Shapsug Adyghe dialect

The Shapsug dialect (Adyghe: Шапсыгъабзэ; Kabardian: Шапсыгъэбзэ) is a dialect of Adyghe.[2] The Shapsug dialect is spoken by the Shapsugs, which are one of the largest Circassian population in the diaspora outside Republic of Adygea, alongside Abzakhs. The Shapsug dialect is very similar to the Natukhai dialect and together, they make the Black Sea coast dialects of Adyghe. The Shapsug dialect consists of three main sub dialects: Great Shapsug (North Shapsug), Small Shapsug (South Shapsug) and Hakuchi. The Shapsug dialect is best known as the dialect with palatalized velar stops.

Shapsug Adyghe dialect
Native to	Republic of Adygea, Turkey, Israel Kfar Kama, Jordan
Language family	Northwest Caucasian Circassian Adyghe Shapsug Adyghe dialect
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	shap1240[1]

Subdialects

The black sea coast Adyghe dialects family tree.

• The Black Sea coast dialects
  • Natukhai dialect (Adyghe: Нэтӏхъуаджэбзэ)
  • Shapsug dialect (Adyghe: Шапсыгъабзэ)
    • North Shapsugs, Great Shapsugs, Kuban Shapsugs dialect (Шапсыгъэ шху).
      • Kfar Kama dialect (Кфар Камэм ишапсыгъэбзэ): Shapsug dialect spoken by the villagers of Kfar Kama in Israel.
    • South Shapsugs, Small Shapsugs, Coastal Shapsugs Black Sea Shapsugs (Шапсыгъэ-цӏыкӏу) dialect.
  • Hakuchi dialect (ХьакӀуцубзэ, Къарацхаибзэ)

Phonology

		Labial	Alveolar			Post-alveolar		Alveolo- palatal	Retroflex	Velar			Uvular		Pharyngeal	Glottal
			plain	lab.	lat.	plain	lab.			plain	lab.	pal.	plain	lab.		plain	lab.
Plosive	voiceless	p	t								kʷ	kʲ	q	qʷ		ʔ	ʔʷ
	voiced	b	d								ɡʷ	ɡʲ
	ejective	pʼ	tʼ	tʷʼ							kʷʼ	kʲʼ
Affricate	voiceless		t͡s			t͡ʃ	t͡ʃʷ
	voiced		d͡z			d͡ʒ
	ejective		t͡sʼ			t͡ʃʼ
Fricative	voiceless	f	s		ɬ	ʃ	ʃʷ	ɕ	ʂ	x			χ	χʷ	ħ
	voiced		z			ʒ	ʒʷ	ʑ	ʐ	ɣ			ʁ	ʁʷ
	ejective		sʼ		ɬʼ	ʃʼ	ʃʷʼ
Nasal		m	n
Approximant					l			j			w
Trill			r

Palatalized velar stops

In the Shapsug and Natukhai dialects there is a palatalized voiced velar stop [ɡʲ] ⟨гь⟩, a palatalized voiceless velar stop [kʲ] ⟨кь⟩ and a palatalized velar ejective [kʲʼ] ⟨кӏь⟩ that were merged with дж [d͡ʒ], ч [t͡ʃ] and кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] in most Adyghe dialects.[3][4][5][6] Note that the Shapsug dialect also has ч [t͡ʃ], дж [d͡ʒ] and кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] in words like чэмы "cow", джэмышх "spoon" and кӏалэ "boy".

• Shapsug гь [ɡʲ] became дж [d͡ʒ] in other dialects:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
shirt	гьанэ	ɡʲaːna	джанэ	dʒaːna	джанэ	dʒaːna
pants	гъошэгь	ʁʷaʃaɡʲ	гъончэдж	ʁʷant͡ʃad͡ʒ	гъуэншэдж	ʁʷanʃad͡ʒ
now	гьы	ɡʲə	джы	dʒə	джы	dʒə
fur coat	гьэдыгу	ɡʲadəɡʷ	джэдыгу	dʒadəɡʷ	джэдыгу	dʒadəɡʷ
to study to read	егьэн	jaɡʲan	еджэн	jadʒan	еджэн	jadʒan
game	гьэгу	ɡʲagʷ	джэгу	d͡ʒagʷ	джэгу	d͡ʒagʷ
bitter	дыгьы	dəɡʲə	дыджы	dəd͡ʒə	дыдж	dəd͡ʒ
sick	сымагьэ	səmaːɡʲa	сымаджэ	səmaːd͡ʒa	сымаджэ	səmaːd͡ʒa
bold	шъхьэгьашъо	ʂħaɡʲaːʃʷa	шъхьэджашъо	ʂħad͡ʒaːʃʷa
evil	бзагьэ	bzaːɡʲa	бзаджэ	bzaːd͡ʒa	бзаджэ	bzaːd͡ʒa
that's it	гьары	ɡʲaːrə	джары	d͡ʒaːrə	джары	d͡ʒaːrə
noon	щэгьагъо	ɕaɡʲaːʁʷa	щэджагъо	ɕad͡ʒaːʁʷa	шэджагъуэ	ʃad͡ʒaːʁʷa
infidel	гьаур	ɡʲaːwər	джаур	d͡ʒaːwər	джаур	d͡ʒaːwər
to stand up	тэгьын	taɡʲən	тэджын	tad͡ʒən	тэджын	tad͡ʒən
dance	угь	wəɡʲ	удж	wəd͡ʒ	удж	wəd͡ʒ

• Shapsug кь [kʲ] became ч [t͡ʃ] in other dialects:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
sword	кьатэ	kʲaːta	чатэ	t͡ʃaːta	джатэ	d͡ʒaːta
throat	кьый	kʲəj	чый	t͡ʃəj	чий	t͡ʃəj
chicken	кьэт	kʲat	чэты	t͡ʃatə	джэд	d͡ʒad
chick	кьэтжъые	kʲatʐəja	чэтыжъые	t͡ʃatəʐəja	джэджьей	d͡ʒadʑej
cat	кьэтыу	kʲatəw	чэтыу	t͡ʃatəw	джэдыу	d͡ʒadəw
glass	апкь	ʔaːpkʲ	апч	ʔaːpt͡ʃ	абдж	ʔaːbd͡ʒ
brushwood	кьы	kʲə	чы	t͡ʃə	чы	t͡ʃə
crack	кьэ	kʲa	чэ	t͡ʃa	чэ	t͡ʃa
to crack	кьэн	kʲən	чэн	t͡ʃən	чэн	t͡ʃən
shop	тукьан	təkʲaːn	тучан	tət͡ʃaːn	тучан	tət͡ʃaːn
goatling	кьэцӏы	kʲat͡sʼə	чэцӏы	t͡ʃat͡sʼə
gate	кьэупчъ	kʲawəpt͡ɕ	чэупчъ	t͡ʃawəpt͡ʂ	чоубжэ	t͡ʃawbdʒa
marriage	нэкьыхь	nakʲəħ	нэчыхь	nat͡ʃəħ	нэчыхь	nat͡ʃəħ
cheerful	кьэфы	kʲafə	чэфы	t͡ʃafə	джэху	d͡ʒaxʷ
hovel	кьыл	kʲəl	чыл	t͡ʃəɮ	чыл	t͡ʃəɮ
humming top	кьынэ	kʲəna	чынэ	t͡ʃəna	чын	t͡ʃən
to spin	гъэкьэрэзын	ʁakʲarazən	гъэчэрэзын	ʁat͡ʃrazən	гъэджэрэзын	ʁad͡ʒarazən
to pick (fruit)	пыкьын	pəkʲən	пычын	pət͡ʃən	пычын	pət͡ʃən
to tear (paper)	кьэтхъэн	kʲatχan	чэтхъэн	t͡ʃatχan	зэфӏэтхъын	zafʼatχən

