Page Type: languageKabardian | Ethnologue

KBD ISO 639-3

Kabardian

Къэбэрдей Адыгэбзэ‎ (Qăbărdey Adəgăbză) Autonym

A language of Russian Federation

ISO 639
kbd
Alternate Names
East Circassian, Eastern Adyghe, Eastern Circassian, Highland Adyghe, Kabard, Kabardin, Kabardino-Cherkes, Kabardo-Cherkess, Kabardo-Cherkessian, Upper Adyghe, Upper Circassian
Autonym
Къэбэрдей Адыгэбзэ‎ (Qăbărdey Adəgăbză)
Population
516,000 in Russian Federation (2010 census). 36,700 monolinguals (2002 census). Ethnic population: 590,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 1,885,800.
Location:
Kabardino-Balkar republic, North Ossetia-Alania republic, Stavropol krai.
Language Status
5* (Developing).
Classification
Abkhaz-Adyghe, Circassian
Dialects
Greater Kabardian, Baksan, Lesser Kabardian, Malka, Mozdok, Kuban, Beslenei (Beslenej, Besleney), Terek. Similar to Adyghe [ady].
Language Development
Taught in primary and secondary schools. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1993–2007.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kabardian
Writing
Cyrillic script [Cyrl].
Other Comments
The ethnonym ‘Adyghe’ is synonymous with Circassian and encompasses both Kabardian (Eastern Adyghe or Eastern Circassian) and Adyghe [ady] (Western Adyghe or Western Circassian). Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kabardian
User Population
14,000 in Germany (2005 Circassian Association).
Location
Scattered.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of Germany
Language Name
Kabardian
User Population
121,000 in Jordan (2019).
Location
‘Amman, Az-Zarqa’, and Jarash governorates; Russeifa and Sweileh urban areas near the capital.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of Jordan
Language Name
Kabardian
User Population
26,500 in Saudi Arabia (2018). , based on ethnicity.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Saudi Arabia
Language Name
Kabardian
User Population
34,800 in Syria (2019).
Location
Dimashq governorate; Damascus, Aleppo, possibly other cities.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of Syria
Language Name
Kabardian
User Population
1,170,000 in Turkey (2019 Circassian Association).
Location
Kayseri province: Uzun Yayla plateau east of Kayseri city; Corum, Duzce, Eskisehir, Kahramanmarash, and Samsun provinces: scattered.
Dialects
Besleney.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of Turkey
Language Name
Kabardian
User Population
3,500 in United States (2005 Circassian Association). , including Adyghe [ady] speakers.
Location
California: Orange county; New Jersey: Paterson.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of United States

Map

Location: Kabardino-Balkar republic, North Ossetia-Alania republic, Stavropol krai.