Adyghe grammar
Adyghe is a language with an ergative verb-final clause structure and rich verb morphology.
Noun
Verbs
In Adyghe, like all Northwest Caucasian languages, the verb is the most inflected part of speech. Verbs are typically head final and are conjugated for tense, person, number, etc.
Morphology
Adverbs
The Adverbs can be formed from different speech elements by gaining suffix ~эу (-aw) or ~у (-u): From verbs: ГумэкIын - beware, МыгумэкIыху - unflappable, Джэгун - Play, Джэгуну - playing, Щысын-
sits, Щысу - sitting. For example: Щысу илъэгъогъ - he saw white sitting, мэджэгуну мэчIагъ - he ran
white playing.
From adjectives: тэрэз - correct, Тэрэзэу тхы! - write correctly, рэхьат - calm, рэхьату - calmly, псынкIэ -
quick, псынкIу - quickly.
From other speech elements: ежь - itself (jaʑ), Ежь-ежьэрэу иIофыр къэгъэухыгъ – He (she) has
finished his (her) work by himself (herself).
The following adverbs are not formed from another words:
Place adverbs
Such as: мыдэ, mode, моджэ here, мыдыджэ here, мэу here.
удэ, удыджэ, ауджэ - (there, there) different with comparative vicinity degree: удэ къэкIорэр
тигъунэгъу - Here goes our neighbour (wda qakʷʼarar tiʁʷnaʁʷ).
Tense adverbs
непэ - today, тыгъубсэ or тыгъуасэ - yesterday, нэущы - tomorrow, едэдэм - presently, ыужым or
иужым or икънэуыж - after, етIубнэ or етIонэ – afterwards, жъу or пасу – early, лъэжъуагъу - late.
Нэпэ ap къэкIощтэп - Today he will not come, Тыгъуасэ тызытегущыIагъэм угу къэкIыжьа? – Do You
remember, what we talked about yesterday?, Неущы тыкIот ауджэ - Tomorrow we will go there,
Пчэджэм жъэу сэкъэтэджагъ – I got up early in the morning.
Number adverbs
мбкIэу or тэку or маӀу - few, бэ - much, a lot, бэр’э - often/long, бэщагъ’у - long ago.
МакIэу Iо, бэу шIэ – Talk less, do a more, Ащ бэрэ лъэхъугъ, ау къыгъотыжьыгъэп – I had been looking
for him for a long time, but I did not find him, Нахь бэрэ уIущхыпцыкIынэу сэфай - I want you to smile
more often, Бэшъагъу оу слъэгъугъэп - I have not seen you for a long time.
Clarification (нахь)
To clarify something to someone with a wrong assumption, the adverb нахь (-naħ) is added after the clarified word.
- мэкӏуагъ /makʷʼaːʁ/ - he went → мэкӏуагъэ нахь /makʷʼaːʁa naːħ/ - actually he went.
- сэкӏо /sakʷʼa/ - I am going →, сэкӏо нахь /saːkʷʼ naːħ/ - actually I am going.
- тыкӀощт /təkʷʼaɕt/ - we will go → тыкӏощт нахь /təkʷʼaɕt naːħ/ - actually we will go.
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → мафэ нахь /maːfa naːħ/ - actually it's a day.
- кӏалэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮa/ - boy → кӏалэ нахь /t͡ʃʼaːɮa naːħ/ - actually it's a boy.
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → дахэ нахь /daːxa naːħ/ - actually he/she/it is pretty.
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃʼaħə/ - long → кӏэхь нахь /t͡ʃʼaħa naːħ/ - actually he/she/it is long.
- to clarify the listener(s) that it is day now
мафэ нахь джы мафэ нахь джы [maːfa naːħ d͡ʒə] it's day now "it's actually a day now"
- to clarify the listener(s) that the boy can run
кӏалэр мэчъэшъущт нахь кӏалэ-р мэчъэ-шъу-щт нахь [t͡ʃʼaːɮar mat͡ʂaʃʷtə naːħ] the boy (abs.) he is capable to run "the boy actually can run"
- to clarify the listener(s) that the girl is pretty
пшъашъэр дахэ нахь пшъашъэ-р дахэ нахь pʂaːʂar] daːxa naːħ] girl (abs.) it's actually pretty "that girl is actually pretty"
Pronouns
Personal pronouns
| Case | Singular | Plural | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-person | Second-person | Third-person | First-person | Second-person | Third-person | |||||||
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |
| Absolutive | сэ | sa | о | wa | ар | aːr | тэ | ta | шъо | ʃʷa | ахэр | aːxar |
| Ergative | сэ | sa | о | wa | ащ | aːɕ | тэ | ta | шъо | ʃʷa | ахэмэ | aːxama |
| Instrumental | сэркӏэ | sart͡ʃʼa | оркӏэ | wart͡ʃʼa | ащкӏэ | aːɕt͡ʃʼa | тэркӏэ | tart͡ʃʼa | шъоркӏэ | ʃʷart͡ʃʼa | ахэмкӏэ | aːxamt͡ʃʼa |
| Adverbial | сэрэу | saraw | орэу | waraw | арэу | aːraw | тэрэу | taraw | шъорэу | ʃʷaraw | ахэрэу | aːxaraw |
Demonstrative Pronouns
| Case | Singular | Plural | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |
| Absolutive | мыр, мор | mər, mawr | мыхэр, мохэр | məxar, mawxar |
| Ergative | мыщ, мощ | məɕ, mawɕ | мыхэмэ, мохэмэ | məxama, mawxama |
| Instrumental | мыщкIэ, мощкIэ | məɕt͡ʃʼa, mawɕt͡ʃʼa | мыхэмкIэ, мохэмкIэ | məxamt͡ʃʼa, mawxamt͡ʃʼa |
| Adverbial | мырэу, морэу | məraw, mawraw | мыхэрэу, мохэрэу | məxaraw, mawxaraw |
Other Pronouns
| Case | Singular | Plural | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |
| Absolutive | джэр, ор, дыор, дымыр | d͡ʒar, war, dəwar, dəmər | джэхэр, охэр, дыухэр, дымхэр | d͡ʒaxar, waxar, dəwxar, dəmxar |
| Ergative | джэщ, ущ, дыущ, дымыщ | d͡ʒaɕ, wəɕ, dəwəɕ, dəməɕ | джэхэмэ, охэмэ, дыухэмэ, дымхэмэ | d͡ʒaxama, waxama, dəwxama, dəmxama |
| Instrumental | джэщкӏэ, ущкӏэ, дыущкӏэ, дымыщкӏэ | d͡ʒaɕt͡ʃʼa, wəɕt͡ʃʼa, dəwəɕt͡ʃʼa, dəməɕt͡ʃʼa | джэхэмэкӏэ, охэмэкӏэ, дыухэмэкӏэ, дымхэмэкӏэ | d͡ʒaxamat͡ʃʼa, waxamat͡ʃʼa, dəwxamat͡ʃʼa, dəmxamat͡ʃʼa |
| Adverbial | джэрэу, орэу, дыорэу, дымырэу | d͡ʒaraw, waraw, dəwaraw, dəməraw | джэхэрэу, охэрэу, дыухэрэу, дымхэрэу | d͡ʒaxaraw, waxaraw, dəwxaraw, dəmxaraw |
Like nouns, personal pronouns take one of the follow four cases: absolutive, ergative, instrumental, and adverbial.
