Adyghe

Adyghe refers to the Adyghe people, a Northwest Caucasian ethnic group native to the North Caucasus. They are also known as Circassians, a name used in older sources and by many in the diaspora. Traditionally homeland is Circassia in the western Caucasus, now largely within the Russian Federation's Adygea Republic and adjacent areas of Krasnodar Krai, with sizable communities in Turkey, Jordan, Syria, and elsewhere.

The Adyghe language, also called Adyghe or West Circassian, belongs to the Northwest Caucasian language family. It is closely related to Kabardian (East Circassian), and the two are often treated as separate languages. The Adyghe language is written in Cyrillic script in Russia; local literacy and standardization efforts exist, and many speakers are bilingual in Russian and other languages.

Historically, the Adyghe inhabited the northwestern Caucasus. They faced expansion of the Russian Empire in the 18th–19th centuries, culminating in the Caucasian War and large-scale displacement of Circassians during the 1860s. This led to a widespread diaspora into the Ottoman Empire and later the Middle East and Europe. The name Circassian remained in common use in many countries.

Traditional Adyghe culture emphasizes hospitality, communal life, and martial and musical arts. They are known for distinctive folk music and dance, including the widely recognized dance traditions of the Caucasus. Cuisine features grilled meats, dairy, and flatbreads. Today Adyghe culture is preserved in regional media, schools, and cultural associations, alongside broader Russian and regional Caucasus influences.

Islam is the most widely practiced faith among Adyghe, though Christian and secular communities exist. The Adyghe people form a recognized ethnolinguistic group within Russia, with diaspora communities in Turkey, the Middle East, and beyond. They contribute to the multicultural fabric of the Caucasus and the wider regions where they live.