• Shapsug кӏь [kʲʼ] became кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] in other dialects:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
tail	кӏьэ	kʲʼa	кӏэ	t͡ʃʼa	кӏэ	t͡ʃʼa
egg	кӏьакӏьэ	kʲʼaːkʲʼa	кӏэнкӏэ	t͡ʃʼant͡ʃʼa	джэдыкӏэ	d͡ʒadət͡ʃʼa
skirt	кӏьэпхын	kʲʼapxən	кӏэпхын	t͡ʃʼapxən	кӏэпхын	t͡ʃʼapxən
Temirgoy	кӏьэмгуе	kʲʼamɡʷəja	кӏэмгуе	t͡ʃʼamɡʷəja	кӏэмгуе	t͡ʃʼamɡʷəja
smithy	кӏьыщ	kʲʼəɕ	кӏыщ	t͡ʃʼəɕ	кӏыщ	t͡ʃʼəɕ
ceiling	кӏьашъо	kʲʼaːʃʷa	кӏашъо	t͡ʃʼaːʃʷa	кӏафэ	t͡ʃʼaːfa
rope	кӏьапсэ	kʲʼaːpsa	кӏапсэ	t͡ʃʼaːpsa	кӏапсэ	t͡ʃʼaːpsa
edge	цакӏьэ	t͡saːkʲʼa	цакӏэ	t͡saːt͡ʃʼa	дзакӏэ	d͡zaːt͡ʃʼa
to scream	кӏьыин	kʲʼəjən	кӏыин	t͡ʃʼəjən	кӏыин	t͡ʃʼəjən
gun	кӏьэрахъо	kʲʼaraːχʷa	кӏэрахъо	t͡ʃʼaraːχʷa	кӏэрахъуэ	t͡ʃʼaraːχʷa
long	кӏьэхьы	kʲʼaħə	кӏыхьэ	t͡ʃʼəħa	кӏыхь	t͡ʃʼəħ
short	кӏьако	kʲʼaːkʷa	кӏако	t͡ʃʼaːkʷa	кӏагуэ	t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa
to kill	укӏьын	wkʲʼən	укӏын	wt͡ʃʼən	укӏын	wt͡ʃʼən
to move away	ӏукӏьын	ʔʷəkʲʼən	ӏукӏын	ʔʷət͡ʃʼən	ӏукӏын	ʔʷət͡ʃʼən
key	ӏукӏьыбзэ	ʔʷəkʲʼəbza	ӏункӏыбзэ	ʔʷənt͡ʃʼəbza	ӏункӏыбз	ʔʷənt͡ʃʼəbz
day after tomorrow	нэущымыщкӏь	nawɕəməʃkʲʼ	неущымыкӏ	najwɕəmət͡ʃʼ	пщэдей	pɕadaj
to wink	енэкӏьэон	janakʲʼawan	енэкӏэон	janat͡ʃʼawan	енэкӏэуэн	janat͡ʃʼawan
beard	жакӏьэ	ʒaːkʲʼa	жакӏэ	ʒaːt͡ʃʼa	жьакӏэ	ʑaːt͡ʃʼa
poor	тхьэмыщкӏь	tħaməɕkʲʼ	тхьамыкӏ	tħaːmət͡ʃʼ	тхьэмыщкӏэ	tħaməɕt͡ʃʼa
to be ashamed	укӏьытэн	wəkʲʼətan	укӏытэн	wət͡ʃʼətan	укӏытэн	wət͡ʃʼətan

Retroflex affricates

The retroflex affricate consonants чъ [ʈʂ] and чӏ [ʈʂʼ] (that exist in Chemguy and Bzhedug dialects) merged with the palato-alveolar affricate consonants ч [t͡ʃ] and кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] in the Shapsug and Natukhai dialects.[7]

• Chemguy чъ [ʈʂ] became ч [t͡ʃ] in Shapsug :

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
tree	чыг	t͡ʃəɣ	чъыгы	ʈʂəɣə	жыг	ʒəɣ
to sleep	чыен	t͡ʃəjan	чъыен	ʈʂəjan	жыен	ʒəjan
cold	чыӏэ	t͡ʃəʔa	чъыӏэ	ʈʂəʔa	щӏыӏэ	ɕʼəʔa
to run	чэн	t͡ʃan	чъэн	ʈʂan	жэн	ʒan
to run down	ечэхын	jat͡ʃaxən	ечъэхын	jaʈʂaxən	ежэхын	jaʒaxən
goat	ачэ	aːt͡ʃa	ачъэ	aːʈʂa	ажэ	aːʒa
number	пчагъэ	pt͡ʃaːʁa	пчъагъэ	pʈʂaːʁa	бжагъэ	bʒaːʁa
door	пчэ	pt͡ʃa	пчъэ	pʈʂa	бжэ	bʒa
door handle	пчэпсы	pt͡ʃapsə	пчъэпсы	pʈʂapsə	бжэпсы	bʒapsə

• Chemguy чӏ [ʈʂʼ] became кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] in Shapsug :

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
stands under	кӏэт	t͡ʃʼat	чӏэт	ʈʂʼat	щӏэт	ɕʼat
sits under	кӏэс	t͡ʃʼas	чӏэс	ʈʂʼas	щӏэс	ɕʼas
lies under	кӏэлъ	t͡ʃʼaɬ	чӏэлъ	ʈʂʼaɬ	щӏэлъ	ɕʼaɬ
area	кӏыпӏэ	t͡ʃʼəpʼa	чӏыпӏэ	ʈʂʼəpʼa	щӏыпӏэ	ɕʼəpʼa
debt	кӏыфэ	t͡ʃʼəfa	чӏыфэ	ʈʂʼəfa	щӏыхуэ	ɕʼəxʷa
earth	кӏыгу	t͡ʃʼəɡʷ	чӏыгу	ʈʂʼəɡʷ	щӏыгу	ɕʼəɡʷ
bottom	кӏэ	t͡ʃʼa	чӏэ	ʈʂʼa	щӏэ	ɕʼa
strong, force	кӏуакӏэ	kʷʼaːt͡ʃʼa	кӏуачӏэ	kʷʼaːʈʂʼa	кӏуащӏэ	kʷʼaːɕʼa
iron	гъукӏы	ʁʷət͡ʃʼə	гъучӏы	ʁʷəʈʂʼə	гъущӏы	ʁʷəɕʼə
daw	къуакӏэ	qʷaːt͡ʃʼa	къуанчӏэ	qʷaːnʈʂʼa	къуанщӏэ	qʷaːnɕʼa
bumblebee	кӏыбжь	t͡ʃʼəbʑ	чӏыбжь	ʈʂʼəbʑ	щӏыбжь	ɕʼəbʑ
badger	кӏыкъо	t͡ʃʼəqʷa	чӏыкъу	ʈʂʼəqʷ	щӏыкъу	ɕʼəqʷ
dark	кӏапсӏэ	t͡ʃʼaːpsʼa	чӏапцӏэ	ʈʂʼaːpt͡sʼa	щӏапцӏэ	ɕʼaːpt͡sʼa
to ask	упкӏэн	wəpt͡ʃʼan	упчӏэн	wəpʈʂʼan	упщӏэн	wəpɕʼan
gem, jewel	мыкӏы	mət͡ʃʼə	мычӏы	məʈʂʼə	мыщӏы	məɕʼə
clew	хъукӏанэ	χʷət͡ʃʼaːna	хъучӏанэ	χʷəʈʂʼaːna	хъущӏанэ	χʷəɕʼaːna
to bury	кӏэтӏэн	t͡ʃʼatʼan	чӏэтӏэн	ʈʂʼatʼan	щӏэтӏэн	ɕʼatʼan

