Fix hierarchical delegation with language-agnostic tool matching

lib/crewai/src/crewai/agents/agent_builder/base_agent_executor_mixin.py

@@ -35,23 +35,35 @@ def _create_short_term_memory(self, output) -> None:
             self.crew
             and self.agent
             and self.task
-            and "Action: Delegate work to coworker" not in output.text
         ):
-            try:
-                if (
-                    hasattr(self.crew, "_short_term_memory")
-                    and self.crew._short_term_memory
-                ):
-                    self.crew._short_term_memory.save(
-                        value=output.text,
-                        metadata={
-                            "observation": self.task.description,
-                        },
+            is_delegation = any(
+                pattern in output.text
+                for pattern in [
+                    "Action: Delegate work to coworker",
+                    "Action: delegate_work",
+                    "Action: delegate_work_to_coworker",
+                    "Action: Ask question to coworker",
+                    "Action: ask_question",
+                    "Action: ask_question_to_coworker",
+                ]
+            )
+
+            if not is_delegation:
+                try:
+                    if (
+                        hasattr(self.crew, "_short_term_memory")
+                        and self.crew._short_term_memory
+                    ):
+                        self.crew._short_term_memory.save(
+                            value=output.text,
+                            metadata={
+                                "observation": self.task.description,
+                            },
+                        )
+                except Exception as e:
+                    self.agent._logger.log(
+                        "error", f"Failed to add to short term memory: {e}"
                     )
-            except Exception as e:
-                self.agent._logger.log(
-                    "error", f"Failed to add to short term memory: {e}"
-                )
 
     def _create_external_memory(self, output) -> None:
         """Create and save a external-term memory item if conditions are met."""

lib/crewai/src/crewai/tools/tool_usage.py

@@ -240,10 +240,18 @@ def _use(
 
         if result is None:
             try:
-                if calling.tool_name in [
+                normalized_tool_name = self._normalize_tool_name(calling.tool_name)
+                is_delegation_tool = normalized_tool_name in [
+                    "delegate_work_to_coworker",
+                    "delegate_work",
+                    "ask_question_to_coworker",
+                    "ask_question",
+                ] or calling.tool_name in [
                     "Delegate work to coworker",
                     "Ask question to coworker",
-                ]:
+                ]
+
+                if is_delegation_tool:
                     coworker = (
                         calling.arguments.get("coworker") if calling.arguments else None
                     )
@@ -400,7 +408,78 @@ def _check_usage_limit(tool: Any, tool_name: str) -> str | None:
             return f"Tool '{tool_name}' has reached its usage limit of {tool.max_usage_count} times and cannot be used anymore."
         return None
 
+    def _normalize_tool_name(self, name: str) -> str:
+        """Normalize tool name for language-agnostic matching.
+
+        Converts to lowercase, removes extra whitespace, and replaces
+        spaces/hyphens with underscores for consistent matching.
+
+        Args:
+            name: The tool name to normalize
+
+        Returns:
+            Normalized tool name
+        """
+        if not name:
+            return ""
+        normalized = name.lower().strip()
+        normalized = normalized.replace(" ", "_").replace("-", "_")
+        while "__" in normalized:
+            normalized = normalized.replace("__", "_")
+        return normalized
+
+    def _get_tool_aliases(self, tool: Any) -> list[str]:
+        """Get all possible aliases for a tool including stable identifiers.
+
+        Args:
+            tool: The tool object
+
+        Returns:
+            List of possible tool name aliases
+        """
+        aliases = [tool.name]  # Original name
+
+        normalized = self._normalize_tool_name(tool.name)
+        if normalized and normalized != tool.name:
+            aliases.append(normalized)
+
+        if tool.name == "Delegate work to coworker":
+            aliases.extend(["delegate_work", "delegate_work_to_coworker"])
+        elif tool.name == "Ask question to coworker":
+            aliases.extend(["ask_question", "ask_question_to_coworker"])
+
+        return aliases
+
     def _select_tool(self, tool_name: str) -> Any:
+        """Select a tool by name with language-agnostic matching support.
+
+        Supports matching against:
+        1. Exact tool name (case-insensitive)
+        2. Normalized/slugified tool name
+        3. Stable short identifiers (delegate_work, ask_question)
+        4. Fuzzy matching as fallback (0.85 threshold)
+
+        Args:
+            tool_name: The name of the tool to select
+
+        Returns:
+            The selected tool object
+
+        Raises:
+            Exception: If no matching tool is found
+        """
+        normalized_input = self._normalize_tool_name(tool_name)
+
+        for tool in self.tools:
+            aliases = self._get_tool_aliases(tool)
+
+            if tool.name.lower().strip() == tool_name.lower().strip():
+                return tool
+
+            for alias in aliases:
+                if self._normalize_tool_name(alias) == normalized_input:
+                    return tool
+
         order_tools = sorted(
             self.tools,
             key=lambda tool: SequenceMatcher(
@@ -410,13 +489,13 @@ def _select_tool(self, tool_name: str) -> Any:
         )
         for tool in order_tools:
             if (
-                tool.name.lower().strip() == tool_name.lower().strip()
-                or SequenceMatcher(
+                SequenceMatcher(
                     None, tool.name.lower().strip(), tool_name.lower().strip()
                 ).ratio()
                 > 0.85
             ):
                 return tool
+
         if self.task:
             self.task.increment_tools_errors()
         tool_selection_data: dict[str, Any] = {

