Proto-Circassian language

Proto-Circassian (or Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Adyghean and Kabardian languages.

Proto-Circassian
Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian
Reconstruction of	Circassian languages
Reconstructed ancestor	Proto-Northwest Caucasian

Phonology

Proto‑Circassian East Circassian Kabardian Basleney West Circassian Kuban river Temirgoy Abzakh Bzhedugh Black Sea coast Shapsug Natkhuaja

A Circassian dialects family tree.

The major differences in the Circassian dialects

Consonants

The consonant system is reconstructed with a four-way phonation contrast in stops and affricates, and a two-way contrast in fricatives.

Proto Circassian	Western Circassian					Eastern Circassian
	Proto Western	Shapsug	Bzhedug	Chemgui	Abzakh	Proto Eastern	Besleney	Kabardian
*b ⟨б⟩	*b ⟨б⟩	b ⟨б⟩				*b ⟨б⟩	b ⟨б⟩
*p ⟨п⟩	*p ⟨п⟩	p ⟨п⟩				*b ⟨б⟩	b ⟨б⟩
*pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩	*pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩	pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩		p ⟨п⟩		*p ⟨п⟩	p ⟨п⟩
*pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩	*pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩	pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩				*pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩	pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩
*d ⟨д⟩	*d ⟨д⟩	d ⟨д⟩				*d ⟨д⟩	d ⟨д⟩
*t ⟨т⟩	*t ⟨т⟩	t ⟨т⟩				*d ⟨д⟩	d ⟨д⟩
*tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩	*tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩	tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩		t ⟨т⟩		*t ⟨т⟩	t ⟨т⟩
*tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩	*tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩	tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩				*tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩	tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩
*ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩	*ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩	ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩	d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩			*ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩	ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩	d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩
*kʲ ⟨кь⟩	*kʲ ⟨кь⟩	kʲ ⟨кь⟩	t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩			*ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩	ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩	d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩
*kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩	*kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩	kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩	t͡ʃʰ ⟨чʰ⟩	t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩		*kʲ ⟨кь⟩	kʲ ⟨кь⟩	t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩
*kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩	*kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩	kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩	t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩			*kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩	kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩	t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩
*ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩	*ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩	ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩				*ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩	ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩
*kʷ ⟨ку⟩	*kʷ ⟨ку⟩	kʷ ⟨ку⟩				*ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩	ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩
*kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩	*kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩	kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩		kʷ ⟨ку⟩		*kʷ ⟨ку⟩	kʷ ⟨ку⟩
*kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩	*kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩	kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩				*kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩	kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩
*q ⟨къ⟩	*q ⟨къ⟩	q ⟨къ⟩				*q ⟨къ⟩	q ⟨къ⟩
*qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩	*qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩	qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩		q ⟨къ⟩		*q͡χ ⟨кхъ⟩	q͡χ ⟨кхъ⟩
*qʷ ⟨къу⟩	*qʷ ⟨къу⟩	qʷ ⟨къу⟩				*qʷ ⟨къу⟩	qʷ ⟨къу⟩
*qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩	*qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩	qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩		qʷ ⟨къу⟩		*q͡χʷ ⟨кхъу⟩	q͡χʷ ⟨кхъу⟩
*d͡z ⟨дз⟩	*d͡z ⟨дз⟩	d͡z ⟨дз⟩				*d͡z ⟨дз⟩	d͡z ⟨дз⟩
*t͡s ⟨ц⟩	*t͡s ⟨ц⟩	t͡s ⟨ц⟩				*d͡z ⟨дз⟩	d͡z ⟨дз⟩
*t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩	*t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩	t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩		t͡s ⟨ц⟩		*t͡s ⟨ц⟩	t͡s ⟨ц⟩
*t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩	*t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩	t͡sʼ / sʼ ⟨цӏ / сӏ⟩	t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩			*t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩	t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩
*d͡ʑʷ ⟨джъу⟩	*d͡ʑʷ ⟨джъу⟩	ʑʷ ⟨жьу⟩	ʒʷ ⟨жъу⟩	d͡zʷ ⟨дзу⟩	ʒʷ ⟨жъу⟩	*v ⟨в⟩	v ⟨в⟩
*t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩	*t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩	t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩		t͡sʷ ⟨цу⟩	t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩	*v ⟨в⟩	v ⟨в⟩
*t͡ɕʷʰ ⟨чъʰу⟩	*t͡ɕʷʰ ⟨чъʰу⟩	t͡ɕʷʰ ⟨чъʰу⟩		t͡sʷ ⟨цу⟩	t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩	*f ⟨ф⟩	f ⟨ф⟩
*d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩	*d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩	d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩			ʒ ⟨ж⟩	*d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩	d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩	ʒ ⟨ж⟩
*t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩	*t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩	t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩			ʃ ⟨ш⟩	*d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩	d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩	ʒ ⟨ж⟩
*t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩	*t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩	t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩	t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩		ʂ ⟨шъ⟩	*d͡ʐ ⟨джъ⟩	d͡ʐ ⟨джъ⟩	ʒ ⟨ж⟩
*t͡ʃʰ ⟨чʰ⟩	*ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩	ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩		ʃ ⟨ш⟩		*t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩	t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩	ʃ ⟨ш⟩
*t͡ʂʰ ⟨чʰъ⟩	*ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩	ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩		ʃ ⟨ш⟩		*t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩	t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩	ʃ ⟨ш⟩
*t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩	*t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩	t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩			ɕʼ / ʔʲ ⟨щӏ / ӏ⟩	*t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩	t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩	ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩
*t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩	*t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩	t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩	t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩		ɕʼ / ʔʲ ⟨щӏ / ӏ⟩	*t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩	t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩	ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩
*z ⟨з⟩	*z ⟨з⟩	z ⟨з⟩				*z ⟨з⟩	z ⟨з⟩
*s ⟨с⟩	*s ⟨с⟩	s ⟨с⟩				*s ⟨с⟩	s ⟨с⟩
*ʑ ⟨жь⟩	*ʑ ⟨жь⟩	ʒ ⟨ж⟩	ʑ ⟨жь⟩			*ʑ ⟨жь⟩	ʑ ⟨жь⟩
*ɕ ⟨щ⟩	*ɕ ⟨щ⟩	ʃ ⟨ш⟩	ɕ ⟨щ⟩			*ɕ ⟨щ⟩	ɕ ⟨щ⟩
*ɕʼ ⟨шӏ⟩	*ʃʼ ⟨шӏ⟩	ʃʼ ⟨шӏ⟩				*ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩	ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩
*ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩	*ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩	ʑʷ ⟨жьу⟩	ʐʷ ⟨жъу⟩			*v ⟨в⟩	v ⟨в⟩
*ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩	*ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩	ɕʷ ⟨щу⟩	ʂʷ ⟨шъу⟩			*f ⟨ф⟩	f ⟨ф⟩
*ɕʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩	*ʃʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩	ʃʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩				*fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩	fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩
*ʒ ⟨ж⟩	*ʒ ⟨ж⟩	ʒ ⟨ж⟩				*ʒ ⟨ж⟩	ʒ ⟨ж⟩	ʑ ⟨жь⟩
*ʐ ⟨жъ⟩	*ʐ ⟨жъ⟩	ʐ ⟨жъ⟩				*ʐ ⟨жъ⟩	ʐ ⟨жъ⟩	ʑ ⟨жь⟩
*ʃ ⟨ш⟩	*ʃ ⟨ш⟩	ʃ ⟨ш⟩				*ʃ ⟨ш⟩	ʃ ⟨ш⟩	ɕ ⟨щ⟩
*ʂ ⟨шъ⟩	*ʂ ⟨шъ⟩	ʂ ⟨шъ⟩				*ʂ ⟨шъ⟩	ʂ ⟨шъ⟩	ɕ ⟨щ⟩
*ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩	*ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩	ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩		ʃ ⟨ш⟩		*ʃ ⟨ш⟩	ʃ ⟨ш⟩	ɕ ⟨щ⟩
*ʂʰ ⟨шʰъ⟩	*ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩	ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩		ʃ ⟨ш⟩		*ʂ ⟨шъ⟩	ʂ ⟨шъ⟩	ɕ ⟨щ⟩
*ɮ ⟨л⟩	*ɮ ⟨л⟩	ɮ ⟨л⟩				*ɮ ⟨л⟩	ɮ ⟨л⟩
*ɬ ⟨лъ⟩	*ɬ ⟨лъ⟩	ɬ ⟨лъ⟩				*ɬ ⟨лъ⟩	ɬ ⟨лъ⟩
*ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩	*ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩	ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩				*ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩	t͡ɬʼ ⟨тлӏ⟩	ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩
*ɣ ⟨г⟩	*ɣ ⟨г⟩	ɣ ⟨г⟩				*ɣ ⟨г⟩	ɣ ⟨г⟩
*x ⟨х⟩	*x ⟨х⟩	x ⟨х⟩				*x ⟨х⟩	x ⟨х⟩
*xʷ ⟨ху⟩	*f ⟨ф⟩	f ⟨ф⟩				*xʷ ⟨ху⟩	xʷ ⟨ху⟩
*ʁ ⟨гъ⟩	*ʁ ⟨гъ⟩	ʁ ⟨гъ⟩				*ʁ ⟨гъ⟩	ʁ ⟨гъ⟩
*ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩	*ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩	ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩				*ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩	ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩
*χ ⟨хъ⟩	*χ ⟨хъ⟩	χ ⟨хъ⟩				*χ ⟨хъ⟩	χ ⟨хъ⟩
*χʷ ⟨хъу⟩	*χʷ ⟨хъу⟩	χʷ ⟨хъу⟩				*χʷ ⟨хъу⟩	χʷ ⟨хъу⟩
*ħ ⟨хь⟩	*ħ ⟨хь⟩	ħ ⟨хь⟩				*ħ ⟨хь⟩	ħ ⟨хь⟩
*m ⟨м⟩	*m ⟨м⟩	m ⟨м⟩				*m ⟨м⟩	m ⟨м⟩
*n ⟨н⟩	*n ⟨н⟩	n ⟨н⟩				*n ⟨н⟩	n ⟨н⟩
*r ⟨р⟩	*r ⟨р⟩	r ⟨р⟩				*r ⟨р⟩	r ⟨р⟩
*w ⟨у⟩	*w ⟨у⟩	w ⟨у⟩				*w ⟨у⟩	w ⟨у⟩
*j ⟨й⟩	*j ⟨й⟩	j ⟨й⟩				*j ⟨й⟩	j ⟨й⟩
*ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩	*ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩	ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩				*ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩	ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩
*ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩	*ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩	ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩				*ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩	ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩

