kesksi كسكسي
Algerian Darja · noun
“kesksi” (كسكسي) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning couscous (semolina dish).
Meanings
- couscous (semolina dish)
Usage
Kesksi is the usual form of the word "couscous" in several regions of Algeria. Depending on the place, people also say kesksou, or simply ṭ3am, literally "the food". It refers to the dish of rolled semolina cooked by steaming, served with a red or white sauce, meat, chicken, fish on the coast, or plain with lben. It is the dish for big occasions: Fridays, holidays, funerals. People "make" it (ndir kesksi) or "roll" the semolina by hand (nfetel).
Example
يماه دارت الكسكسي نهار الجمعة.
yemma dart el kesksi nhar el jem3a.
“Mum made couscous on Friday.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kesksi” but also “couscous”, “kousksi” and “cousksi”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “kesksi” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “couscous”: kosksi in Tunisian.