diff --git a/mypy/message_registry.py b/mypy/message_registry.py
index 9de31514b6bd..6d0f7abec9db 100644
--- a/mypy/message_registry.py
+++ b/mypy/message_registry.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def with_additional_msg(self, info: str) -> ErrorMessage:
 TYPEVAR_ARG_MUST_BE_TYPE: Final = '{} "{}" must be a type'
 TYPEVAR_UNEXPECTED_ARGUMENT: Final = 'Unexpected argument to "TypeVar()"'
 UNBOUND_TYPEVAR: Final = (
-    "A function returning TypeVar should receive at least one argument containing the same TypeVar"
+    "A function returning TypeVar should have at least one same TypeVar parameter"
 )
 TYPE_PARAMETERS_SHOULD_BE_DECLARED: Final = (
     "All type parameters should be declared ({} not declared)"