Dropped consonants

In the Great Shapsug dialect (Like Bzhedug dialect) in some cases the consonants н [n], м [m] and р [r] are dropped and are not pronounced.[8]

• The consonant м [m] is dropped before bilabial stops б [b], п [p], пӏ [pʼ] :

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
calm	сабыр	saːbər	самбыр	saːmbər	самбыр	saːmbər
Saturday	шэбэт	ʃabat	шэмбэт	ʃambat	щэбэт	ɕabat
finger	ӏэпхъабэ	ʔapχaːba	ӏэхъуамбэ	ʔaχʷaːmba	ӏэпхъуамбэ	ʔapχʷaːmba
toe	лъэпхъабэ	ɬapχaːba	лъэхъуамбэ	ɬaχʷaːmba	лъэпхъуамбэ	ɬapχʷaːmba
wide	шъуабгъо	ʃʷaːbʁʷa	шъуамбгъо	ʃʷaːmbʁʷa	фабгъуэ	faːbʁʷa
peel	шъуапӏэ	ʃʷaːpʼa	шъуампӏэ	ʃʷaːmpʼa	фампӏэ	faːmpʼa
board	пхъэбгъу	pχabʁʷ	пхъэмбгъу	pχambʁʷ	пхъэбгъу	pχabʁʷ
worm	хьэблыу	ħabləw	хьамлыу	ħaːmɮəw	хьэмбылыу	ħambəɮəw

• The consonant н [n] is dropped before postalveolar affricates дж [d͡ʒ], ч [t͡ʃ], кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] and before alveolar stops д [d], т [t], тӏ [tʼ] :

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
egg	кӏьакӏьэ	kʲʼaːkʲʼa	кӏэнкӏэ	t͡ʃant͡ʃa	джэдыкӏэ	d͡ʒadət͡ʃʼa
sweat	пкӏатӏэ	pt͡ʃʼaːtʼa	пкӏантӏэ	pt͡ʃʼaːntʼa	пщӏантӏэ	pɕʼaːntʼa
broom	пхъэкӏыпхъэ	pχat͡ʃʼəpχa	пхъэнкӏыпхъэ	pχant͡ʃʼəpχa	жыхапхъэ	ʒəxaːpχa
mud	псыжъы	psəʐə	псынжъы	psənʐə
flue pipe	оджэкъ	wad͡ʒaq	онджэкъ	wand͡ʒaq
rice	пыдж	pəd͡ʒ	пындж	pənd͡ʒ	пынжь	pənʑ
pillow	шъхьатэ	ʂħaːta	шъхьантэ	ʂħaːnta	щхьэнтэ	ɕħanta
bean	гьэч	ɡʲat͡ʃ	джэнчы	d͡ʒant͡ʃə	джэш	d͡ʒaʃ
pants	гъочэгь	ʁʷaʃaɡʲ	гъончэдж	ʁʷant͡ʃad͡ʒ	гъуэншэдж	ʁʷanʃad͡ʒ
fast	псыкӏэ	psət͡ʃʼa	псынкӏэ	psənt͡ʃʼa	псынщӏэ	psənɕʼa
shovel	хьацэ	ħaːt͡sa	хьанцэ	ħaːnt͡sa	хьэнцэ	ħant͡sa
blue	шъухъуатӏэ	ʃʷχʷaːtʼa	шхъуантӏэ	ʃχʷaːntʼa	шхъуантӏэ	ʃχʷaːntʼa
key	ӏукӏьыбзэ	ʔʷəkʲʼəbza	ӏункӏыбзэ	ʔʷənt͡ʃəbza	ӏункӏыбзэ	ʔʷənt͡ʃəbza
vein	лъытфэ	ɬətfa	лъынтфэ	ɬəntfa	лъынтхуэ	ɬəntxʷa
heavy	отэгъу	wataʁʷ	онтэгъу	wantaʁʷ	уэндэгъу	wandaʁʷ
knee	лъэгуаджэ	ɬaɡʷaːd͡ʒa	лъэгуанджэ	ɬaɡʷaːnd͡ʒa	лъэгуажьэ	ɬaɡʷaːʑa
butterfly	хьэтӏрэпӏый	ħatˈrapˈəj	хьэнтӏэрэпӏый	ħantˈarapˈəj	хьэндырабгъуэ	ħandəraːbʁʷa
noise	жъот	ʒʷat	жъонт	ʒʷant
peanuts	чӏыдэ	t͡ʃʼəda	чӏындэ	t͡ʃʼənda	щӏыдэ	ɕʼəda
wrong	пхэдж	pxad͡ʒ	пхэндж	pxand͡ʒ	пхэнж	pxandʒ
chair	пхъэтӏэкӏу	pχatʼakʷʼ	пхъэнтӏэкӏу	pχantʼakʷʼ	пхъэнтӏэкӏу	pχantʼakʷʼ
slim	гъолагъэ	ʁʷalaːʁa	гъонлагъэ	ʁʷanɮaːʁa	-	-
to crawl	цӏэлъэн	t͡sʼaɬan	цӏэнлъэн	t͡sʼanɬan	-	-
to loose	лэлэн	ɮaɮan	лэнлэн	ɮanɮan	лэлэн	ɮaɮan
to spit	ужъутхэн	wəʒʷətxan	ужъунтхэн	wəʒʷəntxan	убжьытхэн	wəbʑətxan
to load	узэдын	wəzadən	узэндын	wəzandən	узэдын	wəzadən
glue	пцатхьэ	pt͡saːtħa	пцантхьэ	pt͡saːntħa	-	-

• The consonant р [r] is dropped before a voiceless alveolar stop т [t] :

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
corn	натыф	naːtəf	натрыф	naːtrəf	нартыху	naːrtəxʷ
Nart	нат	naːt	нарт	naːrt	нарт	naːrt
gender	фыкъо	fəqʷa	фыркъо	fərqʷa	хукхъуэ	xʷərqχʷa
marj	мадж	maːd͡ʒ	мардж	maːrd͡ʒ	марж	maːrʒ
to crush	пӏытӏын	pʼətʼən	пӏыртӏын	pʼərtʼən
to ripen	тӏыгъон	tʼəʁʷan	тӏыргъон	tʼərʁʷan	тӏыгъуэн	tʼəʁʷan
frog	хьантӏыкъуакъу	ħaːntʼəqʷaːqʷ	хьантӏаркъу	ħaːntʼarqʷ	хьэндыркъуакъуэ	ħandərqʷaːqʷa