lib/crewai/tests/tools/test_tool_usage.py

@@ -742,3 +742,174 @@ def event_handler(source, event):
     assert isinstance(event.started_at, datetime.datetime)
     assert isinstance(event.finished_at, datetime.datetime)
     assert event.type == "tool_usage_finished"
+
+
+def test_normalize_tool_name():
+    """Test tool name normalization for language-agnostic matching."""
+    tool_usage = ToolUsage(
+        tools_handler=MagicMock(),
+        tools=[],
+        task=MagicMock(),
+        function_calling_llm=None,
+        agent=MagicMock(),
+        action=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+    assert tool_usage._normalize_tool_name("Delegate work to coworker") == "delegate_work_to_coworker"
+    assert tool_usage._normalize_tool_name("Ask question to coworker") == "ask_question_to_coworker"
+    assert tool_usage._normalize_tool_name("delegate_work") == "delegate_work"
+    assert tool_usage._normalize_tool_name("DELEGATE WORK") == "delegate_work"
+    assert tool_usage._normalize_tool_name("delegate-work") == "delegate_work"
+    assert tool_usage._normalize_tool_name("  delegate  work  ") == "delegate_work"
+    assert tool_usage._normalize_tool_name("") == ""
+
+
+def test_get_tool_aliases_for_delegate_work():
+    """Test that delegate work tool has correct aliases."""
+    from crewai.tools.agent_tools.delegate_work_tool import DelegateWorkTool
+
+    delegate_tool = DelegateWorkTool(agents=[], description="Test delegate tool")
+
+    tool_usage = ToolUsage(
+        tools_handler=MagicMock(),
+        tools=[delegate_tool],
+        task=MagicMock(),
+        function_calling_llm=None,
+        agent=MagicMock(),
+        action=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+    aliases = tool_usage._get_tool_aliases(delegate_tool)
+
+    assert "Delegate work to coworker" in aliases
+    assert "delegate_work" in aliases
+    assert "delegate_work_to_coworker" in aliases
+
+
+def test_get_tool_aliases_for_ask_question():
+    """Test that ask question tool has correct aliases."""
+    from crewai.tools.agent_tools.ask_question_tool import AskQuestionTool
+
+    ask_tool = AskQuestionTool(agents=[], description="Test ask question tool")
+
+    tool_usage = ToolUsage(
+        tools_handler=MagicMock(),
+        tools=[ask_tool],
+        task=MagicMock(),
+        function_calling_llm=None,
+        agent=MagicMock(),
+        action=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+    aliases = tool_usage._get_tool_aliases(ask_tool)
+
+    assert "Ask question to coworker" in aliases
+    assert "ask_question" in aliases
+    assert "ask_question_to_coworker" in aliases
+
+
+def test_select_tool_with_short_identifier():
+    """Test tool selection using short identifiers like delegate_work."""
+    from crewai.tools.agent_tools.delegate_work_tool import DelegateWorkTool
+    from crewai.tools.agent_tools.ask_question_tool import AskQuestionTool
+
+    delegate_tool = DelegateWorkTool(agents=[], description="Test delegate tool")
+    ask_tool = AskQuestionTool(agents=[], description="Test ask question tool")
+
+    tool_usage = ToolUsage(
+        tools_handler=MagicMock(),
+        tools=[delegate_tool, ask_tool],
+        task=MagicMock(),
+        function_calling_llm=None,
+        agent=MagicMock(),
+        action=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+    # Test short identifiers
