couscous

American  

[koos-koos] / ˈkus kus /

noun

1. a North African dish consisting of steamed semolina, typically served with vegetables and meat.

2. semolina in the form of tiny pellets or balls, produced by any of various methods and used in a number of different cuisines and dishes.

3. Israeli couscous.

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couscous British  

/ ˈkuːskuːs /

noun

1. a type of semolina originating from North Africa, consisting of granules of crushed durum wheat

2. a spicy North African dish consisting of steamed semolina with meat, vegetables, or fruit C17: via French from Arabic kouskous, from kaskasa to pound until fine

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Etymology

Origin of couscous

First recorded in 1590–1600; from French, from Arabic kuskus, kuskusū, from Berber seksu

Example Sentences

"Usually, there's joy when we make couscous," he said.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

Serve it with buttered orzo, maybe, or pearl couscous slicked with olive oil.

From Salon • Jun. 30, 2025

Filling and versatile, Ivorian chef Rōze Traore describes its texture as "fluffy yet granular, similar to couscous".

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2024

The company’s product line runs a whole-grain gamut, including stone-ground sorghum flour, paleo-style muesli and whole wheat-pearl couscous, along with energy bars and cake and soup mixes.

From New York Times • Feb. 13, 2024

Nana stopped the cart and seized a box of couscous, ignoring the frustrated grunt of a red-faced man as he squeezed past us.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson