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

That day, he planned to make couscous for his wife and three daughters to break the fast.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

Try this herby pearl couscous and sugar snap pea salad, the New York Times insists.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

Fast-forward 25 years and women carrying individually wrapped portions of the fermented cassava couscous still walk across Abidjan, Ivory Coast's biggest city, selling this now Unesco-recognised dish.

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2024

Cook: This “risotto” uses pearl couscous instead of rice, which cuts down the stirring time.

From New York Times • Jun. 6, 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