adj
Common
Celtic
KEHL-tihk
Celtic (adj) means relating to the Celts, an ancient group of peoples across Western and Central Europe, or their languages and culture. Example: “The museum has a fine collection of Celtic jewellery.”
adj
1
Relating to the Celts, an ancient group of peoples across Western and Central Europe, or their languages and culture.
"The museum has a fine collection of Celtic jewellery."
"Irish and Welsh are both Celtic languages."
How to use Celtic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to the Celts and their languages, art, and traditions — found historically in places like Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
Celtic mythology
Celtic music
Celtic languages
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Word forms
- Plural
- Celtics
- Comparative
- more Celtic
- Superlative
- most Celtic
Fill the gap
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The museum has a fine collection of _____ jewellery.
Etymology
From French celtique or Latin celticus, related to "Celt."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Celtic” mean?
The word “Celtic” means relating to the Celts, an ancient group of peoples across Western and Central Europe, or their languages and culture. In plain terms, relating to the Celts and their languages, art, and traditions — found historically in places like Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany.
How do you pronounce “Celtic”?
“Celtic” is pronounced KEHL-tihk (/ˈkɛltɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Celtic” in a sentence?
Here is “Celtic” used in a sentence: “The museum has a fine collection of Celtic jewellery.”
What part of speech is “Celtic”?
“Celtic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “Celtic” come from?
The word “Celtic” comes from Latin. From French celtique or Latin celticus, related to "Celt.".
Is “Celtic” a common word?
“Celtic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Celtic and Gaelic?
Celtic is the umbrella term for an ancient group of peoples across Western and Central Europe and for their family of languages and culture. Gaelic refers to one branch of that family — Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. So all Gaelic languages are Celtic, but Welsh, Breton, and Cornish are Celtic without being Gaelic.
Which languages are Celtic languages?
The six living Celtic languages are Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx, Welsh, Breton, and Cornish. They descend from languages once spoken across much of Western and Central Europe. Manx and Cornish died out as community languages but have since been revived by learners and campaigners.
Which countries or regions are considered Celtic nations?
The six territories usually called Celtic nations are Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, and the Isle of Man, each with a historically Celtic language and culture. Some lists add regions such as Galicia in Spain, though no Celtic language survives there. Membership is cultural and linguistic rather than political.
Why is Celtic sometimes pronounced "Seltic"?
When referring to the peoples, languages, and culture, the standard modern pronunciation begins with a hard K sound. The soft S pronunciation survives chiefly in the proper names of long-established sports clubs. Both are long-standing in English; the K version became the norm for cultural and linguistic use.
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