diff --git a/include/SDL3/SDL_gamepad.h b/include/SDL3/SDL_gamepad.h
index be970e640b..0e66b3b891 100644
--- a/include/SDL3/SDL_gamepad.h
+++ b/include/SDL3/SDL_gamepad.h
@@ -149,7 +149,9 @@ typedef enum
  *  and are centered within ~8000 of zero, though advanced UI will allow users to set
  *  or autodetect the dead zone, which varies between gamepads.
  *
- *  Trigger axis values range from 0 to SDL_JOYSTICK_AXIS_MAX.
+ *  Trigger axis values range from 0 (released) to SDL_JOYSTICK_AXIS_MAX
+ *  (fully pressed) when reported by SDL_GetGamepadAxis(). Note that this is not the
+ *  same range that will be reported by the lower-level SDL_GetJoystickAxis().
  */
 typedef enum
 {
@@ -961,8 +963,13 @@ extern DECLSPEC SDL_bool SDLCALL SDL_GamepadHasAxis(SDL_Gamepad *gamepad, SDL_Ga
  *
  * The axis indices start at index 0.
  *
- * The state is a value ranging from -32768 to 32767. Triggers, however, range
- * from 0 to 32767 (they never return a negative value).
+ * For thumbsticks, the state is a value ranging from -32768 (up/left)
+ * to 32767 (down/right).
+ *
+ * Triggers range from 0 when released to 32767 when fully pressed, and
+ * never return a negative value. Note that this differs from the value
+ * reported by the lower-level SDL_GetJoystickAxis(), which normally uses
+ * the full range.
  *
  * \param gamepad a gamepad
  * \param axis an axis index (one of the SDL_GamepadAxis values)