Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mücke | /ˈmʏkə/ | feminine |
| Stechmücke | [ˈʃtɛçˌmʏ.kə] (narrow) | feminine |
| Schnake | /ˈʃnaːkə/ | feminine |
| Gelse | /ˈɡ̊ɛlsɛ/ | feminine |
| Moskito | /mɔsˈkiːto/ /moˈskiːto/ |
masculine |
The word refers to small flying insects of the family Culicidae, known for biting and sucking blood.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Stechmücke is a compound consisting of stechen, meaning to sting or bite and Mücke, meaning mosquito.
Which one should you use?
Mücke is the general term for small flying insects like midges or gnats, whereas Stechmücke specifically refers to the biting kind. Moskito is often used in scientific contexts or specifically for tropical mosquito species, while Mücke is the common everyday term used by speakers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Gelse is the common word for mosquito in Austria and parts of Southern Germany. In many parts of Northern Germany, Schnake is used, although it technically refers to the non-biting crane fly rather than a true mosquito.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine noun Mücke becomes Mücken in the plural. The masculine noun Moskito becomes Moskitos in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmʏkə/
Did you know?
- The regional word Gelse comes from an old German verb meaning 'to yell' or 'to howl'.
Examples in context
- Ich habe die Stechmücke getötet.I killed the mosquito.This sentence shows how to use the form Stechmücke.Tatoeba #12387806 by mayabe, translation #3822229 by CK
- Jede Mückenart summt etwas anders.Every mosquito species makes a slightly different buzz.This sentence shows the plural form of Mücke.Tatoeba #10469764 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9314386 by Hybrid
- Tom schlief unter einem Mückennetz.Tom slept under mosquito netting.Tatoeba #1932014 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1024154 by CK
- Der Park ist wunderschön, aber die Mücken sind wirklich lästig!The park is beautiful, but the mosquitoes are really annoying!
- Kannst du bitte das Fenster schließen? Ich habe Angst, dass Mücken hereinkommen!Could you please close the window? I'm afraid mosquitoes might come in!
- Halt dich bereit: Die Gelsen sind heute besonders hungrig!Be prepared: The mosquitoes are particularly hungry today!
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are sitting on a terrace in the evening.
- JuliaHier ist eine Mücke!There is a mosquito here!
- MaximilianWo ist sie denn?Where is it?
- JuliaDie Mücke fliegt direkt auf dich zu.The mosquito is flying straight at you.
- MaximilianOh nein, ich hasse Mücken!Oh no, I hate mosquitoes!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mosquito” translations and entries Mücke, Stechmücke, Schnake, Gelse, Moskito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gelse, Mücke, Schnake, Stechmücke, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
