Adyghe ( or ; Adyghe: ,
adyghabze ), also known as
West Circassian , is one of the two official languages of the
Republic of Adygea in the
Russian Federation, the other being
Russian. It is spoken by various tribes of the
Adyghe people:
Abzekh, Adamey,
Bzhedug;
Hatuqwai,
Temirgoy,
Mamkhegh;
Natekuay,
Shapsug;
Zhaney, Yegerikuay, each with its own dialect. The language is referred to by its speakers as
Adygebze or
Adəgăbză, and alternatively spelled in
English as
Adygean,
Adygeyan or
Adygei. The literary language is based on the
Temirgoy dialect.