diff --git a/_pytest/terminal.py b/_pytest/terminal.py
index e226d607b..af89d0fc2 100644
--- a/_pytest/terminal.py
+++ b/_pytest/terminal.py
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ class TerminalReporter:
             line = "collected "
         else:
             line = "collecting "
-        line += str(self._numcollected) + " items"
+        line += str(self._numcollected) + " item" + ('' if self._numcollected == 1 else 's')
         if errors:
             line += " / %d errors" % errors
         if skipped:
diff --git a/testing/test_runner.py b/testing/test_runner.py
index 51d430fc8..def80ea5f 100644
--- a/testing/test_runner.py
+++ b/testing/test_runner.py
@@ -513,12 +513,12 @@ def test_pytest_no_tests_collected_exit_status(testdir):
             assert 1
     """)
     result = testdir.runpytest()
-    result.stdout.fnmatch_lines('*collected 1 items*')
+    result.stdout.fnmatch_lines('*collected 1 item*')
     result.stdout.fnmatch_lines('*1 passed*')
     assert result.ret == main.EXIT_OK
 
     result = testdir.runpytest('-k nonmatch')
-    result.stdout.fnmatch_lines('*collected 1 items*')
+    result.stdout.fnmatch_lines('*collected 1 item*')
     result.stdout.fnmatch_lines('*1 deselected*')
     assert result.ret == main.EXIT_NOTESTSCOLLECTED
 
diff --git a/testing/test_terminal.py b/testing/test_terminal.py
index 5a90b3dd4..45c354206 100644
--- a/testing/test_terminal.py
+++ b/testing/test_terminal.py
@@ -204,6 +204,15 @@ class TestTerminal(object):
         assert result.ret == 2
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(['*KeyboardInterrupt*'])
 
+    def test_collect_single_item(self, testdir):
+        """Use singular 'item' when reporting a single test item"""
+        testdir.makepyfile("""
+            def test_foobar():
+                pass
+        """)
+        result = testdir.runpytest()
+        result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(['collected 1 item'])
+
 
 class TestCollectonly(object):
     def test_collectonly_basic(self, testdir):