Aspirated consonants

In the Shapsug dialect (Like the Bzhedug dialect) there exist a series of aspirated consonants (/pʰ/ /tʰ/ /ʃʰ/ /t͡sʰ/ /t͡ʃʰ/ /t͡ʂʰ/ /t͡ɕʰʷ/ /kʲʰ/ /kʰʷ/ /qʰ/ /qʰʷ/) that became plain consonants in other dialects:[9][10]

• Shapsug пʰ [pʰ] ↔ п [p] in other dialects :

Word	Adyghe				Kabardian
	Shapsug		Temirgoy and Abzakh
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
sharp	pʰaːpsʼa	пʰапсӏэ	paːpt͡sʼa	папцӏэ	paːpsʼa	paːpt͡sʼa
arrogant	pʰaːɣa	пʰагэ	paːɣa	пагэ	paːɣa	пагэ
nose	pʰa	пʰэ	pa	пэ	pa	пэ

• Shapsug тʰ [tʰ] ↔ т [t] in other dialects :

Word	Adyghe				Kabardian
	Shapsug		Temirgoy and Abzakh
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
respect	pχaːtʰa	пхъатʰэ	pχaːta	пхъатэ	-	-
to give	jatʰən	етʰын	jatən	етын	jatən	етын
to take	ʃtʰan	штʰэн	ʃtan	штэн	ɕtan	щтэн
on	tʰajt	тʰет	tajt	тет	tat	тет
smooth	t͡sʼaːʂʷtʰa	цӏашъутʰэ	t͡sʼaːʃʷta	цӏашъутэ	t͡sʼaːfta	цӏафтэ
to afraid	ɕtʰan	щтʰэн	ɕtan	щтэн	ɕtan	щтэн
pillow	ʂħaːntʰa	шъхьантʰэ	ʂħaːnta	шъхьантэ	ɕħaːta	щхьатэ

• Shapsug цʰ [t͡sʰ] ↔ ц [t͡s] in other dialects :

Word	Adyghe				Kabardian
	Shapsug		Temirgoy and Abzakh
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
wool	t͡sʰə	цʰы	t͡sə	цы	t͡sə	цы
eyelash	nabzət͡sʰ	нэбзыцʰ	nabzət͡s	нэбзыц	-	-

• Shapsug шʰ [ʃʰ] ↔ щ [ɕ] in other Adyghe dialects :

Word	Adyghe				Kabardian
	Shapsug		Temirgoy and Abzakh
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
milk	ʃʰa	шʰэ	ɕa	щэ	ʃa	шэ
lame	ɬaːʃʰa	лъашʰэ	ɬaːɕa	лъащэ	ɬaːʃa	лъашэ
salt	ʃʰəʁʷ	шʰыгъу	ɕəʁʷ	щыгъу	ʃəʁʷ	шыгъу
cloud	pʃʰa	пшʰэ	pɕa	пщэ	pʃa	пшэ
pus	ʃʰənə	шʰыны	ɕənə	щыны	ʃən	шын
accordion	pʃʰəna	пшʰынэ	pɕəna	пщынэ	pʃəna	пшынэ
fat	pʃʰarə	пшʰэры	pɕarə	пщэры	pʃar	пшэр
wax	ʃʰafə	шʰэфы	ʃafə	шэфы	ʃaxʷə	шэху
horse	ʃʰə	шʰы	ʃə	шы	ʃə	шы
sand	pʃʰaːχʷa	пшʰахъо	pʃaːχʷa	пшахъо	pʃaːχʷa	пшахъуэ
story	pʃʰəsa	пшʰысэ	pʃəsa	пшысэ	pʃəsa	пшысэ

• Shapsug кь [kʲ] ↔ ч [t͡ʃ] in other dialects (чʰ [t͡ʃʰ] in Bzhedug) :

Word	Adyghe				Kabardian
	Shapsug		Temirgoy and Abzakh
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
spleen	kʲʰa	кьʰэ	t͡ʃa	чэ	t͡ʃa	чэ
brushwood twig	kʲʰə	кьʰы	t͡ʃə	чы	t͡ʃə	чы
to cough	pskʲʰan	пскьʰэн	pst͡ʃan	псчэн	pst͡ʃan	псчэн

• Shapsug кʰу [kʰʷ] ↔ ку [kʷ] in other dialects :

Word	Adyghe				Kabardian
	Shapsug		Temirgoy and Abzakh
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
middle	kʰʷə	кʰу	kʷə	ку	kʷə	ку
thigh	kʰʷa	кʰо	kʷa	ко	kʷa	куэ

• Shapsug къʰ [qʰ] ↔ къ [q] in other Adyghe dialects :

Word	Adyghe								Kabardian
	Shapsug		Kfar Kama		Natukhai		Temirgoy and Abzakh
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
grave	qʰa	къʰэ	χa	хъэ	q͡χa	кхъэ	qa	къэ	q͡χa	кхъэ

• Shapsug къуʰ [qʰʷ] ↔ къу [qʷ] in other Adyghe dialects :

Word	Adyghe								Kabardian
	Shapsug		Kfar Kama		Natukhai		Temirgoy and Abzakh
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
pig	qʰʷa	къʰо	χʷa	хъо	q͡χʷa	кхъо	qʷa	къо	q͡χʷa	кхъуэ
cheese	qʰʷaːja	къʰуае	χʷaːja	хъуае	q͡χʷaːja	кхъуае	qʷaːja	къуае	q͡χʷaj	кхъуей
ship	qʰʷaħ	къʰохь	qʷaħ	къохь	-	-	qʷəħa	къухьэ	q͡χʷəħ	кхъухь
to fart	qaqʰʷəʃʷən	къэкъʰушъун	qʷaχʷəʃʷən	къэхъушъун	-	-	qʷaqʷəʃʷən	къэкъушъун	qat͡səfən	къэцыфын
peer	qʰʷəʐə	къʰужъы	qʷəʐə	къужъы	-	-	qʷəʐə	къужъы	q͡χʷəʑə	кхъужьы

• Shapsug чъʰу [t͡ɕʰʷ] ↔ чу [t͡ʃʷ] (spelled цу) in Temirgoy:

Word	Adyghe				Kabardian
	Shapsug		Temirgoy
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
jungle/bushy area	t͡ɕʰʷənə	чъʰуны	t͡ʃʷənə	цуны	fən	фын

Others

In some Shapsug and Natukhai dialects there exist an alveolar ejective fricative [sʼ] ⟨сӏ⟩ that correspond to [t͡sʼ] ⟨цӏ⟩ in other dialects such as Abzakh, Bzhedug, Temirgoy, and Kabardian.[11]

