# Shapsug dialect

The Shapsug dialect (Adyghe: Шапсыгъабзэ; Kabardian: Шапсыгъэбзэ) is a dialect of Adyghe. 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.

## Subdialects

* 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 | Alveolar | Alveolar | Post-alveolar | Post-alveolar | Alveolo- palatal | Retroflex | Velar | Velar | Velar | Uvular | Uvular | Pharyngeal | Glottal | Glottal |
| | | Labial | plain | lab. | lat. | plain | lab. | Alveolo- palatal | Retroflex | plain | lab. | pal. | plain | lab. | Pharyngeal | plain | lab. |
| Plosive | voiceless | p | t | | | | | | | | kʷ | kʲ | q | qʷ | | ʔ | ʔʷ |
| Plosive | voiced | b | d | | | | | | | | ɡʷ | ɡʲ | | | | | |
| Plosive | ejective | pʼ | tʼ | tʷʼ | | | | | | | kʷʼ | kʲʼ | | | | | |
| Affricate | voiceless | | t͡s | | | t͡ʃ | t͡ʃʷ | | | | | | | | | | |
| Affricate | voiced | | d͡z | | | d͡ʒ | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Affricate | ejective | | t͡sʼ | | | t͡ʃʼ | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fricative | voiceless | f | s | | ɬ | ʃ | ʃʷ | ɕ | ʂ | x~h̪͆ | | | χ | χʷ | ħ | | |
| Fricative | voiced | | z | | | ʒ | ʒʷ | ʑ | ʐ | ɣ | | | ʁ | ʁʷ | | | |
| Fricative | ejective | | sʼ | | ɬʼ | ʃʼ | ʃʷʼ | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nasal | Nasal | m | n | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Approximant | Approximant | | | | l | | | j | | | w | | | | | | |
| Trill | 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. 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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.
* Chemguy чъ [ʈʂ] became ч [t͡ʃ] in Shapsug :
| Meaning | Shapsug | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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.
* The consonant м [m] is dropped before bilabial stops б [b], п [p], пӏ [pʼ] :
| Meaning | Shapsug | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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/ /t͡ɕʷʰ/ /kʲʰ/ /kʷʰ/ /qʰ/ /qʷʰ/) that became plain consonants in other dialects:
* Shapsug пʰ [pʰ] ↔ п [p] in other dialects :
| Word | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | Shapsug | Shapsug | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Temirgoy and Abzakh | | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | 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 | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | Shapsug | Shapsug | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Temirgoy and Abzakh | | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | 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 | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | Shapsug | Shapsug | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Temirgoy and Abzakh | | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | 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 | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | Shapsug | Shapsug | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Temirgoy and Abzakh | | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | 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 | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | Shapsug | Shapsug | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Temirgoy and Abzakh | | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | 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 [kʷʰ] ↔ ку [kʷ] in other dialects :
| Word | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | Shapsug | Shapsug | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Temirgoy and Abzakh | | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic |
| middle | kʷʰə | кʰу | kʷə | ку | kʷə | ку |
| thigh | kʷʰa | кʰо | kʷa | ко | kʷa | куэ |
* Shapsug къʰ [qʰ] ↔ къ [q] in other Adyghe dialects :
| Word | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | Shapsug | Shapsug | Kfar Kama | Kfar Kama | Natukhai | Natukhai | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Temirgoy and Abzakh | | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic |
| grave | qʰa | къʰэ | χa | хъэ | q͡χa | кхъэ | qa | къэ | q͡χa | кхъэ |
* Shapsug къуʰ [qʷʰ] ↔ къу [qʷ] in other Adyghe dialects :
| Word | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | Shapsug | Shapsug | Kfar Kama | Kfar Kama | Natukhai | Natukhai | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Temirgoy and Abzakh | | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic |
| pig | qʷʰa | къʰо | χʷa | хъо | q͡χʷa | кхъо | qʷa | къо | q͡χʷa | кхъуэ |
| cheese | qʷʰaːja | къʰуае | χʷaːja | хъуае | q͡χʷaːja | кхъуае | qʷaːja | къуае | q͡χʷaj | кхъуей |
| ship | qʷʰaħ | къʰохь | χʷaħ | хъохь | - | - | qʷəħa | къухьэ | q͡χʷəħ | кхъухь |
| to fart | qaqʷʰəʃʷən | къэкъʰун | qʷaχʷəʃʷən | къэхъушъун | - | - | qʷaqʷəʃʷən | къэкъушъун | qat͡səfən | къэцыфын |
| peer | qʷʰəʐə | къʰужъы | qʷəʐə | къужъы | - | - | qʷəʐə | къужъы | q͡χʷəʑə | кхъужьы |
* Shapsug чъʰу [t͡ɕʷʰ] ↔ чу [t͡ʃʷ] (spelled цу) in Temirgoy:
| Word | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | Shapsug | Shapsug | Temirgoy | Temirgoy | | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Word | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic |
| jungle/bushy area | t͡ɕʷʰənə | 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.
* Shapsug сӏ [sʼ] ↔ цӏ [t͡sʼ] in other dialects:
| Meaning | Shapsug | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA |
| to carry out | гъэсэкӏэн | ʁasat͡ʃʼan | гъэцэкӏэн | ʁat͡sat͡ʃʼan | гъэзэщӏэн | ʁat͡saɕʼan |
* Shapsug шъухъу [ʃʷχʷ] ↔ шхъу [ʃχʷ] in Standard:
| Meaning | Shapsug | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Standard Adyghe | Shapsug | Shapsug |
| Meaning | 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/
* 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)
* 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/
* 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)
* 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/
* 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)
* 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Kabardian | Kabardian |
| Meaning | 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 | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe | Standard Kabardian | Standard Kabardian |
| Word | Small Shapsug | Small Shapsug | Great Shapsug | Great Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | | Standard Kabardian | Standard Kabardian |
| Word | 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 | rakʷʼaɕt | 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 | Adyghe | Adyghe | Adyghe |
| Word | Great Shapsug | Great Shapsug | Small Shapsug | Small Shapsug |
| Word | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe |
| Word | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe |
| Word | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe |
| Word | 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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe | Bzhedugh | Bzhedugh |
| Meaning | 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 | Shapsug | Chemirguy | Chemirguy |
| Meaning | 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 | Adyghe | Notes |
| Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Notes |
| 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 |
    цумбжъитӏугот цу-мбжъ-итӏуго-т [t͡sʷəmbʐəjtʷʼɡʷat] ox (erg.)two hornsit have on his body "the ox have two horns."
    шыоршымгос шыо-ршы-мго-с [ʃəwarʃəmɡʷas] the horseman (abs.)horse (erg.)(s)he is sitting on a body "the horseman is sitting on the horse."
    лӏыжъымзылъакъоготэп лӏыжъы-мзы-лъакъого-тэ-п [ɬʼəʐəmzəɬaːqʷaɡʷatap] the old man (erg.)one leg(s)he doesn't have on his body "the old man doesn't have one leg."
    шымзеохьыжьымкӏалэугосэргозэгъ шы-мзеохьы-жь-ымкӏалэ-уго-сэ-рго-зэ-гъ [ʃəmzajwaħəʑəmt͡ʃʼaːɮawɡʷasarɡʷazaʁ] house (erg.)to get out of controlboy (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 | Shapsug | Standard Adyghe | Standard Adyghe |
| Meaning | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA |
| all | зэужь, купэ | zawəʑ, kʷəpa | зэкӏэ | zat͡ʃʼa |
| to miss someonme | кӏэхъопсын | | уфэзэщын | |
| everyone everything | 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 | тIэтэн; птӏэтэн; | tʼatan |
| to lower | гъэшъхъын | ʁaʂχən | еуфэхын | - |
| to lower oneself | зыгъэшъхъын | ʁaʂχən | зыуфэн, зеуфэхын, зегъэзыхын | - |
| lowered | гъэшъхъыгъэ | ʁaʂχəʁa | лъхъанчэ | ɬχaːnat͡ʃa |
| 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 | пакIэ | - |
| 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 | кудэн | kʷədan |
| 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 |
| batterfly | хьадрэпӏый (or хьатрэпӏый) | ħaːdrapʼəj | хьампӏырашъу | ħaːmpʼəraːʃʷ |
| bat | пхъэпӏырашъу (or пхъэмпӏырашъу) | pχaːpʼəraːʃʷ | чэщбзэу | t͡ʃʼaɕbzaw |
| mole | лъышъутӏэ (or лышъутӏэ) | ɬəʃʷtʼa | лыпцӏэ | ləpʼt͡sʼa |
| doll | нысэпхъапэ | nəsapχaːpa | нысхъап | nəsχaːp |
| easy | ӏэшӏэх | ʔaʃʼax | псынкӏэ | psənt͡ʃʼa |
| gloves | ӏэбыцу | ʔabət͡ʃʷ | ӏалъ | ʔaːɬ |

