The Legendary Mosquito of Hebrew: יַתּוּשׁ or יְתוּשׁ?

Ever argued over how to say “mosquito” in Hebrew? Is it יַתּוּשׁ or יְתוּשׁ? Turns out, the debate goes back centuries.

The word יתוש first appears in Tannaitic literature and was understood then, just like today, as a flying insect. But in חז"ל, the יתוש wasn’t just an insect—it became a symbol for something tiny, seemingly insignificant, yet capable of making a big impact.

In the תוספתא, we read: “…Why was [man] created last? So he wouldn’t become arrogant. They say to him: יתוש קדמך במעשה בראשית” (Sanhedrin 8:7–8). In other words—don’t get too full of yourself; even a mosquito came before you.

And then there’s the famous Titus and the יתוש story in the תלמוד בבלי. After destroying the Temple, Titus sailed to Rome with the sacred vessels. A giant wave threatened to sink his ship. Mocking God, he challenged Him to fight on land. A bat kol (divine voice) answered: “Wicked one, I have a small creature in my world, called יתוש…” Titus reached land, and a mosquito flew into his nose, boring into his brain for seven years. From then on, “Titus’s mosquito” became a metaphor for a tiny but relentless force that can bring down even the strongest.

Another חז"ל saying reminds us of human limitations: “If all the people in the world gathered to create a single יתוש and give it life, they couldn’t do it” (Sifrei Devarim). Again, the יתוש stands for the smallest, simplest creature—yet one we cannot replicate.

So why do some say יַתּוּשׁ and others יְתוּשׁ? The official modern pronunciation is יַתּוּשׁ, but among Yemenite Jews, יְתוּשׁ is traditional. You can even hear it in old recordings of the song “אתה חיכית לי” by נתן אלתרמן. And according to Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, there was also once a form יִתּוּשׁ.

The root of the word is still a bit of a mystery. Linguists have debated whether it comes from נת"ש, ית"ש, or even תש"ש—none of which are certain. Even the Academy of the Hebrew Language went back and forth, first linking it to נת"ש and later deciding on ית"ש in the קַטּוּל pattern (like יַחְמוּר or יַנְשׁוּף).

Bottom line? Whether you say יַתּוּשׁ or יְתוּשׁ, just remember—you’re speaking about one of Hebrew’s smallest yet most legendary creatures.