• Shapsug сӏ [sʼ] ↔ цӏ [t͡sʼ] in other dialects:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
name	сӏэ	sʼa	цӏэ	t͡sʼa	цӏэ	t͡sʼa
lie	псӏы	psʼə	пцӏы	pt͡sʼə	пцӏы	pt͡sʼə
black	шӏусӏэ	ʃʷʼəsʼa	шӏуцӏэ	ʃʷʼət͡sʼa	фӏыцӏэ	fʼət͡sʼa
to yell	сӏэсӏэн	sʼasʼan	цӏэцӏэн	t͡sʼat͡sʼan	цӏэцӏэн	t͡sʼat͡sʼan
naked	псӏанэ	psʼaːna	пцӏанэ	pt͡sʼaːna	пцӏанэ	pt͡sʼaːna
wet	сӏынэ	sʼəna	цӏынэ	t͡sʼəna	цӏынэ	t͡sʼəna
sharp	папсӏэ	paːpsʼa	папцӏэ	paːpt͡sʼa	папцӏэ	paːpt͡sʼa
to lay eggs	кӏьэсӏын	kʲʼəsʼən	кӏэцӏын	t͡ʃʼət͡sʼən	кӏэцӏын	t͡ʃʼət͡sʼən
dark-skinned	къуапсӏэ	qʷaːpsʼa	къуапцӏэ	qʷaːpt͡sʼa	къуапцӏэ	qʷaːpt͡sʼa
nit (louse egg)	сӏакӏьэ	sʼaːkʲʼa	цӏакӏэ	t͡sʼaːt͡ʃʼa	-	-
barefoot	лъапсӏэ	ɬaːpsʼa	лъапцӏэ	ɬaːpst͡sʼa	лъапцӏэ	ɬaːpst͡sʼa
swallow (bird)	псӏашъухъо	psʼaːʃʷχʷa	пцӏашхъо	pt͡sʼaːʃχʷa	пцӏашхъо	pt͡sʼaːɕχʷa
to envy	енэсӏын	janasʼən	енэцӏын	janat͡sʼən	енэцӏын	janat͡sʼən
to close eyes	гъэупӏысӏэн	ʁawpʼəsʼan	гъэупӏыцӏэн	ʁawpʼət͡sʼan	гъэупӏыцӏэн	ʁawpʼət͡sʼan
to throw upon	хэупсӏэн	xawpsʼan	хэупцӏэн	xawpt͡sʼan	хэупцӏэн	xawpt͡sʼan
to shit	сӏын	sʼən	цӏын	t͡sʼən	цӏын	t͡sʼən

The labialized retroflex consonants шъу [ʂʷ] and жъу [ʐʷ] in the Temirgoy dialect are alveolo-palatal щу [ɕʷ] and жьу [ʑʷ] in the Black Sea coast dialects of Adyghe (Shapsug dialect and Natukhai dialect).

• Shapsug щу [ɕʷ] ↔ шъу [ʂʷ] in Standard:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
honey	щоу	ɕʷaw	шъоу	ʂʷaw	фо	faw
color	що	ɕʷa	шъо	ʂʷa	фэ	fa

• Shapsug жьу [ʑʷ] ↔ жъу [ʐʷ] in Standard:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
star	жьуагъо	ʑʷaːʁʷa	жъуагъо	ʐʷaːʁʷa	вагъуэ	vaːʁʷa
rock	мыжьо	məʑʷa	мыжъо	məʐʷa	мывэ	məva
wide	ӏужьу	ʔʷəʑʷə	ӏужъу	ʔʷəʐʷə	ӏувы	ʔʷəvə

The Shapsug and Natukhai dialects has many different variants. The following differences apply to some of them.

• Shapsug с [s] ↔ ц [t͡s] in Standard:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
to carry out	гъэсэкӏэн	ʁasat͡ʃʼan	гъэцэкӏэн	ʁat͡sat͡ʃʼan	гъэзэщӏэн	ʁat͡saɕʼan

• Shapsug шъухъу [ʃʷχʷ] ↔ шхъу [ʃχʷ] in Standard:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
blue	шъухъуатӏэ	ʃʷχʷaːtʼa	шхъуантнӏэ	ʃχʷaːntʼa	шхъуантӏэ	ʃχʷaːntʼa
to envy	шъухъогъон	ʃʷχʷaʁʷan	шхъогъон	ʃχʷaʁʷan	шхъогъуэн	ʃχʷaʁʷan
swallow (bird)	псӏашъухъо	psʼaːʃʷχʷa	пцӏашхъо	pt͡sʼaːʃχʷa	пцӏашхъо	pt͡sʼaːʃχʷa
hawk	бгъашъухъо	bʁaːʃʷχʷa	бгъашхъо	bʁaːʃχʷa	бгъащхъуэ	bʁaːʃχʷa

• Shapsug р [r] ↔ н [n] in Standard:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
wrong	ӏортӏагъ	ʔʷartʼaːʁ	ӏонтӏагъ	ʔʷantʼaːʁ	ӏуэнтӏа	ʔʷantʼa
to pop / to burst	пӏэркӏьын	pʼarkʲʼən	пӏонкӏын	pʷʼant͡ʃʼən	пӏэнкӏын	pʼant͡ʃʼən
mirror	гъургьэ	ʁʷərɡʲa	гъунджэ	ʁʷərd͡ʒa	гъуджэ	ʁʷəd͡ʒa

• Shapsug ф [f] ↔ м [m] in Standard:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
to try to smell	фэмэн	faman	пэмэн	paman	пэмэн	paman
race	зэфачэ	zafaːt͡ʃa	зэпачъэ	zafaːt͡ʂa	зэпажэ	zafaːʒa

• Shapsug ц [t͡s] ↔ с [s] in Standard:

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
to thrust	хицэн	xit͡san	хисэн	xisan	хисэн	xisan
be careful	фэцакъ	fat͡saːq	фэсакъ	fasaːq	хуэсакъ	xʷasaːq
snot	пэпцы	papt͡sə	пэпсы	papsə	пэпсы	papsə
thin	пцыгъо	pt͡səʁʷa	псыгъо	psəʁʷa	псыгъуэ	psəʁʷa

Grammar differences

Instrumental case

In the instrumental case the noun has the suffix -мгьэ (-mɡʲa) or -гьэ (-gʲa) unlike other dialects that has the suffix -мкӏэ (-mt͡ʃa) or -кӏэ (-t͡ʃa).

• Shapsug: Кӏалэр Адыгэбзэгьэ мэгущаӏэ ↔ Standard: Кӏалэр Адыгэбзэкӏэ мэгущаӏэ - "The boy speaks (using) Adyghe language".
• Shapsug: Къэлэмымгьэ сэтхэ ↔ Standard: Къэлэмымкӏэ сэтхэ - "I write (using) with the pencil".

Desirement mood

In the Shapsug dialect, the suffix ~рагъу /raːʁʷ/ is added to verbs to indicate the desirement to do that verb. For example:

• Туканым сыкӏорагъу - "I want to go to the shop".
• Есыпӏэм рэкӏорэгъуагъ - "(S)he wanted to go to the pool".
• Къэкӏорэгъот кӏалэр - "The boy would want to come".
• Тутын уешъорагъуа? - "Do you want to smoke cigarette?".
• Нэущы уздэгущаӏэрагъу - "I want to speak with you tomorrow".
• Сышхэрагъу игь - "I want to eat now".

Upward prefix

In Standard Adyghe, to express that the verb's direction is upward, the prefix дэ- /da-/ and the suffix -е /-ja/ is added to the verb. In Shapsug dialect, the prefix чӏэ- /t͡ʃʼa-/ is added instead.

