How to pronounce "Celt"?

[Epictetus]

How does one pronounce “Celt”? Is it with a hard “c” or a soft “c”? I see in dictionaries that either pronunciation is accepted, but I’ve heard some persuasive arguments that it should always be a hard “c” – “Kelt”. An Irish friend once told me that it was always a hard “c” except for sports franchises, and then it was soft, so “Seltics.”

Is there a definitive answer?

[Jona Lendering]

How does one pronounce “Celt”?

Isn't this the same discussion as "Sisero or Kikero, Seesar or Kaisar"? In other words, isn't this the debate between an early and a late pronounciation of the same language?

[Nathan Ross]

An Irish friend once told me that it was always a hard “c” except for sports franchises, and then it was soft, so “Seltics.”

Is there a definitive answer?

Your friend was right - always a hard K. Greek Keltoi and Roman Celtae were both 'hard', and the modern 'Celt' is likewise. The confusion comes mainly from the Glasgow Irish/Catholic football club Celtic, pronounced 'Seltic', which was named back in the nineteenth century and maintains the mispronunciation. This has carried over into various other sporting names - racehorses etc.

There's a rather rude story (which perhaps I shouldn't repeat here :!: ) about the Welsh actor Richard Burton - while at a party in Hollywood, he was approached by an over-familiar Irish American, who explained that he too was a Selt. Burton replied something along the lines of 'No, I'm a Celt. You're a Sunt.' :wink:

- Nathan

[D B Campbell]

Isn't this the same discussion as "Sisero or Kikero, Seesar or Kaisar"?

A variation thereof. UK archaeologists always say "Keltic", ... perhaps simply to draw a distinction with the football team?

[Epictetus]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

Isn't this the same discussion as "Sisero or Kikero, Seesar or Kaisar"? In other words, isn't this the debate between an early and a late pronounciation of the same language?

I had no idea what you were talking about until I did some internet searches. (I never studied Latin, unfortunately.) Quite interesting!

[A_Volpe]

oh darn, I thought it was pronounced "kelt" as in "kilt", an abbreviation of "killed"

since the only good Kelt has been Kilt.

Oooh! Zing! Just Kidding!! :mrgreen:

[Alanus]

oh darn, I thought it was pronounced "kelt" as in "kilt", an abbreviation of "killed"

since the only good Kelt has been Kilt.

Oooh! Zing! Just Kidding!! :mrgreen:

Hey, Andy

Didn't know you were on these threads. Kelt it is, just as Caesar was pronounced "Kaesar"... which led to the Germanic "Kaisar."

The "guy from Maine"

[A_Volpe]

AJ - It's all good, bro - I was just making a silly joke. I'm well aware of the pronunciation

Good to see you here on the board, too.. Mighty Third and it's Auxiliaries taking over RAT! Muahahah!

[Nathan Ross]

"Sisero or Kikero, Seesar or Kaisar"?

I've just about adapted to Markellus, Lukius and Kaekilius, pronunciation-wise, but somehow Kikero and Yulius Kaiser don't really work for me.

As for that 'Weni, Widi, Wiki' stuff... all a bit too 'Biggus Dickus', if you know what I mean

[Alanus]

Of course. Otherwise you'd be "Pwimus Piwus" of the Judean Wiberation Suicide Squad. :lol: