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Glite Dictionary
Celtic language

Celtic language

7.8
A group of old languages like Irish and Welsh still spoken today
  • noun
  • /ˈkɛltɪk ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lengua celta
  • During this time, the inhabitants of Britain spoke the Celtic language, but the Celts were pushed further northwest, and these tribes became the "Brits."
  • speak a Celtic language

Examples

  • Because you told me that you like the Celtic language and stuff like that, these are Celtic symbols and a bracelet.

    The Real Cancun (2003)

  • The Celtic language of Irish is recognized for its unique grammar and vocabulary.

  • Welsh is a Celtic language that has seen a revival in recent years thanks to educational programs.

  • Breton, a Celtic language spoken in Brittany, has distinct sounds that make it different from French.

Synonyms

Celtic
vsCeltic language
  • Specialized
8.4

A group of languages like Irish and Welsh that people spoke in Europe long ago

is the same meaning but uses the fuller phrase form

Surface Forms

Celtic language singular
Celtic languages plural

Morphology

Celtic + language

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Celtic' (pertaining to the Celtic peoples/culture/languages) + 'language' (a named spoken or written system) yields 'a language of the Celtic family.' This follows a regular adjective + noun pattern found across languages and involves no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it.

Etymology

Celtic language may come from the old Greek word 'Keltoi', which ancient writers used for some people in Europe. That name was later used for the languages those people spoke, so today Celtic language means languages like Irish, Welsh, and Breton.