Meaning	Standard Adyghe		Shapsug
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
to go upward	дэкӏоен	dakʷʼajan	чӏыкӏьын	t͡ʃʼəkʲʼən
to run upward	дэчъэен	dat͡ʂajan	чӏышъутын	t͡ʃʼəʃʷtən
to look upward	дэплъыен	dapɬəjan	чӏыплъын	t͡ʃʼəpɬən
to jump upward	дэпкӏыен	dapt͡ʃʼəjan	чӏыпкӏьын	t͡ʃʼəpkʲʼən
to raise	дэщыен	daɕəjan	чӏыщын	t͡ʃʼəɕən
to carry upward	дэхьыен	daħəjan	чӏыхын	t͡ʃʼəxən
to fly upward	дэбыбыен	dabəbəjan	чӏыбыбын	t͡ʃʼəbəbən
to throw upward	дедзыен	dajd͡zəjan	чӏыдзын	t͡ʃʼəd͡zən
to shoot upward	дэоен	dawajan	чӏыун	t͡ʃʼəwən
to elevate	дэгъэкӏоен	daʁakʷʼajan	чӏыгъэкӏьын	t͡ʃʼəʁakʲʼən

Demonstratives

Shapsug has six demonstratives: а /ʔaː/, гьэ /ɡʲa/, у /wə/, дыу /dəwə/, дымы /dəmə/ and мы /mə/.

а /ʔaː/

1. that

   а ӏанэ — that table

   а пшъашъэ — that girl

   а кӏалэм еӏо — that boy is saying

• The determiner 'а' /ʔaː/ refer to a referent that is far away and invisible to both the speaker and the listener(s). It is similar to the English language determiner that, but with the condition that the referent has to be invisible or far away.

у /wə/ (мо /mo/ in other dialects)

1. that

   у ӏанэ — that table

   у пшъашъэ — that girl

   у кӀалэм еӀо — that boy is saying

• The determiner 'у' refer to a referent that is visible and in a known distance from both the speaker and the listener(s) (both the speaker and the listener(s) can see the referent). It is similar to the English language determiner that, but with the condition that the referent has to be visible.

мы /mə/

1. this

   мы ӏанэ — this table

   мы пшъашъэ — this girl

   мы кӀалэм еӀо — this boy is saying

   мы мэгъэ — this year

• The determiner 'мы' refer to a referent that is close to both the speaker and the listener(s). It is exactly like the English language determiner this.

дыу /dəwə/ (дымо /dəmo/ in other dialects)

1. that (over there)

   дыу ӏанэ — that table over there

   дыу пшъашъэ — that girl over there

   дыу кӀалэм еӀо — that boy over there is saying

   дыу цӀыфэр улъэгъуа? — Do you see that person over there?

• The determiner 'дыу' refer to a referent that is visible. This determiner is used when the speaker wants to emphasizes that the object is in his sight, so that the listener(s) will expect the referent to be the thing (s)he looks at. It is usually used to introduce a new referent, for example it can be used to refer to a stranger on the street or to refer to a certain object on the field that is visible. This determiner might be used while pointing one's finger at the people or objects in question.

дымы /dəmə/

1. this (over here)

   дымы ӏанэ — this table over here

   дымы пшъашъэ — this girl over here

   дымы кӀалэм еӀо — this boy over here is saying

   дымы цӀыфэр улъэгъуа? — Do you see this person over here?

• The determiner 'дымы' refer to a referent that is visible. This determiner is similar to the determiner дымо. This is used instead of дымо when the referent is very near. Like the determiner дымо, it might be used while pointing one's finger at the referent in question. Even without pointing fingers the listener(s) will expect the referent to be the thing the speaker looks at. It can be used to point on objects in a room for example.

гьэ /gʲa/ (гьэ джэ /d͡ʒa/ in other dialects)

1. that

   гьэ ӏанэ — that table

   гьэ пшъашъэ — that girl

   гьэ кӏалэм еӏо — that boy is saying

• The determiner 'гьэ' refer to a referent which is usually invisible. This determiner is used when the referent in the conversation is clear to both the speaker and the listener(s). Someone would use this determiner in order to emphasizes that both he and the listener(s) have the same referent in mind.

У vs. Мо

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Kabardian
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
that (abs.)	ур	wər	мор	mawr	мор	mawr
that (erg.)	ущ	wəɕ	мощ	mawɕ	мобы	mawbə
using that	ущгьэ	wəɕɡʲa	мощкӏэ	mawɕt͡ʃʼa	-	-
like that	ущтэу	wəɕtaw	мощтэу	mawɕaw	мопхуэдэу	mawpxʷadaw
that is it	уары	waːrə	моры	mawrə	мораш	mawraːɕ
there	удэ	wəda	модэ	mawda	модэ	mawda
there	оу	waw	моу	maw	-	-
other	удрэ	wədra	модрэ	mawdra	модрэ	mawdra
then	ущгъум	wəɕʁʷəm	мощгъум	mawɕʁʷəm	-	-
like that	ущфэд	wəɕfad	мощфэд	maɕfad	мопхуэд	mawpxʷad

Sample

English	Shapsug	Standard Adyghe
Did you heard how that boy speaks? the one standing there, that is the dialect I referred to. We don't talk like that, the way that person is speaking is like how they speak in Caucasus.	у кӏалэр зэрэгущаӏэрэр оӏугъа? удэ ӏутыр, уары диалектэу зыфэсӏуагъагъэр. Тэ ущтэу тыгущаӏэрэп, ур зэрэгущаӏэрэр къэфкъазымгьэ зэрэгущаӏэхэрэмэ яфэд.	мо кӏалэр зэрэгущыӏэрэр оӏугъа? модэ ӏутыр, моры диалектэу зыфэсӏуагъагъэр. Тэ мощтэу тыгущыӏэрэп, мор зэрэгущыӏэрэр къэфкъазымкӏэ зэрэгущаӏэхэрэмэ афэд.

Future tense

In the Great Shapsug sub dialect (like Bzhedug) the future tense suffix is ~эт (~at) and in some cases ~ыт (~ət) unlike the Small Shapsug sub dialect that has (like Chemirguy) the Suffix ~щт (~ɕt)).

Word	Adyghe						Standard Kabardian
	Small Shapsug		Great Shapsug		Standard Adyghe
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
I will go	səkʷʼaɕt	сыкӏощт	səkʷʼat	сыкӏот	səkʷʼaɕt	сыкӏощт	səkʷʼanəwɕ	сыкӏуэнущ
you will go	wəkʷʼaɕt	укӏощт	wəkʷʼat	укӏот	wəkʷʼaɕt	укӏощт	wəkʷʼanəwɕ	укӏуэнущ
he will go	raʷʼaɕt	рэкӏощт	rakʷʼat	рэкӏот	kʷʼaɕt	кӏощт	kʷʼanəwɕ	кӏуэнущ
we will go	təkʷʼaɕt	тыкӏощт	təkʷʼat	тыкӏот	təkʷʼaɕt	тыкӏощт	dəkʷʼanəwɕ	дыкӏуэнущ
you (plural) will go	ʃʷəkʷʼaɕt	шъукӏощт	ʃʷəkʷʼat	шъукӏот	ʃʷəkʷʼaɕt	шъукӏощт	fəkʷʼanəwɕ	фыкӏуэнущ
they will go	rakʷʼaɕtəx	рэкӏощтых	rakʷʼatəx	рэкӏотых	kʷʼaɕtəx	кӏощтых	jaːkʷʼanəwɕ	якӏуэнущ

Interrogative words

The word "what" in Standard Adyghe is сыд while in Shapsug it is шъыд and from it derives different terms.

