diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
index 851086ddcdca..43572b9f1dfc 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -818,7 +818,7 @@ def axvline(self, x=0, ymin=0, ymax=1, **kwargs):
         Parameters
         ----------
         x : float, default: 0
-            y position in :ref:`data coordinates <coordinate-systems>`.
+            x position in :ref:`data coordinates <coordinate-systems>`.
 
         ymin : float, default: 0
             The start y-position in :ref:`axes coordinates <coordinate-systems>`.