01
die Mücke
mosquito
A small flying insect whose females often sting humans and animals in order to suck blood.
example
Eine Mücke hat mich die ganze Nacht nicht schlafen lassen.
A mosquito kept me from sleeping all night.
die Mücke
mosquito
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Common mistake
Eine Mücke 'sticht' (stings/bites); it does not 'beißt' (bite). The verb 'beißen' is used for animals with teeth. This mistake is very common among learners.
EXAMPLE
Ich wurde gestern Abend von einer Mücke am Arm gestochen.
I was bitten by a mosquito on my arm yesterday evening.
Typical collocations
Mosquitoes are known for 'summen' (buzzing) and 'stechen' (biting/stinging) people. To protect yourself, you use 'Mückenschutz' (mosquito repellent/protection) or a 'Mückennetz' (mosquito net).
EXAMPLE
Das Summen der Mücke hat mich wahnsinnig gemacht.
The buzzing of the mosquito drove me crazy.
Regional variants
In Austria and parts of southern Germany, the word 'Gelse' is often used for 'Mücke' (mosquito). Both words mean the same insect.
EXAMPLE
Mach das Fenster zu, sonst kommen die Gelsen herein!
Close the window, otherwise the mosquitoes will come in!
Fixed expression
The idiom 'aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen' (to make a mountain out of a molehill, literally 'to make an elephant out of a mosquito') is a fixed structure. The verb 'machen' (to make) is conjugated and adapted to the person in the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Reg dich nicht so auf, du machst schon wieder aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten.
Don't get so upset; you're making a mountain out of a molehill again.
Compare with
Mücke vs Fliege
fly / bow tie
'Fliege' and 'Mücke' are both small flying insects, so they can easily be confused. A 'Fliege' is often seen near food or garbage; it is annoying, but normally does not bite. A 'Mücke' is especially known for biting people or animals and making the skin itch afterward. If an insect is just flying around and lands on the table, you are more likely to say 'Fliege'. If it buzzes at night and bites, you say 'Mücke'.
Mücke
Nach dem Abend im Park hat Sofia mehrere Mückenstiche.
After the evening in the park, Sofia has several mosquito bites.
Fliege
Beim Frühstück fliegt eine Fliege um den Marmeladenteller.
At breakfast, a fly is flying around the jam plate.
In real life
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