Pronunciation: ˌ kär- ə - ' ch ī -chir- ' ke-sy ə
Variant: or formerly Ka · ra · cha · ye · vo-Cher · kess \ ˌ kär- ə - ' ch ī - ə - ˌ v ō -chir- ' kes \
Function: geographical name
autonomous region SE Russia in Europe in N Caucasus area 5444 sq mi (14,100 sq km ), pop 431,000 capital Cherkessk