Chechens (/ˈtʃɛtʃɛn/, Chechen: Нохчий Nokhchiy; Old Chechen: Нахчой Nakhchuoi) are a Caucasian ethnic group of the Nakh peoples originating in the North Caucasus region of Eastern Europe. They refer to themselves as Vainakhs (which means "our people" in Chechen) or Nokhchiy (pronounced [no̞xtʃʼiː]) (singular Nokhchi or Nakhchuo). Chechen and Ingush peoples are collectively known as the Vainakh.