Understanding and improving pronunciation of English words with prefixes and suffixes involves focusing on stress patterns, syllable breakdowns, and changes in sound when adding affixes. Here are some tips to help you pronounce words like “unhappy” or “happiness” more accurately:

1. Identify Stress Patterns: Pay attention to where the stress falls in a word with prefixes and suffixes. Stress is often on the root word, but it can shift when prefixes or suffixes are added. For example, in “unhappy,” the stress is on the first syllable of the root word, while in “happiness,” the stress shifts to the suffix “-ness.”

2. Understand Syllable Breakdown: Break down words into syllables to help with pronunciation. Practice pronouncing each syllable separately before saying the whole word. For instance, “un-hap-py” and “hap-pi-ness” can help you pronounce these words more accurately.

3. Learn Sound Changes: Be aware of any changes in sound that occur when adding prefixes or suffixes. Some prefixes/suffixes might cause the original root word to be pronounced differently. For example, the ‘un-‘ prefix often changes the vowel sound in English words, such as “unhappy” where the ‘a’ sound changes to ‘ʌ’.

4. Listen and Repeat: Listen to native speakers pronouncing words with prefixes and suffixes. Try to mimic their pronunciation, paying attention to