diff --git a/exercises/house/example.py b/exercises/house/example.py
index c224df48d52..f818512af80 100644
--- a/exercises/house/example.py
+++ b/exercises/house/example.py
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@
          ('', 'the horse and the hound and the horn')]
 
 
-def verse(n):
-    v = ['This is {}'.format(parts[n][1])]
+def verse(verse_num):
+    v = ['This is {}'.format(parts[verse_num][1])]
     v.extend(['that {0} {1}'.format(parts[i][0], parts[i][1])
-              for i in range(n - 1, -1, -1)])
+              for i in range(verse_num - 1, -1, -1)])
     v[-1] += '.'
     return '\n'.join(v)
 
diff --git a/exercises/house/house.py b/exercises/house/house.py
index 2d16b7f0125..646fd21fbf9 100644
--- a/exercises/house/house.py
+++ b/exercises/house/house.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-def verse():
+def verse(verse_num):
     pass