Word	Adyghe
	Great Shapsug		Small Shapsug
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
what	ʂəd	шъыд	səd	сыд
why	ʂədaː	шъыда	sədaː	сыда
when	ʂədʁʷa, ʂədəjʁʷa	шъыдгъо, шъыдигъо	sədəjʁʷa	сыдигъо
whenever	ɕədʁʷaməj	шъыдгъоми	sədəjʁʷaməj	сыдигъоми
so	ʂtaw	шъыдэу	sədaw	сыдэу
with what	ʂədɡʲa	шъыдгьэ	sədt͡ʃʼa	сыдкӏэ
how	ʂədawɕtaw	шъыдэущтэу	sədawɕtaw	сыдэущтэу
how much	ʂəd fadəjz	шъыд фэдиз	səd fadəjz	сыд фэдиз
how much	ʂədəχaːt	шъыдыхъат	-	-
always	ʂədəʁʷəj	шъыдгъуи	sədəʁʷəj	сыдигъуи

Shapsug has two words for "what":

• шъыд (Refers to an inanimate object, typically tangible).
• лӏэу (Refers to an inanimate object, typically intangible).

The word "лӏэу" was lost in other Adyghe dialects. In Shapsug, from it derives different terms :

Word	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
what	ɬʼaw	лӏэу	səd	сыд
who, what	ɬʼawʑəm	лӏэужьым	sədəm	сыдым
what on earth?!	ɬʼawəʑ	лӏэужь	səd	сыд
what could it be?	ɬʼawɕət	лӏэужьыщт	sədəɕt	сыдыщт
with what	ɬʼawəʑəɡʲa	лӏэужьыгьэ	sədt͡ʃʼa	сыдкӏэ
whatever	ɬʼawəʑəʁʷaməj	лӏэужыгъоми	səd ɬʼawəʑəʁʷaməj	сыд лӏэужыгъоми
whatever	ɬʼawəʑəməj	лӏэужьыми	sədməj	сыдми
whatever	ɬʼawəʑaw	лӏэужьэу	sədaw	сыдэу

Shapsugs also have different interrogative words from the word тэ "which":

Word	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
like what	taɕfad	тэщ фэд	səd fad	сыд фэд
how much	taɕ fadəz	тэщ фэдиз	səd fadəz	сыд фэдиз
when	taɕʁʷəm	тэщгъум	sədəjʁʷa	сыдигъо
how	taɕtaw	тэщтэу	sədawɕtaw	сыдэущтэу
which one	taːrə	тары	sədər	сыдыр
which one	taɕ	тэщ	sədəm	сыдым

Location

Word	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
here	məw, məwɡʲa	мыу, мыугьэ	mət͡ʃʼa	мыкӏэ
there (visible)	waw, wawɡʲa	оу, оугьэ	mot͡ʃʼa	мокӏэ
there (invisible)	aːw, aːwɡʲa	ау, аугьэ	aːt͡ʃʼa	акӏэ
there (emphasis)	ɡʲaw, ɡʲawɡʲa	гьэу, гьэугьэ	d͡ʒət͡ʃʼa	джэкӏэ
where	taw, tawɡʲa	тэу, тэугьэ	tət͡ʃʼa	тэкӏэ

Big suffix (~фо)

• The standard Adyghe's suffix -шхо /-ʃxʷa/ which means big or mighty is -фo /-fˠa/ in the Shapsug dialect :

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe		Bzhedugh
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
mighty God	тхьэфo	tħafˠa	тхьэшхо	tħaʃxʷa	тхьэшко	tħaʃkʷa
large house	унэфo	wənafˠa	унэшхо	wənaʃxʷa	унэшко	wənaʃkʷa

Positional prefix directly (джэхэ~)

• The standard Adyghe's positional prefix -жэхэ /-ʒaxa/ which designates action directed at something or someone forcefully is -джэхэ /-d͡ʒaxa/ in the Shapsug dialect :

Meaning	Shapsug		Chemirguy
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
to collide with	джэхэхьэн	d͡ʒaxaħan	жэхэхьэн	ʒaxaħan
to hit someone	джэхэон	d͡ʒaxawan	жэхэон	ʒaxawan
to throw at someone	джэхэдзэн	d͡ʒaxad͡zan	жэхэдзэн	ʒaxad͡zan
to look steadily at	джэхэплъэн	d͡ʒaxapɬan	жэхэплъэн	ʒaxapɬan
to jump on someone for assault	джэхэпкӏьэн	d͡ʒaxapkʲʼan	жэхэпкӏэн	ʒaxapt͡ʃʼan

Positional prefix merging (го~)

• In the Shapsug and Natukhai dialects, the verbal prefix го~ /ɡʷa-/ designates process of joining or merging with an object on a body. This positional conjugation does not exist in other Circassian dialects. for example :

Meaning	Adyghe		Notes
	Cyrillic	IPA
to throw at	годзэн	ɡʷad͡zan	to throw an object on a steed or someone's neck
to merge to	гохьэн	ɡʷaħan	to merge with an object
to look at	гоплъэн	ɡʷapɬan	to look at a steed or someone's neck
to fit at to fall at	гофэн	ɡʷafan	to fit on a steed or someone's neck an object to fall on a steed or someone's neck
to take from	гохын	ɡʷaxən	to take an object a steed or someone's neck
to come down from	гокӏын	ɡʷat͡ʃʼən	to get off a steed or someone's neck
to put at	голъхьэн	ɡʷaɬħan	to put an object on a steed or someone's neck
to stand on	гоуцон	ɡʷawt͡sʷan	to beat up someone
to fall from	гозын	ɡʷazən	to fall from the body of something or someone

цум	бжъитӏу	гот
цу-м	бжъ-итӏу	го-т
[t͡sʷəm	bʐəjtʷʼ	ɡʷat]
ox (erg.)	two horns	it have on his body
"the ox have two horns."

шыор	шым	гос
шыо-р	шы-м	го-с
[ʃəwar	ʃəm	ɡʷas]
the horseman (abs.)	horse (erg.)	(s)he is sitting on a body
"the horseman is sitting on the horse."

лӏыжъым	зылъакъо	готэп
лӏыжъы-м	зы-лъакъо	го-тэ-п
[ɬʼəʐəm	zəɬaːqʷa	ɡʷatap]
the old man (erg.)	one leg	(s)he doesn't have on his body
"the old man doesn't have one leg."

шым	зеохьыжьым	кӏалэу	госэр	гозэгъ
шы-м	зеохьы-жь-ым	кӏалэ-у	го-сэ-р	го-зэ-гъ
[ʃəm	zajwaħəʑəm	t͡ʃʼaːɮaw	ɡʷasar	ɡʷazaʁ]
house (erg.)	to get out of control	boy (adv.)	the one on the body	(s)he fell off the body
"when the horse got out of control the boy sitting on it fell."