Aspirated consonants to plain

In the Proto-Circassian there was a series of aspirated consonants that survived in the Shapsug and Bzhedugh dialect while they became plain consonants in the other dialects.

• pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩ → p ⟨п⟩
• tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ → t ⟨т⟩
• kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ → t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩
• kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩ → kʷ ⟨ку⟩
• qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩ → q ⟨къ⟩
• qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩ → qʷ ⟨къу⟩
• t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ → t͡s ⟨ц⟩
• t͡ɕʷʰ ⟨чʰу⟩ → t͡ɕʷ ⟨чу⟩
• ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ → ʃ ⟨ш⟩
• ʂʰ ⟨шʰъ⟩ → ʂ ⟨шъ⟩

Word	Proto Circassian	Shapsug Bzhedug	Abzakh Chemgui	Kabardian
noise	pʰa ⟨пʰэ⟩	pʰa ⟨пʰэ⟩	pa ⟨пэ⟩	pa ⟨пэ⟩
sharp	pʰaːɣa ⟨пʰагэ⟩	pʰaːɣa ⟨пʰагэ⟩	paːɣa ⟨пагэ⟩	paːɣa ⟨пагэ⟩
pillow	ʂħaːntʰa ⟨шъхьантʰэ⟩	ʂħaːtʰa ⟨шъхьатʰэ⟩	ʂħaːnta ⟨шъхьантэ⟩	ɕħaːnta ⟨щхьантэ⟩
wool	t͡sʰə ⟨цʰы⟩	t͡sʰə ⟨цʰы⟩	t͡sə ⟨цы⟩	t͡sə ⟨цы⟩
brother	t͡ʃʰə ⟨чʰы⟩	ʃʰə ⟨шʰы⟩	ʃə ⟨шы⟩	qʷaʃ ⟨къуэш⟩
lame	ɬaːʃʰa ⟨лъашʰэ⟩	ɬaːʃʰa ⟨лъашʰэ⟩	ɬaːʃa ⟨лъашэ⟩	ɬaːʃa ⟨лъашэ⟩
thigh	kʷʰa ⟨кʰо⟩	kʷʰa ⟨кʰо⟩	kʷa ⟨ко⟩	kʷa ⟨куэ⟩
grave	qʰa ⟨кʰъэ⟩	qʰa ⟨кʰъэ⟩	qa ⟨къэ⟩	q͡χa ⟨кхъэ⟩
pig	qʷʰa ⟨кʰъо⟩	qʷʰa ⟨кʰъо⟩	qʷa ⟨къо⟩	q͡χʷa ⟨кхъуэ⟩

Plain voiceless consonants to voiced

In the Proto-Circassian there was a series of tense consonants that became voiced in the eastern dialects.

• p ⟨п⟩ → b ⟨б⟩
• t ⟨т⟩ → d ⟨д⟩
• t͡s ⟨ц⟩ → d͡z ⟨дз⟩
• t͡ɕʷ ⟨цу⟩ → v ⟨в⟩
• kʲ ⟨кь⟩ → ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ / d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩
• kʷ ⟨ку⟩ → ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩
• t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ → d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩
• t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ → d͡ʐ ⟨джъ⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩

Word	Proto Circassian	Bzhedug Chemgui	Baslaney	Kabardian
we	ta ⟨тэ⟩	ta ⟨тэ⟩	da ⟨дэ⟩	da ⟨дэ⟩
leader	tħamaːta ⟨тхьэматэ⟩	tħamaːta ⟨тхьэматэ⟩	tħamaːda ⟨тхьэмадэ⟩	tħamaːda ⟨тхьэмадэ⟩
fish	pt͡saʐəja ⟨пцэжъые⟩	pt͡saʐəja ⟨пцэжъые⟩	bd͡zaʐej ⟨бдзэжъей⟩	bd͡zaʑej ⟨бдзэжьей⟩
glass	aːpkʲ ⟨апкь⟩	aːpt͡ʃ ⟨апч⟩	ʔaːbɡʲ ⟨абгь⟩	ʔaːbd͡ʒ ⟨абдж⟩
chicken	kʲat ⟨кьэт⟩	t͡ʃatə ⟨чэты⟩	ɡʲad ⟨гьэд⟩	d͡ʒad ⟨джэд⟩
night	t͡ʃaɕ ⟨чэщ⟩	t͡ʃaɕə ⟨чэщы⟩	d͡ʒaɕ ⟨джэщ⟩	ʒaɕ ⟨жэщ⟩
village	t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩	t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩	d͡ʒəɮa ⟨джылэ⟩	ʒəɮa ⟨жылэ⟩
cow	t͡ʃam ⟨чэм⟩	t͡ʃamə ⟨чэмы⟩	d͡ʒam ⟨джэм⟩	ʒam ⟨жэм⟩
tree	t͡ʂəɣ ⟨чъыг⟩	t͡ʂəɣə ⟨чъыгы⟩	d͡ʐəɣ ⟨джъыг⟩	ʒəɣ ⟨жыг⟩
mouse	t͡səʁʷa ⟨цыгъо⟩	t͡səʁʷa ⟨цыгъо⟩	d͡zəʁʷa ⟨дзыгъуэ⟩	d͡zəʁʷa ⟨дзыгъуэ⟩
short	kʲʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏьако⟩	t͡ʃʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏако⟩	kʲʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏьагуэ⟩	t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏагуэ⟩
wheat	kʷat͡s ⟨коц⟩	kʷat͡sə ⟨коцы⟩	ɡʷad͡z ⟨гуэдз⟩	ɡʷad͡z ⟨гуэдз⟩

