French word

celte

Pronunciation

IPA/sɛlt/

Meaning

  • noun (m./f.)celt

Example

J'ai parlé avec un Celte hier.

I spoke with a Celt yesterday.

Illustration for celte (celt)

More examples

Un Celte habite près de chez moi.

A Celt lives near my home.

Core concept

A historical person identified with the Celtic peoples rather than with one modern nation.

Similar words

irlandais: A person from Ireland or with Irish roots.
écossais: A person from Scotland or with Scottish roots.
gallois: A person from Wales or with Welsh roots.
breton: A person from Brittany or with roots in the region.

Definition in French

Individu issu ou considéré comme membre d'un peuple celtique, terme employé surtout pour désigner des personnes historiques ou leurs descendants.

Word origin

Greek Keltoi passed into Latin as Celta and later into French as celte, preserving an ancient ethnic name in a modern learned form.

Usage tips

  • Celte is mainly historical or general; modern contexts usually specify a group or place, such as un Irlandais, un Écossais, or un Breton.

Other meanings

  • Celticadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word