diff --git a/hardcore_action_metadata.py b/hardcore_action_metadata.py
index 5f0521b..1ad798b 100644
--- a/hardcore_action_metadata.py
+++ b/hardcore_action_metadata.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import re
 from typing import Any
 
 try:
@@ -44,9 +45,32 @@ HARDCORE_ACTION_FAMILY_CHOICES = {
 
 
 def normalize_hardcore_action_family(value: Any, default: str = "") -> str:
-    text = str(value or "").strip().lower()
-    if text == "penetrative":
-        text = ACTION_PENETRATION
+    text = re.sub(r"[^a-z0-9]+", "_", str(value or "").strip().lower()).strip("_")
+    aliases = {
+        "penetrative": ACTION_PENETRATION,
+        "penetrative_sex": ACTION_PENETRATION,
+        "penetration_sex": ACTION_PENETRATION,
+        "vaginal": ACTION_PENETRATION,
+        "vaginal_penetration": ACTION_PENETRATION,
+        "double": ACTION_TOY_DOUBLE,
+        "double_penetration": ACTION_TOY_DOUBLE,
+        "toy_double_penetration": ACTION_TOY_DOUBLE,
+        "toy_assisted_double": ACTION_TOY_DOUBLE,
+        "toy_assisted_double_penetration": ACTION_TOY_DOUBLE,
+        "outer_course": ACTION_OUTERCOURSE,
+        "outercourse_sex": ACTION_OUTERCOURSE,
+        "manual": ACTION_FOREPLAY,
+        "manual_stimulation": ACTION_FOREPLAY,
+        "interaction": ACTION_FOREPLAY,
+        "body_worship": ACTION_FOREPLAY,
+        "body_worship_touching": ACTION_FOREPLAY,
+        "foreplay_teasing": ACTION_FOREPLAY,
+        "cumshot": ACTION_CLIMAX,
+        "cumshot_climax": ACTION_CLIMAX,
+        "orgasm_aftermath": ACTION_CLIMAX,
+        "oral_sex": ACTION_ORAL,
+    }
+    text = aliases.get(text, text)
     return text if text in HARDCORE_ACTION_FAMILY_CHOICES else default
 
 
@@ -86,7 +110,24 @@ def source_hardcore_action_family(
     inferred = infer_hardcore_action_family(role_graph, hard_item, composition, axis_values)
     if inferred in (ACTION_CLIMAX, ACTION_TOY_DOUBLE):
         return inferred
-    family = str(source_family or "").strip().lower()
+    family = re.sub(r"[^a-z0-9]+", "_", str(source_family or "").strip().lower()).strip("_")
+    family = {
+        "penetration": "penetrative",
+        "penetrative_sex": "penetrative",
+        "outer_course": "outercourse",
+        "outercourse_sex": "outercourse",
+        "manual_stimulation": "manual",
+        "foreplay_teasing": "foreplay",
+        "body_worship": "interaction",
+        "body_worship_touching": "interaction",
+        "clothing_position_transitions": "interaction",
+        "dominant_guidance": "interaction",
+        "camera_performance": "interaction",
+        "group_coordination": "interaction",
+        "cumshot": "climax",
+        "cumshot_climax": "climax",
+        "oral_sex": "oral",
+    }.get(family, family)
     source_mapping = {
         "penetrative": ACTION_PENETRATION,
         "foreplay": ACTION_FOREPLAY,
diff --git a/hardcore_position_config.py b/hardcore_position_config.py
index 50b9fdd..49a31b8 100644
--- a/hardcore_position_config.py
+++ b/hardcore_position_config.py
@@ -276,7 +276,36 @@ def hardcore_position_key_choices() -> list[str]:
 
 
 def normalize_hardcore_position_family(value: Any, default: str = "any") -> str:
-    text = str(value or default).strip()
+    text = re.sub(r"[^a-z0-9]+", "_", str(value or default).strip().lower()).strip("_")
+    aliases = {
+        "penetration": "penetrative",
+        "penetrative_sex": "penetrative",
+        "penetration_sex": "penetrative",
+        "vaginal": "penetrative",
+        "vaginal_penetration": "penetrative",
+        "foreplay_teasing": "foreplay",
+        "body_worship": "interaction",
+        "body_worship_touching": "interaction",
+        "clothing_position_transitions": "interaction",
+        "dominant_guidance": "interaction",
+        "camera_performance": "interaction",
+        "group_coordination": "interaction",
+        "aftercare_cleanup": "interaction",
+        "manual_stimulation": "manual",
+        "oral_sex": "oral",
+        "outer_course": "outercourse",
+        "outercourse_sex": "outercourse",
+        "anal_double_penetration": "anal",
+        "three_some": "threesome",
+        "threesomes": "threesome",
+        "group_sex": "group",
+        "group_sex_orgy": "group",
+        "orgy": "group",
+        "cumshot": "climax",
+        "cumshot_climax": "climax",
+        "orgasm_aftermath": "climax",
+    }
+    text = aliases.get(text, text)
     return text if text in HARDCORE_POSITION_FAMILY_CHOICES else default
 
 
diff --git a/tools/prompt_smoke.py b/tools/prompt_smoke.py
index 5b541b4..16e728b 100644
--- a/tools/prompt_smoke.py
+++ b/tools/prompt_smoke.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ import filter_config  # noqa: E402
 import formatter_detail  # noqa: E402
 import formatter_input  # noqa: E402
 import formatter_target  # noqa: E402
+import hardcore_action_metadata  # noqa: E402
 import hardcore_position_config  # noqa: E402
 import __init__ as sxcp_nodes  # noqa: E402
 import generation_profile_config  # noqa: E402
@@ -3741,6 +3742,22 @@ def smoke_hardcore_position_config_policy() -> None:
     )
     _expect("outercourse_only" in hardcore_position_config.hardcore_position_focus_choices(), "Hardcore focus choices lost outercourse_only")
     _expect("boobjob" in hardcore_position_config.hardcore_position_key_choices(), "Hardcore position keys lost boobjob")
+    _expect(
+        category_template_metadata.template_action_family({"action_family": "toy double"}) == "toy_double",
+        "Template action-family normalizer should accept spaced aliases",
+    )
+    _expect(
+        category_template_metadata.template_action_family({"action_family": "manual stimulation"}) == "foreplay",
+        "Template action-family normalizer should accept subcategory-style aliases",
+    )
+    _expect(
+        category_template_metadata.template_position_family({"position_family": "penetration"}) == "penetrative",
+        "Template position-family normalizer should accept action-style aliases",
+    )
+    _expect(
+        category_template_metadata.template_position_family({"position_family": "outer-course"}) == "outercourse",
+        "Template position-family normalizer should accept hyphenated aliases",
+    )
 
     base = json.loads(
         pb.build_hardcore_position_pool_json(
@@ -3876,6 +3893,12 @@ def smoke_hardcore_position_config_policy() -> None:
     _expect(keys == ["doggy"], "Hardcore position key detection changed")
     source_family = hardcore_position_config.hardcore_source_position_family({"slug": "manual_stimulation"}, filtered)
     _expect(source_family == "manual", "Hardcore source family lookup changed")
+    source_action_family = hardcore_action_metadata.source_hardcore_action_family(
+        "outer-course",
+        "",
+        "generic contact",
+    )
+    _expect(source_action_family == "outercourse", "Source action-family fallback should accept hyphenated source aliases")
     item_text, item_name, axis_values, template_metadata = pb._compose_item(
         random.Random(42),
         {},