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Certe thermas amo, sed hodie domi manere volo.

Certe thermas amo, sed hodie domi manere volo.
Certainly I like the baths, but today I want to stay at home.
FromLesson 11inHardcore Latin
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Questions & Answers about Certe thermas amo, sed hodie domi manere volo.

Why is thermas in the accusative plural?
Thermas is the direct object of amo (I love), so it takes the accusative case. It’s plural because thermae (public baths/bathhouse) is commonly used in the plural in Latin, even when English might say the baths or the bathhouse in a more general sense.
What is the dictionary form of thermas, and what does it mean literally?
The dictionary form is thermae, -ārum (f. pl.). It refers to (public) baths, especially the Roman bath complex. Because it’s a plural-only noun in regular usage, you’ll most often see it in plural forms like thermae/thermās.
What does certe do in the sentence, and where can it go?
Certe is an adverb meaning certainly / surely / to be sure. It emphasizes the statement thermas amo. Latin adverbs are flexible in placement, so certe could appear in other positions (e.g., Thermas certe amo), but putting it first is a common way to set the tone right away.
Why does Latin say amo without a word for I?
Because the verb ending already includes the subject. am-o means I love (1st person singular). Latin typically omits the pronoun ego unless it’s needed for emphasis or contrast.
What is the role of sed here? Is it always used like English but?
Sed is a coordinating conjunction meaning but. It introduces a contrast: I certainly love the baths, but today… It usually works very similarly to English but, though Latin also has other contrast words like autem (often however, usually not first in its clause).
Why is hodie used, and does its position matter?
Hodie is an adverb meaning today. Its position is fairly flexible. Here it’s placed early in the second clause to highlight the time contrast with the first clause. You could also see sed domi hodie manere volo with a slightly different emphasis.
What does domi mean, and why isn’t it domum or in domo?

Domi means at home and is a locative form (an old case used with certain place words).

  • domi = at home (location)
  • domum = (to) home (motion toward)
  • in domo = in the house (more literal; can mean physically inside the building)
    So domi manere is the natural idiom for to stay at home.
Why is manere an infinitive?
Because it depends on volo. Latin commonly expresses want to X with volo + infinitive. So manere is the infinitive to stay/remain, completing the meaning of volo (I want).
How does volo work here—does it need an object?
In this construction, the “object” of volo is the infinitive idea itself: manere. So volo manere literally means I want to stay. Latin often uses an infinitive where English might use to + verb.
Could Latin have said volo domi manere instead of domi manere volo?
Yes. Both mean I want to stay at home. Word order is flexible, and Latin often places volo at the end for emphasis or rhythm. Putting volo last can make the desire feel like a conclusion: …I want to stay.
Is the comma necessary, and how is the sentence structured?

The comma is a modern punctuation choice to separate two independent clauses: 1) Certe thermas amo
2) sed hodie domi manere volo
Latin manuscripts didn’t use punctuation the way we do, but in teaching texts the comma helps show the contrast and makes the structure clearer.

If I wanted to emphasize today more strongly, how could I do it?

Common options include:

  • Fronting: Sed hodie domi manere volo (already fairly emphatic)
  • Adding emphasis words: Sed hodie quidem domi manere volo (but today, indeed, I want to stay at home)
  • Using ego for contrast (if relevant): …sed ego hodie domi manere volo (but I today want to stay at home)