сэ - I, сэркIэ - me, for me, by me, сэру - for me, by me, o/уэ - you, орыкIэ – for you, by you, ору - for
you, by you, ap – he (she), аркIэ, ащкIэ - for him (her), by him (her), ару - for him (her), by him (her), тэ -
we, тэркIэ – us, тэру - us, шъо шъощ – You (plural form), шъоркIэ you, for you, by you, шъору- for you,
by you, ахэр ахэмэ - they, ахэмкIэ – by them, аху - by them.
Examples: Сэ o къыосIуагъ - I said to you, Сэ ap къэсэлъэIугъ - I asked him (her), O уятэ къыоIуагъа? –
Did you say to your father? [You your-father once-you- say-did], Ащ еупчI – Ask him, Ащ ыIорэр сэркIэ
тIуейзы – All he says, is not important for me, Ахэр бо Iэшъу аIу – People say they are very tasty.
Dependent possessive pronouns
The nouns in Adyghe are different by their accessory signs, which are broken down into the natural attribute and the property attribute. The natural attribute is for body parts and kin relationships (e.g. 'son', 'sister'). All other words belong to the property attribute.
- Natural attributes are expressed with the following prefixes:
| Prefix | meaning | example | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | ||||
| Singular | 1st person | с- or сы- | /s-/ or /sə-/ | "my" | сылъакъо /səɬaːqʷa/ - my leg; сшыпхъу /sʃəpχʷ/ - my sister |
| 2nd person | п- or у- | /p-/ or /w-/ | "your" | плъакъо /pɬaːqʷa/ - your leg; ушыпхъу /wʃəpχʷ/ - your sister | |
| 3rd person | ы- (ə-) | /ə-/ | "his" | ылъакъо /əɬaːqʷa/ - his leg; ышы /əʃə/ - his brother | |
| Plural | 1st person | тэ- or т- | /ta-/ or /t-/ | "our" | тлъакъохэ /tɬaːqʷaxa/ - our legs; тшы /tʃə/ - our brother; тшыхэ /tʃəxa/ - our brothers |
| 2nd person | шъо- or шъу- | /ʃʷa-/ or /ʃʷə-/ | "your" | шъулъакъохэ /ʃʷəɬaːqʷaxa/ - your legs; шъошыпхъу /ʃʷaʃəpχʷə/ - your sister; шъошыпхъухэ
/ʃʷaʃəpχʷəxa/ - your sisters | |
| 3rd person | a- | /aː-/ | "their" | алъакъохэр /aːɬaːqʷaxa/ - their legs; ашыпхъу /aːʃəpχʷə/ - their sister; ашыпхъухэ /aːʃəpχʷəxa/ - their
sisters | |
- Property attributes are expressed by a different set of prefixes:
| Prefix | meaning | example | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrillic | IPA | ||||
| Singular | 1st person | си- | /səj-/ | "my" | сиунэ /səjwəna/ - my house; ситхылъ /səjtxəɬ/ - my book |
| 2nd person | уи- | /wəj-/ | "your" | уиунэ /wəjwəna/ - your house; уитхылъ /wəjtxəɬ/ - your book | |
| 3rd person | и- | /jə-/ | "his" | иунэ /jəwəna/ - his house; итхылъ /jətxəɬ/ - his book | |
| Plural | 1st person | ти- | /təj-/ | "our" | тиунэ /təjwəna/ - our house; титхылъ /təjtxəɬ/ - our book |
| 2nd person | шъуи- | /ʃʷəj-/ | "your" | шъуиунэ /ʃʷəjwəna/ - your house; шъуитхылъ /ʃʷəjtxəɬ/ - your book | |
| 3rd person | я- | /jaː-/ | "their" | яунэ /jaːwəna/ - their house; ятхылъ /jaːtxəɬ/ - their book | |
Significies the attribute of subject: сэсый - mine, оуий - yours, ащий – his, hers, тэтый - ours,
шъошъуий - yours, яий - theirs.
Varied on the same principle, as noun, verbs, adjectives etc.: Мы ощыр сэсый - this axe is mine, Мы
унэр тэтый - this house is ours, Мы къамыр оуий - this dagger is Yours, Мы лагъэхэр шъошъуиех -
these plates are Yours.
The indefinite pronoun
In Adyghe whole one - зыгорэ. Serves for indication of all notions
corresponding to English words "someone", "something", "someone", "something", "sometime",
"somewhere", etc.
Changes either as noun – in number and in cases:
| Case | Ending | Singular form | Plural form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolutive | -р -r | зыгорэ /zəɡʷara/ | зыгорэхэр /zəɡʷaraxar/ |
| Ergative | -м -m | зыгорэм /zəɡʷaram/ | зыгорэхэм /zəɡʷaraxam/ |
| Instrumental | -kӀэ -t͡ʃa or -мkӀэ -mt͡ʃa | зыгорэ(м)кIэ /zəɡʷara(m)t͡ʃa/ | зыгорэхэ(м)кIэ /zəɡʷaraxa(m)t͡ʃa/ |
| Adverbial | -эу -aw | зыгорэу /zəɡʷaraw/ | зыгорэхэу /zəɡʷaraxaw/ |
Зыгорэ къэшъотх – Write something, Зыгорэ къэкIуагъ – Someone has come, Зыгорэм уеупчIын фае
– You need to ask somebody, Зыгорэм сэкъэкIощт - I will come someday, НекIоба, зыгорэм тыкIощт –
Come on, we’ll go somewhere, Непэ ap тадэжи къэкIощт. - Today he (she) will come to us.
зыгорэ макIоу слъэгъогъ [zəɡʷara maːkʷʼaw sɬaʁʷaʁ] someone (abs.) while he is going I saw "I saw someone going" кIалэгорэм бэнанэр ешхы [t͡ʃaːlaɡʷaram banaːna jaʃxə] some boy (erg.) the banana (abs.) he eats "some boy is eating the banana" пшъэшъэ дахэгорэм мэр къысиIуагъ [pʂaʂa daːxaɡʷaram mar qəsiʔʷaːʁ] girl some pretty (erg.) this he/she told me "some pretty girl told me this"
Generalization pronouns
сыдри сыди (Abadzekh), лъэури лъэуи (some Shapsugs), шъыдри шъыди (Bzhedug): each
(not about human), хэтри хэти - each (about human), зэкIэ or зэпсэо - all, ежь - itself, ежьхэ - themself.
Хэтри инасып ежежэу хехы - Each one chooses his fate by himself, Сыдри цIыфри дэгъурэ дэйрэ
епIолъэн плъэкIыщт - About each person it’s possible to say as bad as good.
Demonstratives
Adyghe has six demonstratives that vary between dialects: а /ʔaː/, джэ /d͡ʒa/, у /wə/, дыу /dəw/, дымэ /dəma/ 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).
джэ /d͡ʒa/ (гьэ /gʲa/ in Shapsug)
- that
- джэ ӏанэ — that table
- джэ пшъашъэ — that girl
- джэ кӀалэм еӀо — that boy is saying
- The determiner 'джэ' refer to a referent that can be both visible and invisible. This determiner is used when the speaker wants to give a strong impression that the object in the conversation is indeed the referent (s)he talks about and refers to.
у /wə/ or мо /mo/
- 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). Usually this determiner is used when the speaker knows that the listener(s) is/are aware who is the referent (s)he talks about or refers to.
дыу /dəw/
- 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 also visible. This determiner is usually used when the listener(s) are not aware who is the referent. It can be used to introduce a new stranger on the street for example. Usually the speaker will look at the referent whatever it is a person or an object. It might be used while pointing one's finger at the people or objects in question. Even without pointing fingers the listener(s) will expect the referent to be the thing the speaker looks at.
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 дыу (dəw). This is used instead of дыу (dəw) when the referent is very near. Like the determiner дыу (dəw) 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.
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' is exactly like the English language determiner this.
тэ (ta)
- which
- тэ ӏанэ? — which table?
- тэ пшъашъэ? — which girl?
- тэ кӀалэм еӀо? — which boy is saying?
Conjugation
3rd person
| Determiner | Singular | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolutive | Ergative | Meaning | ||||
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |||
| а | ар | aːr | ащ | aːɕ | he/she/it/that one | |
| джэ | джэр | d͡ʒar | джэщ | d͡ʒaɕ | he/she/it/that one | |
| мо | мор | mawr | мощ | mawɕ | he/she/it/that one | |
| дыо | дыор | dəwar | дыущ | dəwəɕ | that one over there | |
| дымы | дымыр | dəmər | дымыщ | dəməɕ | this one over here | |
| мы | мыр | mər | мыщ | məɕ | he/she/it/this one | |
| тэ | тэр | tar | тэщ | taɕ | which one | |
| Determiner | Plural | |||||
| Absolutive | Ergative | Meaning | ||||
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |||
| а | ахэр | aːxar | ахэмэ | aːxama | those ones | |
| джэ | джэхэр | d͡ʒaxar | джэхэмэ | d͡ʒaxama | those ones | |
| мо | мохэр | mawxar | мохэмэ | mawxama | those ones | |
| дыо | дыохэр | dəwaхэr | дыухэмэ | dəwəxama | those ones over there | |
| дымы | дымыхэр | dəməxar | дымыхэмэ | dəməxama | these ones over here | |
| мы | мыхэр | məxar | мыхэмэ | məxama | these ones | |
| тэ | тэхэр | taxar | тэхэмэ | taxama | which ones | |
а кӏалэм къысиӏуагъэр ащ есӏощт [ʔaː t͡ʃaːlam qəsiʔʷaːʁar ʔaːɕ jasʔʷaɕt] that the boy (erg.) the thing he told me he, she, it, that I will tell him "I will tell the thing that boy told me to him" джэр къащти къэсфэхь [d͡ʒar qaːɕti qasfaħ] that (object) pick it up (in order to something to happen) bring it to me "lift that and bring it to me" мыхэр сиунэ илъхьэх [məxar siwna jəɬħax] these my house put it inside it "put these into my house"
As well
| Determiner | Singular | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolutive | Ergative | Meaning | ||||
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |||
| а | аррэ | aːrra | ащми | aːɕməj | that as well | |
| джэ | джэррэ | d͡ʒarra | джэщми | d͡ʒaɕməj | that as well | |
| мо | моррэ | mawrra | мощми | mawɕməj | that as well | |
| дыо | дыоррэ | dəwarra | дыущми | dəwəɕməj | that one over there as well | |
| дымы | дымыррэ | dəmərra | дымыщми | dəməɕməj | this one over here as well | |
| мы | мыррэ | mərra | мыщми | məɕməj | this one as well | |
| тэ | тэррэ | tarra | тэщми | taɕməj | which one as well | |
| Determiner | Plural | |||||
| Absolutive | Ergative | Meaning | ||||
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |||
| а | ахэмрэ | aːxamra | ахэми | aːxaməj | those ones as well | |
| джэ | джэхэмрэ | d͡ʒaxamra | джэхэми | d͡ʒaxama | those ones as well | |
| мо | мохэмрэ | mawxamra | мохэми | mawxaməj | those ones as well | |
| дыо | дыохэмрэ | dəwaхэmra | дыухэми | dəwəxaməj | those ones over there as well | |
| дымы | дымыхэмрэ | dəməxamra | дымыхэми | dəməxaməj | these ones over here as well | |
| мы | мыхэмрэ | məxamra | мыхэми | məxaməj | these ones as well | |
| тэ | тэхэмрэ | taxamra | тэхэми | taxaməj | which ones as well | |
джэрэ уатэрэ къэсфэхь [d͡ʒara waːtara qasfaħ] that too/that and a hammer too bring it to me "bring me that and the hammer."
