diff --git a/clap_generate/src/generators/shells/zsh.rs b/clap_generate/src/generators/shells/zsh.rs
index dbb9203b8a35..730f660ac28c 100644
--- a/clap_generate/src/generators/shells/zsh.rs
+++ b/clap_generate/src/generators/shells/zsh.rs
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ fn write_positionals_of(p: &App) -> String {
     for arg in p.get_positionals() {
         debug!("write_positionals_of:iter: arg={}", arg.get_name());
 
-        let optional = if arg.is_set(ArgSettings::MultipleValues) {
+        let cardinality = if arg.is_set(ArgSettings::MultipleValues) {
             "*:"
         } else if !arg.is_set(ArgSettings::Required) {
             ":"
@@ -529,8 +529,8 @@ fn write_positionals_of(p: &App) -> String {
         };
 
         let a = format!(
-            "'{optional}:{name}{help}:{value_completion}' \\",
-            optional = optional,
+            "'{cardinality}:{name}{help}:{value_completion}' \\",
+            cardinality = cardinality,
             name = arg.get_name(),
             help = arg
                 .get_about()