Vocabulary

Meaning	Shapsug		Standard Adyghe
	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA
all	зэужь, купэ	zawəʑ, kʷəpa	зэкӏэ	zat͡ʃʼa
everyone eveything	псэуми	psawəməj	пстэуми	pstawəməj
to chew	упэшӏын	wəpaʃʼən	гъэунэшкӏун	ʁawnaʃkʷʼən
to push	егукӏэн	jagʷət͡ʃʼan	еӏункӏэн	jaʔʷənt͡ʃʼan
funny	гушӏуагъэ	gʷəʃʷʼaːʁa	щхэны	ɕxanə
to laugh	гушӏон	gʷəʃʷʼan	щхын	ɕxən
to smile	гушӏопсӏын	gʷəʃʷʼapsʼənn	щхыпцӏын	ɕxəpt͡sʼən
to get sad	зэгожъын	zagʷaʐən	нэшхъэин	naʃχanjən
to laugh at	щыгушӏукӏьн	ɕʷgʷəʃʷʼəkʲʼəən	дэхьащхын	daħaːɕxən
to unbuckle	гъэтӏэпкӏьын	ʁatʼapkʲʼən	птӏэтэн	ptʼatan
to lower	гъэшъхъын	ʁaʂχən	-	-
walnut	дэ	da	дэшхо	daʃxʷa
back of the neck	дий	dəj	пшъэб	pʂab
drum	даулэ домбаз	dawəla dawmbaz	шъондырып	ʃʷandərəp
to fall down	етӏэрэхын	jatʼaraxən	ефэхын	jafaxən
to arrange	зэгъэфэн	zaʁafan	гъэкӏэрэкӏэн	ʁat͡ʃʼarat͡ʃʼan
smell	гъуамэ	ʁʷaːma	мэ	ma
stairs	лъэугъуае	ɬawʁʷaːja	лъэой	ɬawaj
bucket	къуао	qʷaːwa	щалъ	ɕaːɬ
to left (left over)	къыдэфэн	qədafan	къэнэжьын	qanaʑən
thorn	къэцы	qat͡sə	панэ	paːna
axe	майтэ	maːjta	отыч	watət͡ʃ
apple	мые	məja	мыӏэрыс	məʔarəs
intestine	ныпсӏэ	nəpsʼa	кӏэтӏэй	t͡ʃatʼaj
flower	нэкъыгъэ	naqəʁa	къэгъагъэ	qaʁaːʁa
to plant	тӏэн	tʼan	гъэтӏысын	ʁatʼəsən
big	фуэ	fwa	шхо	ʃxʷa
tip	цыпэ	t͡səpa	-	-
to crawl	цӏэлъэн	t͡sʼaɬan	пшын	pʃən
to breath	фэпщэн	fapɕən	жьы къэщэн	ɕə qaɕan
sharp	чыян	t͡ʃʼəjaːn	чан	t͡ʃʼaːn
coward	щтапхэ	ɕtaːpxa	къэрабгъэ	qaraːbʁa
to block a hole	шъыбын	ʂəbənto	-	-
jug	шъхьахъу	ʂħaːχʷ	къошын	qʷaʃən
small thing	шъхъэ	ʂχa	жъгъэй	ʐʁaj
soft	щынэ	ɕəna	шъабэ	ʂaːba
clabber	щэгъэпсӏагъ	ɕaʁapsʼaːʁ	щхыу	ɕa
milk	щэзэн	ɕazan	щэ	ɕa
bag; sack	щэуалэ	ɕawaːɮa	дзыо; къапщыкъ	d͡zəwa; qapɕəq
ships	хьаджыгъэпс	ħaːd͡ʒəʁaps	щыпс	ɕəps
mataz	мэтазэ	mataːza	псыхьалыжъо	psəħaːɮəʒʷa

Sample text

Псэкӏодишъэ Зыгъэхъагъэр :

Сэтэнай-гуащэ ныо рэхъугъэу, е ыкӏуакӏэ къыщыкӏагъэу, е ынэгу зэлъагъэу цӏыф къыӏуатэу хэти зэхихыгъэп. Зэхихына, — Сэтэнае егъашӏи жъы рэхъугъэп! Мыӏэрысэм ыку фыжьэу тхъу сӏынэм фэдэр ынэгу щифэти; — фыжьыбзэу, ышъо жъыутэхэу къабзэу, моу укъищэу рэхъущтыгъэ; ышъуапӏэ ыжъоу, ащ ыпс ригъашъорэр — ыгугьэ кьэфэу, хьалэлэу, гукӏьегъуфо хэлъэу ышӏэущтыгъ. Ащ фэдэ мыӏэрысэ Нат ябын зэриӏэр Емынэжъ ышӏагъ.; Арыти, нэшъоу зишӏи, лъащэу зишӏи Сэтэнай-гуащэ дэжь къэкӏуагъ.

— Сэтэнай! — ыӏуи къегьагъ Емынэжъ,

— Шъыд? — ыӏожьыгъ Сэтэнае,

— Слъакъомэ сахьыжьырэп, сынэмэ алъэгъужьырэп, сшъхьэ акъыл чыян илъыжьэп, сыгугьэ мэхъаджэ сыхъугъ, гъашӏэу къысфэнэжьыгъэри макӏэ. Джэуап къысфэхъу! — ыӏуагъ Емынэжъы. — Уимыӏэрысэфо ищэнсэн сэмышӏэу уенэгуя?!.

— Сэ симыӏэрысэфо ишӏуагъэ къыокӏьыщтэп, — ыӏуагъ Сэтэнай-гуащэ. — О жъалымэгъэ бащэ зэпхьагъ.

ӏэзэгъу къыритыгъэп.

«Ащ ишӏуагъэ сэ къысэмыкӏьынэу щытмэ, шъори къышъозгъэкӏьынэп!» — ыӏуи, чэщ горэм къекӏуашъи Нат ябын идышъэ мыӏэрысэ чыг Емынэжъы риупкӏыгь. А чыгэр яӏагъэемэ, нэпэ къагу натхэр псэоу, тхъэжьэу, жъы рэмыхъухэу щыӏэнхи!.

See also

• Hakuchi Adyghe dialect
• Kfar Kama Adyghe dialect
• Bzhedug Adyghe Dialect
• Abzakh Adyghe dialect
• Baslaney dialect

External links

• Shapsug dialect unique words

References

1. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Shapsug". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
2. Shapsoug dialect Archived 2010-12-28 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
3. Палатализация (смягчение) и аффрикатизация согласных (in Russian)
4. Переднеязычные мягкие шипящие аффрикаты дж, ч, к1 (in Russian)
5. Консонантная система уляпского говора в сопоставлении с аналогами других диалектов адыгских языков (in Russian)
6. Studia Caucasologica I page 11 (in English)
7. Переднеязычные твердые шипящие аффрикаты дж, чъ, ч1 (in Russian)
8. Наращение сонорных согласных (in Russian)
9. Консонантная система уляпского говора в сопоставлении с аналогами других диалектов адыгских языков (in Russian)
10. Studia Caucasologica I (in English)
11. Спирантизация аффрикат (in Russian)