Is Welsh the Oldest Language in Europe?

This post was last updated on August 24th, 2024 at 03:44 pm

Is Welsh the oldest language in Europe? No, that title goes to Greek. However, Welsh (Cymraeg) dates back as much as 4,000 years, making it the oldest surviving language in Britain. As to why it’s been around so long, it’s a Celtic language that traces back to Proto-Celtic, which evolved from Proto-Indo-European around 1300 BC. 

Is Welsh the oldest language in Europe? Not quite, but it is the oldest language in Britain that is still spoken. Most of the languages of Europe, Welsh included, have their roots in Indo-European. The Indo-European language eventually developed into nine different language groups, with Celtic being one of them. Celtic then branched into its own separate languages. 

There were originally as many as 16 Celtic languages. Only 6 of those are still spoken today: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx, Breton, Cornish, and Welsh. The rest of the languages disappeared over the centuries, with the Roman conquest of Europe being a major contributing factor. 

Before the Roman invasion, Celtic languages were spoken as far as Turkey and across Europe. The accepted theory is that the Celtic language arrived in Britain around 600 BC during the early Iron Age. However, it may have been as early as the late Bronze Age. Until that time, inhabitants spoke what is called Proto-Celtic (or Common Celtic). This language was spoken as early as 1300 BC. It originated from Central Europe’s “Hallstatt Zone,” a site in Austria whose people lived between 1200 and 450 BC, but flourished from 800 to 600 BC.

This post answers the question, “Is Welsh the oldest language in Europe?”

Is Welsh the Oldest Language in Europe?

No, it isn’t Welsh that’s the oldest language on the continent; it’s Greek. However, Welsh is the oldest language in Britain that is still spoken. That makes it the oldest language in UK. How old is the Welsh language? It’s as much as 4,000 years old, meaning it traces its ancestry back to Bronze Age Britain.

Although the ancient Britons left us no written record of the Proto-Celtic language, historians have reconstructed much of it by comparing words from the surviving Celtic languages of modern times. When Proto-Celtic branched into the Celtic languages that came to the British Isles, the Celtic languages then divided again into Goidelic and Brittonic. Goedelic eventually gave us Primitive Irish, which became Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic. Brittonic gave us the Brythonic group of languages: Breton, Cornish, and Welsh, as well as the now-extinct Cumbric, Ivernic, and Pictish languages. 

What is the Oldest Language in the World? 

The oldest language in the world is tricky to peg. When it comes to the most ancient written languages we know of, Sumerian and Akkadian cuneiform scripts have been found on clay tablets and date back about 4,600 years. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics can be found from about the same period.  

Tamil is one of the oldest languages that is still spoken. It’s about 5000 years old and one of the few from that period that has survived into modern usage. Tamil is part of the Dravidian family of languages spoken in Sri Lanka and southern India. Today, it’s one of India’s officially recognized languages. 

However, Egyptian and Chinese are even older than Tamil. As far as the first language that existed—the very oldest—we don’t know! Part of the reason that finding this oldest language is so challenging is that, in a way, all the languages are related to each other. One language traces back to another, and even seemingly completely disrelated languages (Chinese and Welsh, for example) probably share some link at some point in lost antiquity (see #2 under the section below, “10 Surprising Facts About Welsh.”) For this reason, some historians remain on the lookout for evidence of a “proto-human” language—a hypothetical “one” that may have started it all.

Is Welsh Older Than Irish?

Yes, historians have found written evidence of the Welsh language that predates Irish Gaelic. The origins of the Irish language trace back to the arrival of Celtic language speakers in Ireland, an event that marked the beginnings of Primitive Irish. This is evidenced by Ogham inscriptions made in the 3rd or 4th century AD. After the influence of Christianity in the 5th century, Old Irish emerged in glosses (explanations or comments in the margin about the main text) and marginalia (any marks made in the margins of a book or document) within Latin manuscripts, beginning in the 6th century. Its progression led to Middle Irish in the 10th century. At the same time, Early Modern Irish marked the transitional phase between Middle and Modern Irish.

The Welsh Language in Welsh Culture

Is Welsh the oldest language in Europe? No, but it’s been around for thousands of years and is an intrinsic part of life for those who speak it. Welsh, or Cymraeg, is more than just the way folks communicate with one another. It holds the Welsh people’s cherished memories, stories, and traditions. Learning Welsh opens the door to all the treasures of Welsh culture and reflects the essence of Wales itself. The language, evolving from its beginnings in Brythonic all the way to Modern Welsh, holds a distinctive vocabulary with unique words that don’t translate directly into English. 

Two such words are “hiraeth” (a deep longing or a feeling like homesickness for a person, place, or thing that may no longer exist or perhaps never existed) and “cwtch” (a cuddle or hug that provides a sense of warmth or safety). In this way, the Welsh language weaves emotional experiences directly into its structure.

From medieval tales to modern works, Welsh literature leaves us with enchanting stories woven through the language’s poetic beauty. Meanwhile, folklore and traditions, like the Arthurian legends and National Eisteddfod, enrich Welsh identity. The language’s role in music, especially hymns, adds depth and personal experiences, helping to form connections to Wales’ spirituality and resilient nature.

