How to Pronounce Ahrefs New

If you’ve ever found yourself saying “Ah-refs” or “A-H-refs” out loud, you’re not alone.

The pronunciation of Ahrefs confuses a lot of people — especially marketers, SEOs, and bloggers just discovering the tool. The name looks strange. It’s not even a real word.

But here’s the simple answer…

So, how do you pronounce Ahrefs?

You pronounce it “H-refs.”

That’s it. Two parts:

• “H” — as in the letter H.
• “refs” — as in references.

Put them together, and you get H-refs.

Let’s say it again. Not “Ah-refs.” Not “A-H-refs.” Just H-refs.

Here’s how you pronounce it using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):

/eɪʧ rɛfs/

• /eɪʧ/ = the letter “H” (like how you say the letter itself)
• /rɛfs/ = “refs”, short for references

So when you say Ahrefs, it sounds like:
H-refs — plain and simple.

Why is it called Ahrefs in the first place?

The name Ahrefs is inspired by this bit of HTML code:

<a href="https://example.com">Link</a>

This is a standard way of linking to web pages using HTML. The href attribute means “hypertext reference.” It tells browsers where the link should go.

Now here’s where it gets interesting.

The original idea behind the name was to reference this part of code. But since a domain name can’t legally start with a symbol like <a href=...>, they added an extra “a” in front. Not for pronunciation — just to make it HTML and domain-compliant.

That silent “a” has confused people for years.

So even though the brand name looks like “Ahrefs,” the “a” is silent.

Quick tip to remember it

If you’ve ever worked with websites or HTML, just think of:

<a href="...">

That’s the inspiration for the brand. But out loud, you’re only meant to say the last part:
H-refs.

Still confused? Here’s a simple analogy

Let’s compare it to other brand names or abbreviations that don’t sound like they’re spelled.

Just like those, Ahrefs doesn’t follow the usual rules.

Does the company care how you say it?

Yes — and they’ve made it clear.

In several interviews, blog posts, and even tweets, the Ahrefs team (including founder Dmitry Gerasimenko and head of marketing Tim Soulo) have clarified this.

They’ve said it outright:
It’s pronounced “H-refs.”

They’ve even joked that they should’ve picked a more straightforward name — but it’s too late now. The brand is globally recognized in the SEO and digital marketing world.

Still seeing people get it wrong?

You’re not alone. Every year, hundreds of YouTube tutorials, podcasts, and blog reviews pronounce it differently. Some say:

• A-H-refs
• Ah-refs
• Aich-refs (close!)
• Air-refs (wait, what?)

It’s funny — but also shows just how unusual and memorable the name is.

Why does the pronunciation even matter?

It matters because when you say it right, you sound more confident. More professional. Especially when:

• You’re speaking at an event
• Teaching someone SEO
• Giving client recommendations
• Recording a tutorial

Getting the pronunciation right also makes communication easier with teams, colleagues, or clients who already know the tool. There’s no second-guessing what you’re referring to.

And let’s be honest:
If you’re teaching SEO and still saying “Ah-refs,” it gives off beginner vibes. Not a dealbreaker, but not ideal either.

A few more Ahrefs facts you might not know

While we’re at it, here are some useful things about Ahrefs:

• It’s one of the most powerful SEO tools out there — used for keyword research, backlink audits, rank tracking, and site analysis.
• It runs its own web crawler that’s second only to Google in terms of web activity.
• The Ahrefs blog is considered one of the best in SEO education. Tons of free guides.
• Ahrefs doesn’t run Google Ads — they rely heavily on content-driven SEO. Proof that their tools work.

Bottom line: Say it with confidence

Ahrefs = H-refs.

Now you won’t hesitate the next time you bring it up during a pitch, podcast, or webinar. Say it clean, say it clear.

Because let’s face it — if you’re serious about SEO, Ahrefs is a name you’ll be using a lot. So make sure you’re saying it right.