How to pronounce unhappy
Say it like un-HAP-ee. Unhappy has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HAP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unhappy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- HAP
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unhappy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- HAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of unhappy
American and British speakers say unhappy in essentially the same way: /ənˈhæpi/ in the US and /ʌnˈhæpi/ in the UK.
British respelling: un-HAP-ee.
What does unhappy mean?
- experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent“unhappy over her departure”“unhappy with her raise”
- generalized feeling of distress
- causing discomfort“the unhappy truth”
Where does unhappy come from?
From Middle English unhappy; equivalent to un- + happy.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with unhappy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unhappy.
Questions about saying unhappy
How do you pronounce unhappy?
Say un-HAP-ee. The American pronunciation is /ənˈhæpi/. In British English it is /ʌnˈhæpi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unhappy?
Unhappy has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HAP). Broken into parts: un · HAP · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say unhappy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ənˈhæpi/ and the British form is /ʌnˈhæpi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.