+    selected = tool_usage._select_tool("delegate_work")
+    assert selected.name == "Delegate work to coworker"
+
+    selected = tool_usage._select_tool("ask_question")
+    assert selected.name == "Ask question to coworker"
+
+    # Test slugified versions
+    selected = tool_usage._select_tool("delegate_work_to_coworker")
+    assert selected.name == "Delegate work to coworker"
+
+    selected = tool_usage._select_tool("ask_question_to_coworker")
+    assert selected.name == "Ask question to coworker"
+
+
+def test_select_tool_with_exact_name():
+    """Test tool selection with exact English name still works."""
+    from crewai.tools.agent_tools.delegate_work_tool import DelegateWorkTool
+
+    delegate_tool = DelegateWorkTool(agents=[], description="Test delegate tool")
+
+    tool_usage = ToolUsage(
+        tools_handler=MagicMock(),
+        tools=[delegate_tool],
+        task=MagicMock(),
+        function_calling_llm=None,
+        agent=MagicMock(),
+        action=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+    # Test exact name matching (backward compatibility)
+    selected = tool_usage._select_tool("Delegate work to coworker")
+    assert selected.name == "Delegate work to coworker"
+
+
+def test_select_tool_case_insensitive():
+    """Test tool selection is case-insensitive."""
+    from crewai.tools.agent_tools.delegate_work_tool import DelegateWorkTool
+
+    delegate_tool = DelegateWorkTool(agents=[], description="Test delegate tool")
+
+    tool_usage = ToolUsage(
+        tools_handler=MagicMock(),
+        tools=[delegate_tool],
+        task=MagicMock(),
+        function_calling_llm=None,
+        agent=MagicMock(),
+        action=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+    # Test case variations
+    selected = tool_usage._select_tool("DELEGATE_WORK")
+    assert selected.name == "Delegate work to coworker"
+
+    selected = tool_usage._select_tool("Delegate_Work")
+    assert selected.name == "Delegate work to coworker"
+
+
+def test_memory_filter_with_short_identifiers():
+    """Test that memory filter recognizes short identifiers."""
+    from crewai.agents.agent_builder.base_agent_executor_mixin import CrewAgentExecutorMixin
+
+    class TestMixin(CrewAgentExecutorMixin):
+        def __init__(self):
+            self.crew = MagicMock()
+            self.crew._short_term_memory = MagicMock()
+            self.agent = MagicMock()
+            self.agent._logger = MagicMock()
+            self.task = MagicMock()
+            self.task.description = "test task"
+
+    mixin = TestMixin()
+
+    # Test with short identifier - should NOT save to memory
+    output = MagicMock()
+    output.text = "Action: delegate_work\nAction Input: {...}"
+    mixin._create_short_term_memory(output)
+    mixin.crew._short_term_memory.save.assert_not_called()
+
+    # Test with English name - should NOT save to memory
+    output.text = "Action: Delegate work to coworker\nAction Input: {...}"
+    mixin._create_short_term_memory(output)
+    mixin.crew._short_term_memory.save.assert_not_called()
+
+    # Test with non-delegation action - should save to memory
+    output.text = "Action: Some other tool\nAction Input: {...}"
+    mixin._create_short_term_memory(output)
+    mixin.crew._short_term_memory.save.assert_called_once()