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

Explanation

Couscous is a North African food that's similar to pasta. It's made from semolina dough that's rolled into little balls and cooked. You might serve couscous with a spicy vegetable stew. Couscous is usually served with a sauce or stew on top of it — this dish is also sometimes called couscous. While semolina, a type of wheat also used in pasta making, is most common, couscous can also be made from millet, barley, and cornmeal. The history of this common staple food most likely goes as far back as the 10th century. Couscous comes from the Arabic kaskasa, "to pound."

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

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

From Salon • Jun. 30, 2025

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

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