diff --git a/lib/pagy.rb b/lib/pagy.rb
index 93a55862e..c892f3913 100644
--- a/lib/pagy.rb
+++ b/lib/pagy.rb
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def self.root; Pathname.new(__FILE__).dirname end
   VARS = { items:20, outset:0, size:[1,4,4,1] }
 
   # default I18n vars
-  zero_one = %w[zero one].freeze ; I18N = { file: Pagy.root.join('locales', 'pagy.yml').to_s, plurals: -> (c) {zero_one[c] || 'other'} }
+  zero_one = [:zero, :one] ; I18N = { file: Pagy.root.join('locales', 'pagy.yml').to_s, plurals: -> (c) {(zero_one[c] || :other).to_s.freeze} }
 
 
   attr_reader :count, :page, :items, :vars, :pages, :last, :offset, :from, :to, :prev, :next