How do you pronounce “Celtic” in the US?

42 comments

1. I would pronounce it seltic although I’ve never said that word before

2. I’ve heard it both ways

3. Most pronounce Celtic as “Keltic” with one notable exception. The NBA team is pronounced “seltic.” And we have lots of people of Irish descent. So Celtic isn’t an uncommon word.

4. I’ve always only known the word Celtic with a “k” sound.

   Literally the *only* exception is when in reference to the NBA team known as the Boston Celtics which, for reasons unknown to me, is pronounced with an “s” sound.

5. The culture and people are with a hard C. The basketball team is with a soft C.

6. Keltic, except for the basketball team

7. Hard ‘c’ except for the NBA franchise.

8. >people taught me “keltic” here in Britain.

   Not a follower of Scottish football, I take it?

9. Kel-tic. However, the basketball team is pronounced sel-tic. I have no idea why.

10. The Boston NBA team and the club in Glasgow are “Seltic”. Otherwise it’s “Keltic”.

11. Boston Celtics the NBA team with an s, Celtic like the people with a k.

12. Keltic

13. Keltic, unless we’re talking about the basketball team.

14. I always pronounced it Keltic. Except the sports team which is Seltic. I thought that was correct. But a recent visit to Dunvegan Castle in Scotland, and their film, narrated by the current Earl, he pronounced is Seltic. So who knows.

15. Keltic except for the basketball and soccer teams

16. It’s keltic if referring to the place/people/culture, and seltic if it’s the NBA team.

17. Sell _ tick

18. Hard C unless it’s Boston’s NBA team.

19. It’s “Kel-Tic” culture and language and “Cel-tic” football team

20. It’s pronounced with the K sound unless you’re specifically talking about the basketball team in my experience

21. Seltics is the basketball team.

    Keltic for everything else except for peeps that only know of the basketball team

22. Context

23. Seltic for the basketball team, keltic for the ethnic group/language.

24. Sports team: selts
    The people: kelts (thanks to Celtic Guardian from Yu-Gi-Oh)

25. Kel-tic

26. I live in the northeast and I’ve heard it said both ways. I would not say that either way is incorrect, but I was taught that with the hard C was more authentic to great Britain

27. Ok, so we KNOW its “Keltic”, but the goobers at the NBA decided to pronounce the team the wrong way, so…

28. I use both “Kehl-tick” and “Sell-tick”

    I should probably pick one

29. The basketball team name gets a S sound. The group of European peoples gets a K sound.

30. Like “Kel-Tec”

31. We have no idea

32. We’re conditioned now to saying it “keltik” in Gaelic contexts (thank you PBS for Celtic Woman) and reserving “seltik” for the basketball team, even though the latter is more phonically correct in the US.

33. I pronounce it like seltic

34. kel-tick. the only time you say sel-tick is when you’re talking about the basketball team

35. My sweetie is part of an Iron Age Celtic reenactment group.

    *Everyone* says “Keltic.”

    I looked up the difference, and apparently, it’s almost literally only the Boston “Seltics” and “Seltic” Scottish football that use the soft S.

36. Keltic for all things except Boston team, which is Seltics.

37. If you’re talking about the Boston Celtics then it’s pronounced “seltic”. Otherwise it’s pronounced “keltic”.

38. Keltic

39. “Keltic” almost exclusively

40. I have never heard or seen this word in my life but I’d pronounce it as cell-tic

41. Sell Tick

42. I say “Celtic” but I’m not into sports or anywhere near Boston. I’m probably one of the few Americans to be aware of the people before the team.