Velar consonants to palato-alveolar

In the Proto-Circassian language there exist a palatalized voiced velar stop [ɡʲ] ⟨гь⟩, a palatalized aspirated voiceless velar stop [kʲʰ], a palatalized voiceless velar stop [kʲ] ⟨кь⟩ and a palatalized velar ejective [kʲʼ] ⟨кӏь⟩. The consonants гь [ɡʲ], кь [kʲ] and кӏь [kʲʼ] survive in the Shapsug dialect, in the Besleney dialect and in the Kabardian Uzunyayla dialect.^[1] In other Circassian dialects they were merged with the palato-alveolar consonants дж [d͡ʒ], ч [t͡ʃ] and кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] respectively.^[2][3][4]

• ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ → d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩
• kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ → t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩
• kʲ ⟨кь⟩ → t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ / ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ / d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩
• kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ → t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩

Word	Proto Circassian	Shapsug	Bzhedug Chemgui Abzakh	Baslaney	Kabardian
to cough	pskʲʰan ⟨пскʰьэн⟩	pskʲʰan ⟨пскʰьэн⟩	pst͡ʃan ⟨псчэн⟩	pskʲan ⟨пскьэн⟩	pst͡ʃan ⟨псчэн⟩
game	ɡʲaɡʷ ⟨гьэгу⟩	ɡʲaɡʷ ⟨гьэгу⟩	d͡ʒaɡʷ ⟨джэгу⟩	ɡʲaɡʷ ⟨гьэгу⟩	d͡ʒaɡʷ ⟨джэгу⟩
shirt	ɡʲaːna ⟨гьанэ⟩	ɡʲaːna ⟨гьанэ⟩	d͡ʒːna ⟨джанэ⟩	ɡʲaːna ⟨гьанэ⟩	d͡ʒːna ⟨джанэ⟩
glass	aːpkʲ ⟨апкь⟩	aːpkʲ ⟨апкь⟩	aːpt͡ʃ ⟨апч⟩	ʔaːbɡʲ ⟨абгь⟩	ʔaːbd͡ʒ ⟨абдж⟩
chicken	kʲat ⟨кьэт⟩	kʲat ⟨кьэт⟩	t͡ʃatə ⟨чэты⟩	ɡʲad ⟨гьэд⟩	d͡ʒad ⟨джэд⟩
short	kʲʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏьако⟩	kʲʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏьако⟩	t͡ʃʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏако⟩	kʲʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏьагуэ⟩	t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏагуэ⟩
rope	kʲʼaːpsa ⟨кӏьапсэ⟩	kʲʼaːpsa ⟨кӏьапсэ⟩	t͡ʃʼaːpsa ⟨кӏапсэ⟩	kʲʼaːpsa ⟨кӏьапсэ⟩	t͡ʃʼaːpsa ⟨кӏапсэ⟩

Affricate to fricative

Historically, Proto-Circassian had 6 distinct consonants:

• d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩
• t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩
• t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩
• ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩
• kʲ ⟨кь⟩
• kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩

Then, in the Abzakh and Kabardian dialects, the affricate postalveolar consonants became fricative:

• d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ → ʒ ⟨ж⟩
• t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ → ʃ ⟨ш⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩
• t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ → ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩
• t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ → ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩
• t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ → ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩

For example:

• The Proto-Circassian word кӏэкӏьын "to come out from under" became щӏэкӏьын in Kabardian and ӏекӏьын in Abzakh.
• The Proto-Circassian word кӏэгъуэжьын "to regret" became щӏэгъуэжын in Kabardian & ӏегъуэжьын Abzakh.
• The Proto-Circassian word пакӏэ "mustache" became пащӏэ in both Kabardian & Abzakh.
• The Proto-Circassian word кӏалэ "boy; young man" became щӏалэ in Kabardian and ӏелэ in Abzakh.
• The Proto-Circassian word кӏымахуэ "summer" became щӏымахуэ in Kabardian and щӏымафэ in Abzakh.
• The Proto-Circassian word кӏэ "new" became щӏэ in both Kabardian & Abzakh.

