Plerique ob gelu domi manent, sed nos ad propinquos iter facimus.

Plerique means most or the majority. It is stronger than multi, which just means many.

Here it is being used by itself, so it means most people or most of them.

It is also worth knowing that plerique is normally used only in the plural.

Latin often leaves out a noun when it is easy to understand from context.

So plerique by itself can mean:

• most people
• most men
• most of the group

In this sentence, English would naturally supply people.

It is nominative masculine plural because it is the subject of manent and refers to a group of people.

In Latin, the masculine plural is often used for a mixed group or for people in general when no specific gender is being emphasized.

Ob means because of, on account of, or due to.

It takes the accusative case. So in this sentence, gelu is the object of the preposition ob.

Because gelu is one of those nouns whose nominative and accusative singular forms are the same.

So even though ob requires the accusative, the form still appears as gelu.

This is a very common thing in Latin with some neuter nouns: the case changes, but the visible form may not.

Domi means at home. It is a special locative form of domus.

Latin has a few words, especially names of towns and certain common places like domus, that can use the locative to express place where.

So:

• domi = at home
• domum = to home / homeward
• domo = from home

You can sometimes find in domo, but domi is the more idiomatic form for at home.

Yes. The ending of facimus already tells you the subject is we.

So nos is not necessary for basic grammar. It is included for emphasis or contrast.

Because the sentence has sed (but), nos helps underline the contrast:

• Most people stay at home,
• but we make the journey.

Ad means to or toward and takes the accusative case.

Propinquos is accusative plural, so ad propinquos means to the relatives or to relatives.

The word propinquus originally means near or nearby, but as a noun it commonly means relative or kinsman.

Because the sentence is talking about going to relatives as a group.

Latin often uses the plural in cases where English would also naturally use the plural, such as visiting family members.

Iter facere is a very common Latin expression meaning to make a journey, to travel, or simply to go on a trip.

Literally it is we make a journey, but in natural English you would usually translate it more smoothly.

Latin often uses a noun + facere where English prefers a single verb.

So iter facimus is an idiomatic expression, not something strange or awkward.

Both are present indicative active.

• manent = they remain / they stay
• facimus = we make / we travel

In context, the present tense can describe:

• what is happening now
• what people generally do
• a customary action

So the sentence could describe either a present situation or a general habit, depending on context.

Latin word order is much more flexible than English word order because the endings show how the words function.

This sentence is arranged in a very natural Latin way:

• Plerique comes early to set up the first group.
• domi manent keeps at home close to stay/remain.
• sed nos sharply introduces the contrast.
• ad propinquos iter facimus finishes with the action of traveling.

So the order is not random. It helps highlight the contrast between most people and we.

All of those are possible depending on context.

The basic idea of manere is to remain or to stay. In this sentence, stay at home is the most natural English choice.

So domi manent means that they stay at home rather than going out.