Cymraeg also contributes significantly to individual and collective identities by helping people maintain bonds to their Welsh roots and cultural pride. Speaking Welsh is an experience that transforms the speaker through a sense of belonging. It brings communities together and serves as a powerful marker of Welshness, joining the sense of self to Welsh ancestry. In Wales, learning Welsh is about more than just linguistics. It’s a journey of self-discovery, heritage preservation, and ties to ancient Wales.

A Recognized and Protected Language

Is Welsh a dying language? Fortunately, no, it isn’t. UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recognizes Welsh as a native language, but unlike the other living Celtic languages, Welsh isn’t categorized as “endangered.” (It is, however, labeled “vulnerable.”) The Welsh language also gained protected status through Welsh Government legislation in 2011. Additionally, about 450 primary schools in Wales teach Welsh as the main language. Still, even in English-medium schools, all children in Wales learn Welsh until they’re 16 years old.

As of Census Day on March 21, 2021, approximately 538,300 residents in Wales aged three years or older were reported to have the ability to speak Welsh, which is 17.8% of the population. In some areas, the percentage of Welsh speakers is much higher. Snowdonia (one of Wales’ beautiful national parks) is one such example, where 58% of the population speak Welsh. In some of its communities, Welsh speakers total closer to 85%. For many people, Welsh is their first language, with English as their second.

Specific writings found have also helped the Welsh language endure through its, at times, turbulent history. A headstone dating back to 700 AD at St. Cadfan’s Church in Tywyn (Gwynedd, North Wales) shows us one of the earliest texts written entirely in Welsh. 

Another pivotal moment for conserving the language occurred near Gwydir Forest in Betws-y-Coed at Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant in 1588. It was here that Bishop William Morgan translated the Bible into Welsh. This milestone allowed Welsh speakers to read the Bible in their native language. The translation played a crucial role in allowing the Welsh language to survive the coming centuries.

10 Surprising Facts About Welsh

1. The longest place name in Europe is found in Wales. The Welsh town of Llanfairpwll-gwyngyllgogerychwyrndrob-wllllantysiliogogogoch is home to the second-longest place name in the world and the longest in Europe. Although the town’s formal name consists of 58 letters, it is also known as Llanfairpwll, or Llanfair PG for short.
2. Welsh has “unique” sounds reminiscent of some Native American languages. Although many people believe that the “Ll” sound found in many Welsh place names is exclusive to Welsh, it is actually present in a few other languages, particularly Native American and even some Chinese dialects.
3. South America’s Patagonia is home to a culture of Welsh speakers. Y Wladfa is an isolated Welsh-speaking community in Argentina’s Patagonia. A group of 150 Welsh settlers set out to establish a new life in South America at the beginning of the 19th century. They traveled over 8,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean because they believed they were being persecuted for their language and culture back home.
4. The 1536 Act of Union banned the use of Welsh, marking one of many attempts over 500 years to suppress the language. Under this act, imposed during the reign of Henry VIII, Welsh was forbidden in the legal system and public administration, leading to Welsh speakers being ineligible for public office. This move was widely perceived as a symbol of English repression in Wales.
5. Some blue and green tones are referred to by the same word in Welsh. Like some other languages, Welsh has terms that can be used to name a range of shades and colors and approaches color differently than the 11-color Western scheme. For example, in addition to meaning “blue,” the Welsh word “glas” is also used to describe things like leaves, the sea, and grass. It can also portray shades of grey, such as silver.
6. In the UK, Welsh is one of the languages on Duolingo that is the fastest growing. Welsh was added to the online learning platform in 2016. In 2020, it surpassed French and Japanese to become the fastest-growing language in the United Kingdom. Japanese surpassed Welsh in 2021 to take the top spot, with Welsh trailing closely behind in second place.
7. In the 19th century, there was another concerted effort to eradicate the Welsh language from schools in Wales. Day schools aimed to teach English, a sentiment generally supported by parents and the public. Some schools, however, went further by prohibiting the use of Welsh, implementing measures like the Welsh Not—a wooden token hung around children’s necks with “Welsh Not” or “WN” inscribed. Speaking Welsh resulted in punishment. The teaching of Welsh only resumed in schools in the 1890s.
8. The Welsh alphabet does not contain K, Q, V, or Z. Although not part of the Welsh alphabet, the letters K, Q, V, X, and Z can occasionally be found in technical and borrowed words. With the exception of Z, which sounds more like /s/ in North Wales, these letters have their English sounds when present.
9. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was a widespread demand for a Welsh-language television channel. Initially promised by the UK Government, the commitment was later withdrawn. Gwynfor Evans, then president of Plaid Cymru, threatened a hunger strike until death unless the channel was established. Margaret Thatcher’s government reversed its decision, leading to the launch of S4C in 1982. S4C persists in broadcasting, expanding onto digital platforms such as iPlayer, YouTube, and social media.
10. Unlike in English, saying “yes” or “no” in Welsh depends entirely on the context.  

This post answered the question, “Is Welsh the Oldest Language in Europe?”

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