diff --git a/xarray/core/dataarray.py b/xarray/core/dataarray.py
index 062cc6342df..154bd939836 100644
--- a/xarray/core/dataarray.py
+++ b/xarray/core/dataarray.py
@@ -2693,6 +2693,8 @@ def diff(self, dim: Hashable, n: int = 1, label: Hashable = "upper") -> "DataArr
         difference : same type as caller
             The n-th order finite difference of this object.
 
+        .. note:: `n` matches numpy's behavior and is different from pandas'
+
         Examples
         --------
         >>> arr = xr.DataArray([5, 5, 6, 6], [[1, 2, 3, 4]], ['x'])