Location
| Determiner | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| а | адэ | aːda | that place |
| джэ | джэдэ | d͡ʒada | that place |
| мо | модэ | mawda | that place |
| дыо | дыодэ | dəwada | that place over there |
| дымы | дымыдэ | dəmərra | this place over here |
| мы | мыдэ | məda | this place |
| тэ | тэдэ | tada | which place; where |
мыдэ ушӏагъэ [mədda wəʃʼaːʁa] here you done "look what you done here" джэр удэ гъэтӏылъ [ɡʲar wədda ʁatʼəɬ] that there put it down "put that down there"
Other
| Determiner | Singular | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolutive | Ergative | Meaning | ||||
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |||
| а | адрэ | aːdra | адрэми | aːdraməj | that other one | |
| джэ | джэдрэ | d͡ʒadra | джэдрэми | d͡ʒadraməj | that other one | |
| мо | модрэ | mawdra | модрэми | mawdraməj | that other one | |
| дыо | дыодрэ | dəwadra | дыудрэми | dəwədraməj | that other one over there | |
| дымы | дымыдрэ | dəmədra | дымыдрэми | dəmədraməj | this other one over here | |
| мы | мыдрэ | mədra | мыдрэми | mədraməj | this other one | |
| тэ | тэдрэ | tadra | тэдрэми | tadraməj | which other one | |
| Determiner | Plural | |||||
| Absolutive | Ergative | Meaning | ||||
| Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | |||
| а | адрэхэ | aːdraxa | адрэхэми | aːdraxaməj | those other ones | |
| джэ | джэдрэхэ | d͡ʒadraxa | джэдрэхэми | d͡ʒadraxama | those other ones | |
| мо | модрэхэ | mawdraxa | модрэхэми | mawdraxaməj | those other ones | |
| дыо | дыодрэхэ | dəwadraхэ | дыудрэхэми | dəwədraxaməj | those other ones over there | |
| дымы | дымыдрэхэ | dəmədraxa | дымыдрэхэми | dəmədraxaməj | these other ones over here | |
| мы | мыдрэхэ | mədraxa | мыдрэхэми | mədraxaməj | these other ones | |
| тэ | тэдрэхэ | tadraxa | тэдрэхэми | tadraxaməj | which other ones | |
мы уатэрэп къысфэпхьынэу сфэягъэ, адрэ уатэ рары мы уатэ-рэп къы-с-фэ-п-хьы-нэу с-фай-агъэ, адрэ уатэ рары [ma waːtarap qasfapħənaw səfajaːʁa aːdra waːta raːrə] this not the hammer the thing you to bring me the thing i wanted the other thing hammer that is "it's not this hammer I wanted you to bring me, it's the other hammer" адрэ пакӏэм тыгъакIу [aːdra paːkam tʁaːkʷʼ] that other the way (erg.) let us go "let us go to that other way"
There
| Determiner | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| а | ау | aːw | to there |
| джэ | джэу | d͡ʒaw | to there |
| мо | моу | maw | to there |
| дыо | дыоу | dəwaw | to there |
| дымы | дымыу | dəməw | to here |
| мы | мыу | məw | to here |
| тэ | тэу | taw | to where |
ау укIомэ къэбгъэзэщтэп [aːw wkʷʼma qabʁazaɕtap] over there if you go you will not manage to return "if you go there you will not manage to return back" мэу бэнанэр щышх [maw banaːnar ɕəʃx] over here the banana (abs.) eat it there "eat the banana here"
That is it
| Determiner | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| а | ары | aːrə | that one indeed |
| джэ | джары | d͡ʒaːrə | that one indeed |
| мо | моры | mawrə | that one |
| дыо | дыуары | dəwaːrə | that one over there |
| дымары | дымыры | dəmaːrə | this one over here |
| мы | мары | maːrə | this one |
| тэ | тары | taːrə | which one |
ары къысиIуагъэ [aːrə qəsiʔʷaːʁa] that is the thing he told me "that is what he told me" дыуары кIалэу сфэсIуагъэ [dəwaːrə t͡ʃaːlaw səfasʔʷaːʁa] that is over there boy (adv.) the thing i talked about "here is the boy i talked about"
Like
| Determiner | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| а | ащтэу | aːɕtaw | like that |
| джэ | джэщтэу | d͡ʒaɕtaw | like that |
| мо | мощтэу | mawɕtaw | like that |
| дыо | дыущтэу | dəwəɕtaw | like that over there |
| дымары | дымыщтэу | dəmaɕtaw | like this over here |
| мы | мыщтэу | məɕtaw | like here |
| тэ | тэщтэу | taɕtaw | like how; how |
ащто умышI [ʔaːɕtaw wnəʃʼ] like that don't do "don't do like that" дыуыщто кIалэр макIо [dəwəɕtaw t͡ʃaːlar mːkʷʼa] like that over there boy (abs.) he is going "the boy is going like that (over there)"
Similar
| Determiner | Cyrillic | IPA | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| а | ащфэд | aːɕfad | like that |
| джэ | джэщфэд | d͡ʒaɕfad | like that |
| мо | мощфэд | mawɕfad | like that |
| дыо | дыущфэд | dəwəɕfad | like that over there |
| дымары | дымыщфэд | dəmaɕfad | like this over here |
| мы | мыщфэд | məɕfad | like here |
| тэ | тэщфэд | taɕfad | like how; how |
джэфэдэ уатэ сэри сфай [d͡ʒafada waːta sari sfaːj] like that hammer me too i want "I want a hammer like that too" ащфэдэу умышI [ʔaːɕfada wnəʃʼ] like that/him don't do "don't do it like him"
Adjectives
The functions of adjectives are distinguished through word order and conjugation.
Qualitative adjectives
Qualitative adjectives are paired with nouns and always follow them, as in Romance languages. They can be suffixed for comparison and superlativeness.
- Пшъашъэ дэх - beautiful girl [girl beautiful]
- ЦIыф Iуш - wise man [person wise].
Quantitative adjectives
Adjectives can function as nouns in the quantitative form when suffixed for number with ~хэ. For example:
- дахэ – beautiful, дахэхэ - beautiful (plural);
- дэгъу - good, дэгъухэ - good (plural);
- дэи - bad, дэихэ - bad (in plural form)
The relative adjectives are those that cannot have the comparative degrees. They are posited before the
defined word: ГъукIэ гъогур - railway [iron road], Пхъэ Iанэ - wooden table.
In both events when we change the form and number of structure "none + quality adjective" or "relative
adjectives + none" this leads to changing of the suffix of the last word in structure: Пшъэшъэ дах -
Beautiful girl, Пшъэшъэ дахэхэр - beautiful girls, ЦIыф Iуш - wise person, ЦIыф Iушхэр - wise people,
ГъукIэ гъогур - railway, ГъукIэ гъогухэр - railways.
Qualitative adjectives can have comparative and superlative degrees: The Comparative degree is formed
by auxiliary word нахь / анбхь (more).
Ар ощ нахь лъагэ – he is higher than you, Нахь ины хъугъэ – He became bigger [More big became],
Нахь лIэблан охъун фай - You must be braver.
