is the language of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia; Adyghe is the language of Adygea. In Turkey, Jordan and elsewhere both are spoken.
Where do these phrases come from?
From the Circassian app’s audio course, Beginner level, in its Kabardian and Adyghe versions. A native speaker of each dialect reviewed the scripts before the course was made.
Can I print this phrasebook?
Yes. Use your browser’s print command; the buttons and app sections are left out, and you can print one dialect by switching the other off first.
Sources
- Circassian App audio course (Beginner), Kabardian lessons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30; Adyghe lessons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Each lesson’s script was reviewed by a native speaker of its dialect before the course was made; the audio on this page is the app’s own.
Free app · iPhone & Android
Learn Circassian in a few minutes a day
Short lessons in Kabardian or Adyghe. Hear how the words sound, learn to read the alphabet, then practice with an AI tutor who replies in Circassian.
Download free50,000+ people in 100+ countries
