The Circassians, also known by their endonym Adyghe (Circassian: Адыгэ), are an NW Caucasian nation native to Circassia.

In its narrowest sense, the term "Circassian" includes the 12 Adyghe subethnic groups, represented by stars on the Circassian flag: 

- Abdzakh;
- Besleney;
- Bzhedug;
- Hatuqwai; 
- Kabardian;
- Mamkhegh;
- Natukhai;
- Shapsug;
- Temirgoy;
- Ubykh;
- Yegeruqwai;
- Zhaney.
In its general sense,  the term "Circassian" includes also "Abaze Jile" and "Adighe jile" people. 

The Circassians mainly speak the Circassian language, an NW Caucasian dialect continuum with 2 main dialects, Western and Eastern.
The Circassians also speak Turkish, Russian, English, Arabic, and Hebrew, as descendants of the Circassians having been exiled by Russia to lands of the Ottoman Empire, where the majority of them today live.

About 700 000 - 800,000 of Circassians remain in historical Circassia, which includes the titular Circassian republics and regions:

- The Republic of Adygea;
- The Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria;
- The Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia;
- Krasnodar Krai; 
- Stavropol Krai (SW part). 

About 3 000 000 - 7 000 000 of Circassians estimated to live outside the Russian Federation, mainly in:
- Turkey;
- Syria;
- Jordan;
- Israel;
- Irak;
- Lybia;
- Egypt;
- USA;
- Germany.