## Shapsugh alphabet

The alphabet used as the language of writing and literature in Shapsug national raion and Kfar Kama between 1924 and 1945 is as follows:
| А а | Б б | В в | Г г | Гу гу | Гъ гъ | Гъу гъу | Гь гь | Д д | Дж дж |
| Дз дз | Е е | Ж ж | Жъ жъ | Жъу жъу | Жь жь | Жьу жьу | З з | И и | Й й |
| К к | Ку ку | Къ къ | Къу къу | Кь кь | КӀ кӀ | КӀу кӀу | КIь кIь | Л л | Лъ лъ |
| ЛӀ лӀ | М м | Н н | О о | П п | ПӀ пӀ | ПӀу пӀу | Р р | С с | СӀ сӀ |
| Т т | ТӀ тӀ | ТӀу тӀу | У у | Ф ф | Х х | Хъ хъ | Хъу хъу | Хь хь | Ц ц |
| ЦӀ цӀ | Ч ч | Чу чу | КӀ кӀ | Ш ш | Шъ шъ | Щу щу | ШӀ шӀ | ШӀу шӀу | Щ щ |
| Ы ы | Э э | Ӏ Ӏ | Ъ ъ | Ь ь | Ӏу Ӏу | Я я | Ю ю | Ё ё |

## 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!.