couscous

noun

cous·​cous ˈküs-ˌküs How to pronounce couscous (audio)
: a North African dish of steamed semolina usually served with meat or vegetables
also : the semolina itself

Examples of couscous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Serve over rice or couscous to make sure none of the sauce goes to waste. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026 Choose couscous made with whole wheat for more fiber, protein and other trace nutrients. — Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 8 Mar. 2025 My favorite is the lemon couscous with chicken and feta, paired with a Planteray rum and Coke to wash it all down. — Amber McKynzie, Travel + Leisure, 14 Feb. 2026 Traditional couscous is similar to pasta, made from semolina, a coarse durum wheat flour. — Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for couscous

Word History

Etymology

French couscous, couscoussou, from Arabic kuskus, kuskusū

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of couscous was in 1738

Rhymes for couscous

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Browse Nearby Words

cous
couscous
cousen
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Cite this Entry

“Couscous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/couscous. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on couscous

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about couscous

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