unhappy

The word “unhappy” means feeling or showing sadness. In plain terms, sad, or dissatisfied with a situation.

“Unhappy” is pronounced uhn-HA-pee (/ʌnˈhæpi/ in IPA).

Here is “unhappy” used in a sentence: “She looked unhappy after the phone call.”

“Unhappy” is an adjective.

The word “unhappy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English unhappy, equivalent to un- + happy.

“Unhappy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Unhappy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling or showing sadness.

Sad names the direct emotion of sorrow, often in response to a specific event, while unhappy tends to describe a broader or longer-lasting state of feeling or showing sadness. Unhappy also has a second sense that sad lacks: being dissatisfied, as in "unhappy with the service."

Both are correct but pattern slightly differently. Unhappy with usually points dissatisfaction at a thing, person, or outcome ("unhappy with my grade"), while unhappy about introduces a situation or development ("unhappy about the delay"). In many sentences the two are interchangeable.

No. Unhappy can describe feeling or showing sadness, but it just as often means not satisfied, as when a customer is unhappy with a purchase. Context tells you whether the word points to emotion or to dissatisfaction.

Both describe sadness, but miserable is much stronger, suggesting deep wretchedness or acute discomfort, while unhappy covers ordinary sadness or dissatisfaction. You might be unhappy with a haircut but miserable with the flu.