Start with the alphabet, then Lesson 1: hello is ФIэхъус, thank you is Упсэу. Lessons 1 to 5 are free on this site, with the app’s audio; the app has all 119.
These are free Kabardian lessons for beginners: the first lessons of the Circassian app’s Kabardian course (East Circassian), with the app’s own words and audio. Kabardian is the language of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, and the dialect of the Kabardian and Besleney tribes.
The lessons
From zero: the plan
- The alphabet. Circassian is written in Cyrillic with extra letters for its own sounds. The app teaches the Kabardian alphabet in 15 short lessons, and every letter with a sound is a native speaker’s recording: start with the Kabardian alphabet.
- Lessons 1 and 2, here. Greetings and polite words, then talking about yourself: Lesson 1 and Lesson 2, with audio, sentences and a quiz.
- Lessons 3 to 5. Family, numbers and colors, the next units of the course.
- Train your ear. The audio course: 31 lessons in each dialect, narrated in English, Russian or Turkish; the first 4 are free.
- The whole course. 119 lessons in 10 sections in the app, with spaced review and short daily sessions. Free, no account needed.
The Kabardian words of Lessons 1 and 2
| In English | Kabardian |
|---|---|
| hello | ФIэхъусF'eĥus |
| how are you | Дауэ ущыт?Dawe ushchyt? |
| good | фIыщf'yshch |
| and you? | Уэ щэ?We shche? |
| I am well | СыузыншэщSyuzynsheshch |
| thank you | УпсэуUpsew |
| please | кхъыIэkh'yIe |
| I understand | КъызгурыIуэQyzguryI'we |
| I don't understand | КъызгурыIуэркъымQyzguryI'werqym |
| I | сэse |
| you | уэwe |
| yes | нтIэnt'e |
| Circassian | адыгэadyghe |
| I am Circassian | СыадыгэщSyadygheshch |
| name | цIэts'e |
| no | хьэуэh'ewe |
| language | бзэbze |
| Do you speak Circassian? | Адыгэбзэ пщIэра?Adyghebze pshchera? |
| friend | ныбжьэгъуnybzh'eghw |
| where | дэнэdene |
| What is your name? | Хэт уэ уи цIэр?Khet we wi ts'er? |
More about the course: learn Kabardian.
Kabardian or Adyghe?
The two written standards of Circassian differ from the first lesson. Not sure which one is yours? See the Circassian tribes and the difference between Kabardian and Adyghe, or go to the Adyghe lessons.
Questions
Where can I learn Kabardian for free?
On this page and in the Circassian app for iPhone and Android: all 119 lessons of the Kabardian course, the alphabet and the Habze lessons are free, and the lessons need no account.
How do I start learning Kabardian from zero?
With the alphabet and the first words: greetings, polite words, talking about yourself, family and numbers. That is how the Kabardian course in the app begins, and how the lessons on this page are ordered.
How many lessons does the Kabardian course have?
10 sections and 119 lessons, after 15 alphabet lessons. There is also an audio course of 31 lessons; the first 4 are free.
Do I need an account?
No. The lessons work without an account; an account is for the chats, friends and saving your progress across devices.
How is Kabardian different from Adyghe?
They are the two written standards of Circassian, East and West, and they differ from the first lesson in words, sounds and spelling. The app teaches them as two separate courses.
Free on iPhone & Android
The whole course, free
119 lessons in each dialect, the alphabet with native recordings, the audio course and an AI tutor.
4.9 on the App Store 50,000+ people in 100+ countries
Sources
- Lessons: the Circassian app, units “Hello!”, “About Me” (app version 5.9.0, October 2026).
- Audio course lines (sentences and words marked “course”): the app’s audio course, as in the phrasebook.
- Kabardian dictionary in the app (Apazhev and Kokov, Kabardino-Cherkess–Russian Dictionary, Nalchik 2008): ФIэхъус (p. 471), Упсэу (p. 455), кхъыIэ (p. 288), нтIэ (p. 340), адыгэ (p. 21), хьэуэ (p. 544), бзэ (p. 45), ныбжьэгъу (p. 340), дэнэ (p. 86).
- Adyghe dictionary in the app (dovlet.info): дэгъу, Тхьауегъэпсэу, сэ, ары, цIэ, хьау, бзэ, ныбджэгъу.
- Course facts (10 sections, 119 lessons per dialect, alphabet lessons, hearts, spaced review, audio course): the app’s own data, version 5.9.0, checked October 11, 2026.
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.
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