For superlative degrees the structure зэкIэмэ анахь (more than all...) is used: Ар зэкIэмэ анахь дахэ –
She is the most beautiful, Ар зэкIэмэ анахь лъагэ - It is the highest, ЗэкIэми анахь дэгъу шхынкIэ
ыгъэшхагъ – She feeds him with the tastiest meal, Ар заужмэ анахь лъэщэ – He is the strongest.
Adjective prefixes
Opinion (шӏо~)
To indicate an opinion of someone the prefix шӏо~ (ʃʷʼa~) is added to the adjective. This is used very rarely on nouns.
Examples:
- дахэ /daːxa/ - pretty → шӏодах /ʃʷʼadaːx/ - it's pretty for him.
- дэхагъ /daxaːʁ/ - was pretty → шӏодэхагъ /ʃʷʼadaxaːʁ/ - it was pretty for him.
- дэхэт /daxat/ - will be pretty → шӏодэхэт /ʃʷʼadaxat/ - it will be pretty for him.
- ӏэшӏу /ʔaːʃʷʼə/ - tasty → cшӏоӏэшӀу /səʃʷʼaʔaːʃʷʼ/ - it is tasty for me.
- дэгъу /daʁʷə/ - good → яшӏодэгъу /jaːʃʷʼadaʁʷ/ - it is good for them.
- мафэ /maːfa/ - day → шӏомаф /ʃʷʼamaːfa/ - it is day for him.
- плъыжьы /pɬəʑə/ - red → шӏоплъыжьы /ʃʷʼapɬəʑə/ - it is red for him.
пшъашъэм кӏалэр шӏодах пшъашъэ-м кӏалэ-р шӏо-дах [pʂaːʂam t͡ʃʼaːlar ʂʷadaːx] the girl (erg.) the boy (abs.) it's pretty for him/her "the boy is pretty for the girl." кӏалэхэмэ яшъодахэп сиджанэ кӏалэ-хэ-мэ я-шъо-дахэ-п си-джанэ [t͡ʃaːlaxama jaːʃʷadaːxap sid͡ʒaːna] the boys (erg.) it was not pretty for them my shirt "my shirt was not beautiful for the boys." мы бэнанэм иуасэ пшӏолъапӏа? мы бэнанэ-эм и-уасэ п-шӏо-лъапӏэ-а? [mə banaːnam jəwaːsa pʃʷaɬaːpʼaː] this banana (erg.) its cost is it expensive for you? "Is this banana expensive for you?" мы мыер сышӏоӏашӏоп мы мые -эр сы-шӏо-ӏашӏо-эп [mə məjar səʃʷaʔaːʃʷap] this apple (arg.) Is not tasty for me "This apple is not testy for me."
Adjective suffixes
Suffixes that can be added to nouns :
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ~кӏэ (~t͡ʃʼa) | new | унакӏэ (new house) |
| ~жъы (~ʐə) | old | унэжъы (old house) |
| ~шхо (~ʃxʷa) | large | унэшхо (large house) |
| ~цӏыкӏу (~t͡sʼəkʷʼ) | small | унэцӏыкӏу (small house) |
Suffixes that can be added to adjectives :
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ~щэ (~ɕa) | too much | дыджыщэ (too much bitter) |
| ~дэд (~dad) | very | дэгъудэд (very good) |
| ~бз (~bz) | totally | дэгъуабз (totally good) |
| ~шъыпкъ (~ʂəpq) | truly | дэгъушъыпкъ (truly good) |
| ~кӏай (~t͡ʃʼaːj) | kind of | дэгъукӏай (kind of good) |
кӏалэм ахъчэ бащэ иӀ [t͡ʃaːlam aːχt͡ʃa baːʃa jəʔ] the boy (erg.) money/cash too much he have "The boy have too much money" сиӏоф къинышъыпкъ [siʔof qinəʂəpq] my work totally hard "My work is totally hard"
Measurement (~гъакӏэ)
To indicate a measure of a certain adjective, it has the suffix -гъакӏэ (-ʁaːt͡ʃʼa). In the Shapsug dialect it has the suffix -гъакӏьэ (-ʁaːkʲʼa). Usually it's used for measurable adjectives like length, height, weight, size, strength and speed but it can be used on any adjective.
- кӏэхьы /t͡ʃʼaħə/ - long → кӏэхьыгъакӏэ /t͡ʃʼaħəʁaːt͡ʃʼa/ - length.
- ӏэтыгъэ /ʔatəʁa/ - high → ӏэтыгъакӏэ /ʔatəʁaːt͡ʃʼa/ - height.
- псынкӏэ /psənt͡ʃʼa/ - fast → псынкӏэгъакӏэ /psənt͡ʃʼaʁaːt͡ʃʼa/ - speed.
- фабэ /faːba/ - hot → фэбэгъакӏэ /fabaʁaːt͡ʃʼa/ - heat.
- кӏуачӏэ /kʷʼaːt͡ʃʼa/ - strong → кӏочӏэгъакӏэ /kʷʼat͡ʃʼaʁaːt͡ʃʼa/ - strength.
- ӏужъу /ʔʷəʒʷə/ - wide → ӏужъугъакӏэ /ʔʷəʒʷəʁaːt͡ʃʼa/ - width.
- дахэ /daːxa/ - beautiful → дэхэгъакӏэ /daxaʁaːt͡ʃʼa/ - beauty.
пхъэм иӏужъугъакӏэ 65 сантиметр [pχam jəʔʷəʒʷəʁaːt͡ʃʼa 65 saːntimetr] the wood (erg.) its width 65 centimeters "The wood's width is 65 centimeters" кӏалэм кӏочӏэгъакӏэ хэлъ [t͡ʃʼaːɮam kʷʼat͡ʃʼaʁaːt͡ʃʼa xaɬ] the boy (erg.) strength he is laying among / has in him "The boy has strength in him."
Numbers
- Numbers from zero to ten are specific words
- 0 зиӀ [ziʔ]
- 1 зы
[zə] - 2 тӀу [tʷʼə]
- 3 щы [ɕə]
- 4 плӀы [pɬʼə]
- 5 тфы [tfə]
- 6 хы [xə]
- 7 блы [blə] or [bɮə]
- 8 и [jə]
- 9 бгъу [bʁʷə]
- 10 пшӀы [pʃʼə]
- Numbers from eleven to nineteen are built with the word for ten, followed by кIу ([kʷʼə]) and the
unit digit:
- 11 пшӀыкӀуз [pʃʼəkʷʼəz]
- 12 пшӀыкӀутIу [pʃʼəkʷʼətʷʼ]
- 13 пшӀыкӀущ [pʃʼəkʷʼəɕ]
- 14 пшӀыкӀуплI [pʃʼəkʷʼəpɬʼ]
- 15 пшӀыкӀутф [pʃʼəkʷʼətf]
- 16 пшӀыкӀух [pʃʼəkʷʼəx]
- 17 пшӀыкӀубл [pʃʼəkʷʼəbl]
- 18 пшӀыкӀуй [pʃʼəkʷʼəj]
- 19 пшӀыкӀубгъу [pʃʼəkʷʼəbʁʷ]
- The tens follow a vigesimal system from forty up, with the exception of fifty:
- 20 тӀокӀы [tʷʼat͡ʃə] (20)
- 21 тӀокӀырэ зырэ [tʷʼat͡ʃəra zəra] (20 and 1)
- 22 тӀокӀырэ тIурэ [tʷʼat͡ʃəra tʷʼəra] (20 and 2)
- 23 тӀокӀырэ щырэ [tʷʼat͡ʃəra ɕəra] (20 and 3)
- ...
