First, `fuŝ-` is a (verbal) radix, stem word. The usage above is perfectly fine, where English would use two separate words. - kantaĉi = sing ugly (la rano/knabineto kantaĉis = the frog/little girl sang dreadful) - fuŝkanti = sing with wrong technique/mastery (like drunk) - fuŝkantaĉi = both Here it is a difference in nuance. Your aim would be something like: - malbelkantaĉi = *** Which is an ugly word creation itself. To strengthen `aĉ` on may use: - kantaĉegi = sing very dreadfully - tre aĉe kanti By the way `kantaĉi` one would not translate natively with `sing`+adverb, but more something like `whine`, `belt out`, `yodel` (?). But I am not native.