'mispronounce' is formed from the prefix 'mis-' (Old English 'mis-' meaning 'wrong' or 'badly') combined with the verb 'pronounce', which ultimately comes from Latin 'pronuntiare' via Old French 'prononcier'.

'pronounce' changed from Latin 'pronuntiare' to Old French 'prononcier' and Middle English forms such as 'pronuncen', eventually becoming modern English 'pronounce'. The negative prefix 'mis-' from Old English was attached to create 'mispronounce'.

Originally, Latin 'pronuntiare' meant 'to announce' or 'to proclaim' and later narrowed to 'articulate words'. With the addition of 'mis-', the modern meaning became 'to articulate or say incorrectly'.