The languages are highly mutually intelligible with one another, but differ to a degree where they would be considered clear-cut dialects.

The earliest extant written records of the Circassian language are in the Arabic script, recorded by the Turkish traveller Evliya Çelebi in the 17th century,[1] although the Greek and Georgian alphabets were adapted for them in ancient and medieval times.

[2] There is consensus among the linguistic community about the fact that Adyghe and Kabardian are typologically distinct languages.

The Circassian people call themselves адыгэ (adyge; English: Adyghe) in their native language.

In the southwestern part of European Russia, there is also a Federal Subject called Adygea (Russian: Адыгея, Adygeya), enclaved within Krasnodar Krai, which is named after the Circassian endonym.