Couscous own as a main dish. The original name may be derived from the Arabic word "Kaskasa", meaning "to pound small" or the Berber "Seksu", meaning "well rolled", "well formed", or "rounded". Numerous different names and pronunciations for couscous exist around the world. Couscous is or in the United Kingdom and only the latter in the United States. It is sometimes pronounced "kuskusi" () in Arabic, while it is known in Morocco as "seksu"; "kesksu" or ( ; in Algeria as "kosksi" ' (, literally meaning "food"); in Tunisia and Libya "kosksi" or "kuseksi" , in Egypt "kuskusi" (), Sicily "cuscusu"
Couscous has also become common in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. Indeed, many polls have indicated that it is often a favorite dish. Couscous is served in many Maghrebi restaurants all over the world. In France, Spain and Italy, the word "couscous" ("cuscús" in Spanish and Italian; "cuscuz" in Portuguese) usually refers to couscous together with the stew. Packaged sets containing a box of quick-preparation couscous and a can of vegetables and, generally, meat are sold in French, Spanish and Italian grocery stores and supermarkets. In France, it is generally served with harissa sauce, a style inherited from the Tunisian cuisine.