What is the correct pronunciation of the word Celtic?

Though the original pronunciation of ‘Celtic’ was with an ‘s’ sound, the ‘k’ (kell-tik) pronunciation came about in the 18th century and has flourished since. Now, the ‘k’ sound is the standard pronunciation of ‘Celtic.’

When did people start pronunciating \\K\\ as the default for Irish?

By the mid-20th century, \\k\\ became the norm, which is fitting since the pronunciation is in line with that of the Celtic family of languages that include Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, and the now-extinct (or, depending on who you talk to, nearly extinct) languages Manx and Cornish. Apparently, people appreciated the ethnic pronunciation.

Is it “Celtic” or “Keltic?

I prefer “keltic” as the Celtic pronunciation to refer to the Celtic languages and cultures, and so all of the English-speaking Medievalists and Celticists (that’s “kelticists”) I know.

Is “Keltic” the correct pronunciation of the letter K?

There are some who argue that “keltic” is the “correct” pronunciation because both Irish and Welsh use the letter C to indicate the sound represented by the letter K in English. This is a spurious argument since the ancient Celts did not refer to themselves as “Celts.”

What is the etymology of the noun Celt?

The etymology of the noun Celt —from which the adjective Celtic is derived—is straightforward. It’s a 16th-century borrowing of the French word Celte, which itself is from Latin Celta, the singular of Celtae, which is the name for a member of an early Indo-European people from antiquity who spread…

What is the origin of the Celtic language?

Definition of Celtic (Entry 2 of 2) : a group of Indo-European languages usually subdivided into Brythonic and Goidelic and now largely confined to Brittany, Wales, Ireland, and the Scottish Highlands — see Indo-European Languages Table.

What is the meaning of Celtic language?

Definition of Celtic (Entry 2 of 2) : a group of Indo-European languages usually subdivided into Brythonic and Goidelic and now largely confined to Brittany, Wales, Ireland, and the Scottish Highlands — see Indo-European Languages Table First Known Use of Celtic