But words like кӏьапсэ "rope", кӏьакуэ "short" & кӏьэ "tail" were still pronounced with kʲʼ.

Later on, in the majority of Circassian dialects (both Adyghe and Kabardian dialects), the velar consonants гь [ɡʲ], кь [kʲ] and кӏь [kʲʼ] became palato-alveolar consonants дж [d͡ʒ], ч [t͡ʃ] and кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] respectively. Now words like кӏапсэ "rope", кӏакуэ "short" & кӏэ "tail" were pronounced with t͡ʃʼ.

For example, in the following table, you can see how the words "new" & "tail" are distinct in all dialects except Bzhedug & Chemgui.

Word	Proto Circassian	Shapsug	Bzhedug Chemgui	Abzakh	Baslaney	Standard Kabardian	Some Kabardian dialects
tail	kʲʼa ⟨кӏьэ⟩	kʲʼa ⟨кӏьэ⟩	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩	kʲʼa ⟨кӏьэ⟩	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩	kʲʼa ⟨кӏьэ⟩
new	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩	ʃʼa ⟨щӏэ⟩	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏьэ⟩	ʃʼa ⟨щӏэ⟩	ʃʼa ⟨щӏэ⟩
summer	t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨кӏымахуэ⟩	t͡ʃʼəmaːfa ⟨кӏымафэ⟩	t͡ʃʼəmaːfa ⟨кӏымафэ⟩	ʃʼəmaːfa ⟨щӏымафэ⟩	t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨кӏымахуэ⟩	ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨щӏымахуэ⟩	ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨щӏымахуэ⟩
mustache	paːt͡ʃʼa ⟨пакӏэ⟩	paːt͡ʃʼa ⟨пакӏэ⟩	paːt͡ʃʼa ⟨пакӏэ⟩	paːʃʼa ⟨пащӏэ⟩	paːt͡ʃʼa ⟨пакӏэ⟩	paːʃʼa ⟨пащӏэ⟩	paːʃʼa ⟨пащӏэ⟩

The way the affricate postalveolar consonants became fricative in the Abzakh and the Kabardian dialects:

• d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ → ʒ ⟨ж⟩
• t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ → ʃ ⟨ш⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩
• t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ → ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩
• t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ → ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩
• t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ → ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩

Word	Proto Circassian	Bzhedug Chemgui	Abzakh	Baslaney	Kabardian
fox	baːd͡ʒa ⟨баджэ⟩	baːd͡ʒa ⟨баджэ⟩	baːʒa ⟨бажэ⟩	baːd͡ʒa ⟨баджэ⟩	baːʒa ⟨бажэ⟩
village	qʷaːd͡ʒa ⟨къуаджэ⟩	qʷaːd͡ʒa ⟨къуаджэ⟩	qʷaːʒa ⟨къуажэ⟩	qʷaːd͡ʒa ⟨къуаджэ⟩	qʷaːʒa ⟨къуажэ⟩
village	t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩	t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩	ʃəɮa ⟨шылэ⟩	d͡ʒəɮa ⟨джылэ⟩	ʒəɮa ⟨жылэ⟩
night	t͡ʃaɕ ⟨чэщ⟩	t͡ʃaɕə ⟨чэщы⟩	ʃaɕə ⟨шэщы⟩	d͡ʒaɕ ⟨джэщ⟩	ʒaɕ ⟨жэщ⟩
cow	t͡ʃam ⟨чэм⟩	t͡ʃamə ⟨чэмы⟩	ʃamə ⟨шэмы⟩	d͡ʒam ⟨джэм⟩	ʒam ⟨жэм⟩
new	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩	ʃʼa ⟨шӏэ⟩	t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩	ɕʼa ⟨щӏэ⟩
winter	t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨кӏымахо⟩	t͡ʃʼəmaːfa ⟨кӏымафэ⟩	ʃʼəmaːfa ⟨шӏымафэ⟩	t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨кӏымахуэ⟩	ɕʼəmaːxʷa ⟨щӏымахуэ⟩
young-man	t͡ʃʼaːɮa ⟨кӏалэ⟩	t͡ʃʼaːɮa ⟨кӏалэ⟩	ʔʲaːɮa ⟨ӏелэ⟩	t͡ʃʼaːɮa ⟨кӏалэ⟩	ɕʼaːɮa ⟨щӏалэ⟩
to sleep	t͡ʂəjan ⟨чъыен⟩	t͡ʂəjan ⟨чъыен⟩	ʂəjan ⟨шъыен⟩	d͡ʐajən ⟨джъеин⟩	ʒajən ⟨жеин⟩
tree	t͡ʂəɣ ⟨чъыг⟩	t͡ʂəɣə ⟨чъыгы⟩	ʂəɣə ⟨шъыгы⟩	d͡ʐəɣ ⟨джъыг⟩	ʒəɣ ⟨жыг⟩
to run	t͡ʂan ⟨чъэн⟩	t͡ʂan ⟨чъэн⟩	tʂan ⟨шъэн⟩	d͡ʐan ⟨джъэн⟩	ʒan ⟨жэн⟩
area	t͡ʂʼəpʼa ⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩	t͡ʂʼəpʼa ⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩	ʃʼəpʼa ⟨шӏыпӏэ⟩	t͡ʂʼəpʼa ⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩	ɕʼəpʼa ⟨щӏыпӏэ⟩
iron	ʁʷət͡ʂʼə ⟨гъучӏы⟩	ʁʷət͡ʂʼə ⟨гъучӏы⟩	ʃʼəpʼa ⟨гъушӏы⟩	ʁʷət͡ʂʼə ⟨гъучӏы⟩	ɕʼəpʼa ⟨гъущӏы⟩

Introduction of labiodental fricatives

Proto-Circassian had no labiodental fricatives: voiceless labiodental fricative [f] and voiced labiodental fricative [v]. Western Circassian received the labiodental fricatives from one source while Eastern Circassian received from another.

In Western:

• xʷ ⟨ху⟩ → f ⟨ф⟩

In Eastern:

• t͡ɕʷʰ ⟨цу⟩ → f ⟨ф⟩
• t͡ɕʷ ⟨цу⟩ → v ⟨в⟩
• ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ → v ⟨в⟩
• ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ → f ⟨ф⟩
• ɕʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ → fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩

Western

Proto-Circassian had a labialized voiceless velar fricative [xʷ] which survived in the eastern dialects while it became a voiceless labiodental fricative [f] in the western dialects.

• xʷ ⟨ху⟩ → f ⟨ф⟩

Word	Proto Circassian	Western	Eastern
human	t͡sʼəxʷ ⟨цӏыху⟩	t͡sʼəf ⟨цӏыф⟩	t͡sʼəxʷ ⟨цӏыху⟩
white	xʷəʑ ⟨хужь⟩	fəʑə ⟨фыжьы⟩	xʷəʑ ⟨хужь⟩
hot	xʷaːba ⟨хуабэ⟩	faːba ⟨фабэ⟩	xʷaːba ⟨хуабэ⟩
day	maːxʷa ⟨махо⟩	maːfa ⟨мафэ⟩	maːxʷa ⟨махуэ⟩

Eastern

Proto-Circassian had a series of labialized postalveolar consonants (t͡ɕʷ, ʑʷ, ɕʷ and ɕʷʼ). These consonants survived in the western dialects while they became labiodental consonants in the eastern dialects.