- 30 щэкӀы [ɕat͡ʃə] (30)
- 31 щэкӀырэ зырэ [ɕat͡ʃə zəra] (30 and 1)
- 32 щэкӀырэ тIурэ [ɕat͡ʃə tʷʼəra] (30 and 2)
- ...
- 40 тӀокӀитIу [tʷʼat͡ʃitʷʼ] (20 × 2)
- 41 тӀокӀитIурэ зырэ [tʷʼat͡ʃitʷʼəra zəra] (20 × 2 and 1)
- 42 тӀокӀитIурэ тIурэ [tʷʼat͡ʃitʷʼəra tʷʼəra] (20 × 2 and 2)
- ...
- 50 шъэныкъо [ʂanəqʷa] (half-hundred)
- 51 шъэныкъорэ зырэ [ʂanəqʷara zəra] (half-hundred and 1)
- 52 шъэныкъорэ тIурэ [ʂanəqʷara tʷʼəra] (half-hundred and 2)
- ...
- 60 тӀокӀищ [tʷʼat͡ʃiɕ] (20 × 3)
- 61 тӀокӀищырэ зырэ [tʷʼat͡ʃiɕəra zəra] (20 × 3 and 1)
- 62 тӀокӀищырэ тIурэ [tʷʼat͡ʃiɕəra tʷʼəra] (20 × 3 and 2)
- ...
- 70 тӀокӀищырэ пшIырэ [tʷʼat͡ʃiɕra pʃʼəra] (20 × 3 and 10)
- 71 тӀокӀищырэ пшIыкIузырэ [tʷʼat͡ʃiɕra pʃʼəkʷʼəzəra] (20 × 3 and 11)
- 72 тӀокӀищырэ пшӀыкӀутIурэ [tʷʼat͡ʃiɕra pʃʼəkʷʼətʷʼəra] (20 × 3 and 12)
- ...
- 80 тӀокӀиплӀ [tʷʼat͡ʃipɬʼ] (20 × 4)
- 81 тӀокӀиплӀырэ зырэ [tʷʼat͡ʃipɬʼəra zəra] (20 × 4 and 1)
- 82 тӀокӀиплӀырэ тIурэ [tʷʼat͡ʃipɬʼəra tʷʼəra] (20 × 4 and 2)
- ...
- 90 тӀокӀиплӀырэ пшIырэ [tʷʼat͡ʃipɬʼəra pʃʼəra] (20 × 4 and 10)
- 91 тӀокӀиплӀырэ пшIыкIузырэ [tʷʼat͡ʃipɬʼəra pʃʼəkʷʼəzəra] (20 × 4 and 11)
- 91 тӀокӀиплӀырэ пшӀыкӀутIурэ [tʷʼat͡ʃipɬʼəra pʃʼəkʷʼətʷʼəra] (20 × 4 and 12)
- One hundred is шъэ (ʂa). The hundreds are formed by the hundred word root (шъ (ʂ)) followed by -и-
(-i-) and the multiplier digit root.
- 100 шъэ (ʂa)
- 101 шъэрэ зырэ (ʂara zəra) (100 and 1)
- 110 шъэрэ пшӏырэ (ʂara pʃʼəra) (100 and 10)
- 200 шъитӀу (ʂitʷʼ) (100 × 2)
- 201 шъитӀурэ зырэ (ʂitʷʼəra zəra) (200 × 2 and 1)
- 300 шъищ (ʂiɕ) (100 × 3)
- 400 шъиплӀ (ʂipɬʼ) (100 × 4)
- 500 шъитф (ʂitf) (100 × 5)
- 600 шъих (ʂix) (100 × 6)
- 700 шъибл (ʂibl) (100 × 7)
- 800 шъий (ʂij) (100 × 8)
- 900 шъибгъу (ʂibʁʷ) (100 × 9)
- One thousand is мин (min). The thousands are formed by the thousand word root (мин (məjn))
followed by -и- (-i-) and the multiplier digit root.
- 1000 мин (min)
- 1001 минрэ зырэ (minra zəra) (1000 and 1)
- 1010 минрэ пшӏырэ (minra pʃʼəra) (1000 and 10)
- 1100 минрэ шъэрэ (minra ʂara) (1000 and 100)
- 2000 минитӀу (minitʷʼ) (1000 × 2)
- 3000 минищ (miniɕ) (1000 × 3)
- 4000 миниплӀ (minipɬʼ) (1000 × 4)
- 5000 минитф (minitf) (1000 × 5)
- 6000 миних (minix) (1000 × 6)
- 7000 минибл (minibl) (1000 × 7)
- 8000 миний (minij) (1000 × 8)
- 9000 минибгъу (minibʁʷ) (1000 × 9)
- 10000 минипшӏ (minipʃʼ) (1000 × 10)
- 11000 минипшӀыкӀуз (minipʃʼəkʷʼəz) (1000 × 11)
- 12000 минипшӀыкӀутIу (minipʃʼəkʷʼətʷʼ) (1000 × 12)
- 20000 минитӀокӀы (minitʷʼat͡ʃə) (1000 × 20)
- 100000 минишъэ (miniʂa) (1000 × 100)
- 200000 минишъитӀу (miniʂitʷʼ) (1000 × 200)
When composed, the hundred word takes the -рэ (-ra) suffix, as well as the ten and the unit if any (e.g.:
шъэрэ зырэ (ʂara zəra) [101], шъэрэ тIурэ (ʂara tʷʼəra) [102], шъэрэ пшӀыкӀузырэ (pʃʼəkʷʼətʷʼəra) [111],
шъитӀурэ щэкӀырэ плIырэ (ʂitʷʼəra ɕat͡ʃəra pɬʼəra) [234]).
