Translucent colonies and gram-negative diplococci: Meningococcal pneumonia masquerading as Moraxella pneumonia

•The patient presented with pneumonia and gram-negative diplococci on sputum smear.•<i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> and <i>Moraxella catarrhalis</i> are both gram-negative diplococci.•Both bacteria can cause pneumonia but can be differentiated by culture.•Colonies of <i>N. meningitidis</i> are mucoid and translucent.•Colonies of <i>M catarrhalis</i> are firm and white.