LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
proper noun · masculinefirst declension

Celtae

Celtae m pl (genitive Celtārum)
Classical[ˈkɛɫ.tae̯]Ecclesiastical[ˈt͡ʃɛl.te]

Meaning

  1. masculinepluralthe Celts (inhabitants of Gaul)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominative—Celtae
genitive—Celtārum
dative—Celtīs
accusative—Celtās
ablative—Celtīs
vocative—Celtae

Celtae, ārum, m., = Κελταί,
I. a great parent - stock of people in the north of Europe, the Celts; among the Romans, in a more restricted sense, the inhabitants of Middle Gaul, Caes. B. G. 1, 1; Liv. 5, 34, 1; Mel. 3, 2, 4; cf. Plin. 4, 17, 31, § 105 sq. —
II. Hence deriv.: Celtĭcus, a, um, adj.
A. Celtic, of Middle Gaul: Gallia, Plin. 4, 17 31, § 105: spolia, id. 8, 3, 3, § 6.—* Adv.: Celtĭcē, in the Celtic language, Plin. 33, 3, 12, § 40; Sulp. Sev. Dial. 1, 27.—
B. (Acc. to the wide signif. of the Greeks.) Celtĭci, ōrum, m., a people in interior Spain and on the river Guadiana, Mel. 3, 1, 8; 3, 6, 2; Plin. 4, 20, 34, § 111; also adj.: Celtica gens, Mel. 3, 1, 9; and Promonturium, in Gallœcia, now Capo Finisterre, id. 3, 1, 7; Plin. 4, 20, 34, § 111.—
C. (In a broader sense.) Celtic = of Upper Italy: rura, Sil. 1, 46.—
D. Celtĭca, ae, f. (sc. terra), the Celtic country, Plin. 3, 1, 3, § 14; 6, 13, 14, § 34.—
E. Celtĭcum, i, n. (sc. nomen or imperium), the Celtic nation, Celts, Liv. 5, 34, 1.

Origins

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Κελτοί (Keltoí), Κέλται (Kéltai), Herodotus’ word for the Gauls, from Proto-Celtic *kel-to, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂- (“to strike, beat”). Compare Gaulish theonym *Su-kellos (“good striker”).

In English words that came into English from Celtae

  • CeltCeltae

Quick answers

What does Celtae mean in Latin?
Celtae, a proper noun, means “the Celts (inhabitants of Gaul)”.
What is the genitive of Celtae?
The genitive singular is Celtārum. Celtae is masculine, first declension.
How do you pronounce Celtae?
In classical Latin, [ˈkɛɫ.tae̯]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈt͡ʃɛl.te].