- One thousand is мин (min). The other thousands are formed by concatenating the thousand word with
-и- (-i-) and the multiplier digit root: минитӀу (minitʷʼə) [2,000], минищ (miniɕ) [3,000]…
минищ шъэ (miniɕ ʂa) [3,100], минищ шъитIу (miniɕ ʂitʷʼə) [3,200], миниплӀ (minipɬʼ) [4,000],
миниплӀы шъэ (minipɬʼəra ʂa) [4,100], минишъиплIтIу (miniʂipɬʼətʷʼ) [4,200], минишъиплӀщ
(miniʂipɬʼəɕ) [4,300], минитфы шъэ (minitfə ʂa) [5,100], минишъитфтIу (miniʂitfətʷʼ) [5,200]...
When there is a certain amount of the noun, the noun is followed by -и (-i) and the multiplier digit root.
for example: Зы кӀалэ - One boy (zə t͡ʃaːla), КӀалитӀу - two boys (t͡ʃaːlitʷʼ), КӀалиплӏ -
four boys (t͡ʃaːlipɬʼ), КӀалишъэ - 100 boys (t͡ʃaːliʂa), Зы мафэ - one day (zə maːfa),
МафитIу - two days (maːfitʷʼ), Мафищы (мафищ) - three days (maːfiɕ).
Ordinal numbers
- Except апэрэ/япэрэ - first (aːpara/jaːpara) are formed by prefix я- (jaː-) and suffix – нэрэ (- nara). For
example: ятIунэрэ - second (jaːtʷʼənara), ящынэрэ - third (jaːɕənara), яплIынэрэ - fourth (jaːpɬʼənara).
- first - япэрэ [jːpara]
- second - ятӀунэрэ [jaːtʷʼənara]
- third - ящынэрэ [jaːɕənara]
- fourth - яплӀынэрэ [jaːpɬʼənara]
- firth - ятфынэрэ [jaːtfənara]
- sixth - яхынэрэ [jaːxənara]
- seventh - яблынэрэ [jaːblənara]
- eighth - яинэрэ [jaːjənara]
- ninth - ябгъунэрэ [jaːbʁʷənara]
- tenth - япшӀынэрэ [jaːpʃʼənara]
- eleventh - япшӀыкӏузынэрэ [jaːpʃʼəkʷʼəzənara]
- twelfth - япшӀыкӏутӏунэрэ [jaːpʃʼəkʷʼətʷʼənara]
- twenty th - ятӏокӏынэрэ [jaːtʷʼat͡ʃənara]
- hundredth - яшъэнэрэ [jaːʂanara]
Япэрэ мафэ - First day (jaːpara maːfa), ЯтIонэрэ мафэ - second day (jaːtʷʼənara maːfa), ЯтIонэрэ цуакъо
- second shoe (jaːpara t͡ʃʷaːqʷa), Яхэнэрэ классым щэгъэжьагъу тутын сешъо~I have been smoking
since the sixth class.
Discrete numbers
- Are formed by changing the last vowel ~ы (~ə) of number to ~эрэ (~ara):
о плIэрэ къыосIогъах - I have told you four times already.
- Number can also define measure of a share: Numbers "one" and "two" are formed by words псау
(psaw) (whole, whole), ренэ (pena) (whole, whole about length of time), ныкъо (nəqʷa) (the half).
- Fractional numerals are formed from cardinal numerals with the help of the -(а)нэ /aːna/ morpheme:
щы /ɕə/ "three" - щанэ /ɕaːna/ "third", плӏы /pɬʼə/ "four" - плӏанэ /pɬʼaːna/ "fourth", хы "six" - ханэ
/xaːna/ "sixth" and so on. In a sentence: Чӏыгоу къытатыгъэм изыщанэ картоф хэдгъэтӏысхьа́гъ "On
one third of the allocated land we have planted potatoes", Хатэм изыщанэ помидор хэдгъэтIысхагъ-
third part of vegetable garden we used for the tomatoes, Ахщэ къыратыгъэм ыпӏланэ чыфэ ритыгъ –
The quarter of the money he received, he lent.
- half (1÷2) - ныкъо [nəqʷa]
- one third (1÷3) - щанэ [ɕaːna]
- two thirds (2÷3) - щанитӏу [ɕaːnitʷʼ] (1÷3 × 2)
- one fourth (1÷4) - плӀанэ [pɬʼaːna]
- two fourths (2÷4) - плӀанитӏу [pɬʼaːnitʷʼ] (1÷4 × 2)
- three fourths (3÷4) - плӀанищ [pɬʼaːniɕ] (1÷4 × 3)
- one fifth (1÷5) - тфанэ [tfaːna]
- one sixth (1÷6) - ханэ [xaːna]
- one seventh (1÷7) - бланэ [blaːna]
- one eighth (1÷8) - янэ [jaːna]
- one ninth (1÷9) - бгъуанэ [bʁʷaːna]
- one tenth (1÷10) - пшӀанэ [pʃʼaːna]
- one eleventh (1÷11) - пшӀыкӏузанэ [pʃʼəkʷʼəzaːna]
- one twelfth (1÷12) - пшӀыкӏутӏуанэ [pʃʼəkʷʼətʷʼaːna]
- one twentieth (1÷20) - тӏокӏанэ [tʷʼat͡ʃaːna]
- one hundredth (1÷100) - шъанэ [ʂaːna]
- Separative numerals are formed by repetition of the appropriate cardinal numeral with the help of the
morpheme -ры /-rə/: зырыз /zərəz/ "by one", тӏурытӏу /tʷʼərətʷʼ/ "by twos", щырыщ /ɕərəɕ/ "by threes",
плӏырыплӏ /pɬʼərəplʼ/ "by fours", тфырытф /tfərətf/ "by fives" and so on. In a sentence: Еджакӏохэр
экзаменым тӏурытӏоу чӏахьэщтыгъэх "Pupils entered the examination room by twos".
- Approximate numerals are formed as a combination of three cardinal numerals where the main
constructive numeral is, usually, the numeral зы "one". for example зыхыбл /zəxəbl/ зы-хы-бл "about six
or seven", зытӏущ /zətʷʼəɕ/ зы-тӏу-щ "about two or three" . In a sentence: Непэ садэжь нэбгырэ зыт1ущ
къы1ухьагъ "About two or three people have approached me today".
Postpositions
Postposition serve similar functions to prepositions in English, but are placed after the noun.
- These are the words: ыпэ or ипэ (əpa/jəpa) – before first, дэжь (ди) - to, beside, чIэгъ - under, кIыб –
behind for
Ыпэ узытеплъэрэм машинэ дэгъу - At first you thought the car was good, Ар ыпэ къэчIэжьыгъэп - I
did not remember him at first, Чэтыур анэ чIэгъым чIэс – The cat sits under the table.
- If the object is a personal pronoun, these words can merge with it and form an independent structure:
Садэжь - To me, beside me (saːdaʑ), Сидэжь - near me (sidaʑ), Тадэжь - To us,beside us (taːdaʑ),
Тидэжь - near us (tidaʑ).
Садэжь укъакIощта непэ? – Can you come to me today?, Тадэжь къакIоба! – Come to us!.
- Conjunction: ыкIы, ыджы – and, else (ət͡ʃə, əd͡ʒə), бу, шъхьбем - but (bu, ʂħbem), e/йэ - or (ja).
Лъэу ыджы къыпIотэщт? - What else will You say?, Ащ бэрэ лъэхъугъ, ау къыгъотыжьыгъэп – I was
looking for him for a long time, but I did not find, E улIэн, e улIын – Die or be a man! (Adyghe proverb).
- The Particles affirmative and negative:
ары – yes (arə), хьау – no (ħaːaw).
ЗэхэушыкIа? – Do you understand?; Ары. ЗэхэсэшыкIы - Yes, I understand; Хьау, ЗэхэсэшыкIэп - No, I
don’t understand.
Sentence structure
- Adyghe exhibits mostly free word order, though predicate finality is preferred.
Пчэджэм жъэу сыхьатэблым сэкъэтэджагъ. - I got up at seven o’clock in the early morning.
Сэ тутынэр сешъону чIэсыдзыжьыгъ - I gave up smoking.
Interrogatives
- Questions are indicated by the suffix ~a /aː/, which, in verbs ending with /a/, lengthens the end vowel.
- макӏо /maːkʷʼa/ "he is going" → макӏуа? /maːkʷʼaː/ "is he going?"
- мэтхагъ /matxaːʁ/ "he wrote" → мэтхагъа? /matxaːʁaː/ "did he wrote?"
- кӏалэр машхэ /t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːʃxa/ "the boy is eating" → кӏалэр машха? /t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːʃxaː/ "is the boy eating?"
- шъокӏо /ʃʷakʷʼa/ "you (plural) are going → шъокӏуа? /ʃʷakʷʼaː/ "are you (plural) going?"
- отхэ /watxa/ "you are writing" → отха? /watxaː/ "are you writing?"
- машхэх /maːʃxax/ "they are eating" → машхэха? /maːʃxaxaː/ "are they eating?"
кӏалэр къэущыжьыгъа? кӏалэ-р къэущыжь-агъ-а [t͡ʃʼaːɮar qawɕəʑəʁaː] the boy (arg.) did (s)he woke up? "Did the boy woke up?" дэгуха мы унэм исыхэр? дэгу-х-а мы унэ-м ис-ыхэ-р [daɡʷəxaː mə wənam jəsəxar] are they deaf? this house the people that are in "Are the people that are in this house deaf?"
- If question is posited to word having Negative Suffix ~п (~p), it is converted to suffix ~ба (~baː). for example: пшӏэрэба? – Don’t you know?, Къыоэджэ, зэхэпхырэба? – They call You, don’t you hear
[that]?, укIожьрагъоба? - Don’t you want to go back?, къакIорагъоба - isn't he want to come?,
ушхэрагъоба - don't you want to eat?
- макӏуа? /maːkʷʼaː/ "is he going?" → макӏоба? /maːkʷʼabaː/ "isn't he going?"
- ошӏа /waʃʼaː/ "do you know?" → пшӏэрэба? /pʃʼarabaː/ "don't you know?"
- мэтхагъа /matxaːʁaː/ "did he wrote" → мэтхагъэба? /matxaːʁabaː/ "didn't he wrote?"
- кӏалэр машха /t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːʃxaː/ "is the boy is eating?" → кӏалэр машхэба? /t͡ʃʼaːɮar maːʃxabaː/ "isn't the
boy eating?"
- шъокӏуа /ʃʷakʷʼaː/ "are you (plural) going? → шъокӏоба? /ʃʷakʷʼabaː/ "aren't you (plural) going?"
- сыдаха /sədaːxaː/ "am I look beautiful" → сыдахэба /sədaːxabaː/ "doesn't I look beautiful"
кӏалэр къэущыжьгъэба? [t͡ʃʼaːɮar qawɕəʑʁabaː] boy (abs.) isn't he woke up? "Has not the boy woke up?" кӏалэр тиунэ къакӏорэба? [t͡ʃʼaːɮar tiwna qaːkʷarabaː] boy (abs.) our house isn't he coming? "Isn't the boy coming to my house?" кӏалэр тиунэ къакӏоба? [t͡ʃʼaːɮar tiwna qaːkʷabaː] boy (abs.) our house he is coming to right? "The boy is coming to my house right?"
- If question is posited by auxiliary interrogative words, хэт (who), щыд or лъэу or сыд (what), тыдэ
(where), тары (which), хьэ or щтэ or сыда (why), these word are positioned in the sentence in that place,
where the word is supposed to be positioned, being answer to supplied question:
хэт къэкӏуагъэ? [xat qakʷʼaːʁa] who the person that came "Who came?" сыд кӏалэм ыцӏэ? [səd t͡ʃʼaːɮam ət͡sʼa] what the boy (erg.) his name "What is the boy's name?" непэ тыдэ ущыӏэщт? [najpa təda wɕəʔaɕt] today where you will be there "Today where will you be?"
References
Bibliography
- Аркадьев, П. М.; Ландер, Ю. А.; Летучий, А. Б.; Сумбатова, Н. Р.; Тестелец, Я. Г. Введение. Основные сведения об адыгейском языке в кн.: "Аспекты полисинтетизма: очерки по грамматике адыгейского языка" под ред.: П. М. Аркадьев, А. Б. Летучий, Н. Р. Сумбатова, Я. Г. Тестелец. Москва: РГГУ, 2009 (Arkadiev, P. M.; Lander, Yu. A.; Letuchiy, A. B.; Sumbatova, N. R.; Testelets, Ya. G.
- Introduction. Basic information about Adyghe language in "Aspects of polysyntheticity: studies on Adyghe grammar" edited by: P. M. Arkadiev, A. B. Letuchiy, N. R. Sumbatova, Ya. G. Testelets. Moscow, RGGU, 2009) (in Russian) ISBN 978-5-7281-1075-0
- Ranko Matasović, A Short Grammar of East Circassian (Kabardian): .
External links
- Adyghe grammar – Introduction Useful site to learn Adyghe grammar
- Adyghe grammar – Detailed (in Russian)
- Adyghe grammar – Circassian language lessons online Another site to learn the Adyghe grammar