• t͡ɕʷʰ ⟨цу⟩ → f ⟨ф⟩
• t͡ɕʷ ⟨цу⟩ → v ⟨в⟩
• ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ → v ⟨в⟩
• ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ → f ⟨ф⟩
• ɕʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ → fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩

Word	Proto Circassian	Western	Eastern
ox	t͡ɕʷə ⟨цу⟩	t͡ɕʷə ⟨цу⟩	və ⟨вы⟩
shoe	t͡ɕʷaːqa ⟨цуакъэ⟩	t͡ɕʷaːqa ⟨цуакъэ⟩	vaːqa ⟨вакъэ⟩
star	ʑʷaːʁʷa ⟨жъуагъо⟩	ʑʷaːʁʷa ⟨жъуагъо⟩	vaːʁʷa ⟨вагъуэ⟩
stone	məʑʷa ⟨мыжъо⟩	məʑʷa ⟨мыжъо⟩	məva ⟨мывэ⟩
narrow	zaʑʷə ⟨зэжъу⟩	zaʑʷə ⟨зэжъу⟩	zavə ⟨зэвы⟩
you (pl.)	ɕʷa ⟨шъо⟩	ɕʷa ⟨шъо⟩	fa ⟨фэ⟩
honey	ɕʷaw ⟨шъоу⟩	ɕʷaw ⟨шъоу⟩	faw ⟨фо⟩
wife	ɕʷəz ⟨шъуз⟩	ɕʷəz ⟨шъуз⟩	fəz ⟨фыз⟩
black	ɕʷʼət͡sʼa ⟨шӏуцӏэ⟩	ɕʷʼət͡sʼa ⟨шӏуцӏэ⟩	fʼət͡sʼa ⟨фӏыцӏэ⟩
fire	maːɕʷʼa ⟨машӏо⟩	maːɕʷʼa ⟨машӏо⟩	maːfʼa ⟨мафӏэ⟩
dirty	ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩	ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩	fʼaj ⟨фӏей⟩

Grammar

Numbers

English	Proto-Circassian		Ubykh		Western Circassian		Kabardian		Baslaney
	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic	IPA	Cyrillic
One	zə	зы	za	зэ	zə	зы	zə	зы	zə	зы
Two	tʷʼə	тӏу	tʼqʷʼa	ткъӏуа	tʷʼə	тӏу	tʷʼə	тӏу	tʼəw	тӏу
Three	ɕə	щы	ʂa	шъа	ɕə	щы	ɕə	щы	ɕə	щы
Four	pt͡ɬʼə	птлӏы	pʼɬʼə	плӏы	pɬʼə	плӏы	pɬʼə	плӏы	pt͡ɬʼə	птлӏы
Five	txʷə	тху	ɕxə	щхы	tfə	тфы	txʷə	тху	txʷə	тху
Six	xə	хы	fə	фы	xə	хы	xə	хы	xə	хы
Seven	bɮə	блы	blə	бльы	bɮə	блы	bɮə	блы	bɮə	блы
Eight	jə	и	ʁʷa	гъуа	jə	и	jə	и	jə	и
Nine	bʁʷə	бгъу	bʁʲə	бгъьу	bʁʷə	бгъу	bʁʷə	бгъу	bʁʷə	бгъу
Ten	pʃʼə	пшӏы	ʑʷə	жъуы	pʃʼə	пшӏы	pɕʼə	пщӏы	pʃʼə	пшӏы

Schleicher's fable

Schleicher's fable in Proto-Circassian:

χʷǝ č́ʷara-gjǝ

χʷǝ ja laśʷam mә q́ˤ:an

č́ʷara pǝʎ́an;

mǝ χwanǝta k:ʷǝm q:irǝ,

mǝ čʷǝχʷa čʷam,

mǝ ć̣ǝm pasa mǝš́ʷrǝ.

χʷǝ č́ʷara q̇́ˤan:

"źǝʁʷǝ sā ǵʷǝ,

q:ać̣am ć̣arǝ č́ʷara ḳ́ʷarǝ."

č́ʷara q̇́ˤan: "q:́ˤʷa χʷǝ!

źǝʁʷǝ š́a ǵʷǝ ć̣arǝ,

q:ać̣a, ł́a, č́ʷara laśʷam

ʎ́ʷa ḳ́ač̣ʷǝm čǝ-wǝ,

χʷiara-gjǝ laśʷam mә q́ˤ:a."

nǝ q:́aˤʷasa χʷǝ rǝq:ʷada q:ˤʷan.

See also

• Proto-Abazgi language
• Proto-Northwest Caucasian language