# Proto-Circassian language

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

## Phonology

Proto‑Circassian
East Circassian
Kabardian
Basleney
West Circassian
Kuban river
Temirgoy
Abzakh
Bzhedugh
Black Sea coast
Shapsug
Natkhuaja :
A Circassian dialects family tree. :

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

In the Abzakh and the 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⟩
| 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⟩ |

### Labialized voiceless velar fricative

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⟩ |

### Labialized postalveolar

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.
* t͡ɕʷ ⟨цу⟩ → v ⟨v⟩
* ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ → v ⟨v⟩
* 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 | машӏо ⟨maːɕʷʼa⟩ | машӏо ⟨maːɕʷʼa⟩ | мафӏэ ⟨maːfʼa⟩ |
| dirty | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | fʼaj ⟨фӏей⟩ |

## Grammar
### Numbers

| English | Proto-Circassian | Proto-Circassian | Ubykh | Ubykh | Western Circassian | Western Circassian | Kabardian | Kabardian | Baslaney | Baslaney |
| English | 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.