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The Continental Celtic languages is a modern name for theCeltic languages, now all extinct, that originated and were spoken on the continent of Europe (as opposed to the Insular Celtic languages that originated in Britain and Ireland, and of which six are still spoken). The Continental Celtic languages were spoken by the people known to Roman and Greek writers as Keltoi, Celts, Gauls and Galatae. These languages were spoken from Iberia to the Balkans and in Asia Minor. However they have been superseded mainly by Germanic and Italic languages. Although it is likely that Celts spoke dozens of different languages and dialects across Europe in pre-Roman times, only five such languages are actually attested:

• Lepontic (7th to 3rd century BC)
• Gaulish (3rd century BC to 2nd century AD)
• Galatian (3rd century BC to 4th century AD)
• Celtiberian (1st century BC)
• Noric (4th century BC to 1st or 2nd century AD)

The modern term Continental Celtic is used in contrast to Insular Celtic. While most researchers agree that Insular Celtic is a distinct branch of Celtic (Cowgill 1975; McCone 1991, 1992; Schrijver 1995), having undergone common linguistic innovations, there is no evidence that the Continental Celtic languages can be similarly grouped. Instead, the term Continental Celtic is polyphyletic and refers simply to non-Insular Celtic languages. Since little material has been preserved in any of the Continental Celtic languages, historical linguistic analysis based on the comparative method is difficult to perform. However, some researchers see the Brythonic languages and Gaulish as forming a sub-group of Indo-European, see Celtic languages. The Continental languages are P-Celtic, except for the Celtiberian languages which are Q-Celtic, and have had an influence on French and Spanish.

This language was spoken on the southern side of the Alps. Lepontic is generally considered a dialect of Gaulish, and Galatian may be as well. Some researchers consider Lepontic to be a dialect of Gaulish. It is evidenced in a number of inscriptions as well as place names.

This was one of the languages spoken in greater Gaul. This is often considered to be divided into two dialects, Cisalpine (the Italian side) and Transalpine (the French side). It is evidenced in a number of inscriptions as well as place names and tribal names in writings of classical authors. It may have been a substratum to Breton, see below.

This language was spoken around Ankora. Classical writers say that the language is similar to that of Gaul. There is also evidence of invasion of Celts from Europe.

This name is given to a number of languages in Iberia.

This language was spoken in the Balkans. Only two fragmentary texts preserved.

Even though Breton is spoken in continental Europe, it is not generally considered one of the Continental Celtic languages, though it has been spoken on the continent of Europe for a thousand years. It is a Brythonic language closely related to Welsh and Cornish, although it has been suggested that there is a Gaulish substratum in the Vannetais dialect (Galliou and Jones 1991). Falch'un considered Breton as a descendent of Gaulish but this is not generally accepted.

• Ball M and Fife J (1993). The Celtic Languages.
• Cowgill, Warren (1975). "The origins of the Insular Celtic conjunct and absolute verbal endings", in H. Rix (ed.): Flexion und Wortbildung: Akten der V. Fachtagung der Indogermanischen Gesellschaft, Regensburg, 9.–14. September 1973. Wiesbaden: Reichert, 40–70. ISBN 3-920153-40-5. 
• Galliou, Patrick (1991). The Bretons. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 063120105X. 
• McCone, Kim (1991). "The PIE stops and syllabic nasals in Celtic". Studia Celtica Japonica 4: 37–69. 
• McCone, Kim (1992). "Relative Chronologie: Keltisch", in R. Beekes, A. Lubotsky, and J. Weitenberg (eds.): Rekonstruktion und relative Chronologie: Akten Der VIII. Fachtagung Der Indogermanischen Gesellschaft, Leiden, 31. August–4. September 1987. Institut für Sprachwissenschaft der Universität Innsbruck, 12–39. ISBN 3-85124-613-6. 
• Schrijver, Peter (1995). Studies in British Celtic historical phonology. Amsterdam: Rodopi. ISBN 90-5183-820-4.