diff --git a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/rfc3164_with_defaults.toml b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/rfc3164_with_defaults.toml
index a05afc1f6..958d5b4c6 100644
--- a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/rfc3164_with_defaults.toml
+++ b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/rfc3164_with_defaults.toml
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ if .log_source == "container" {
 }
 if .log_type == "audit" {
    ._syslog.app_name = .log_source
-   ._syslog.severity = "informational"
+   ._syslog.severity = "info"
    ._syslog.facility = "security"
 }
-._syslog.proc_id = to_string!(._syslog.proc_id || "")
-if exists(._syslog.proc_id) && is_empty(strip_whitespace(string!(._syslog.proc_id))) { del(._syslog.proc_id) }
+._syslog.proc_id = to_string(._syslog.proc_id)
+if is_empty(strip_whitespace(._syslog.proc_id)) { del(._syslog.proc_id) }
 ._syslog.app_name = to_string!(._syslog.app_name || "")
 
 # try to convert syslog code to the facility, severity names (e.g. 4 -> "warning", "4" -> "warning"  )
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ if exists(._syslog.facility) && !is_null(._syslog.facility) {
 }
 
 if exists(._syslog.severity) && !is_null(._syslog.severity) {
+  if is_string(._syslog.severity) {
+    ._syslog.severity = downcase(._syslog.severity) ?? ._syslog.severity
+    if ._syslog.severity == "emergency" { ._syslog.severity = "emerg" } else if ._syslog.severity == "critical" { ._syslog.severity = "crit" } else if ._syslog.severity == "informational" { ._syslog.severity = "info" }
+  }
+
   _, err = to_syslog_severity(._syslog.severity)
   if err != null {
     # Field is not a valid name — try treating it as a code (int or string int)
diff --git a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/syslog.go b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/syslog.go
index 2bb81f50d..882863c54 100644
--- a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/syslog.go
+++ b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/syslog.go
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ const (
 	vrlKeySyslogAppName  = "._syslog.app_name"
 	vrlKeySyslogMsgID    = "._syslog.msg_id"
 
-	defProcIdRFC3164 = `to_string!(._syslog.proc_id || "")
-if exists(._syslog.proc_id) && is_empty(strip_whitespace(string!(._syslog.proc_id))) { del(._syslog.proc_id) }
+	defProcIdRFC3164 = `to_string(._syslog.proc_id)
+if is_empty(strip_whitespace(._syslog.proc_id)) { del(._syslog.proc_id) }
 `
 	defAppNameRFC3164 = `to_string!(._syslog.app_name || "")`
 
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ if err != null {
 
 	// Default values for Syslog fields for audit logType
 	auditAppName  = `._syslog.app_name = .log_source`
-	auditSeverity = `._syslog.severity = "informational"`
+	auditSeverity = `._syslog.severity = "info"`
 	auditFacility = `._syslog.facility = "security"`
 	auditProcId   = `._syslog.proc_id = to_string!(.auditID || "-")`
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ if err != null {
 	isContainerLogCond          = `.log_source == "container"`
 	isAuditLogCond              = `.log_type == "audit"`
 
-	facilitySeverityConversionVRL = `
+	facilityConversionVRL = `
 # try to convert syslog code to the facility, severity names (e.g. 4 -> "warning", "4" -> "warning"  )
 if exists(._syslog.facility) && !is_null(._syslog.facility) {
   _, err = to_syslog_facility_code(._syslog.facility)
@@ -93,9 +93,23 @@ if exists(._syslog.facility) && !is_null(._syslog.facility) {
     }
   }
   # else: already a valid name, leave it as-is
-}
+}`
+
+	// severityNormalizationInfallibleVRL is used when VRL already knows ._syslog.severity is a string (dynamic severity with field references).
+	severityNormalizationInfallibleVRL = `
+  ._syslog.severity = downcase(._syslog.severity)
+  if ._syslog.severity == "emergency" { ._syslog.severity = "emerg" } else if ._syslog.severity == "critical" { ._syslog.severity = "crit" } else if ._syslog.severity == "informational" { ._syslog.severity = "info" }`
 
+	// severityNormalizationFallibleVRL is used when ._syslog.severity type is unknown (empty/default severity).
+	severityNormalizationFallibleVRL = `
+  if is_string(._syslog.severity) {
+    ._syslog.severity = downcase(._syslog.severity) ?? ._syslog.severity
+    if ._syslog.severity == "emergency" { ._syslog.severity = "emerg" } else if ._syslog.severity == "critical" { ._syslog.severity = "crit" } else if ._syslog.severity == "informational" { ._syslog.severity = "info" }
+  }`
+
+	severityValidationVRL = `
 if exists(._syslog.severity) && !is_null(._syslog.severity) {
+%s
   _, err = to_syslog_severity(._syslog.severity)
   if err != null {
     # Field is not a valid name — try treating it as a code (int or string int)
@@ -181,6 +195,20 @@ func New(id string, o *adapters.Output, inputs []string, secrets observability.S
 	return id, sink, tfs
 }
 
+func normalizeSeverity(s string) string {
+	lower := strings.ToLower(s)
+	switch lower {
+	case "emergency":
+		return "emerg"
+	case "critical":
+		return "crit"
+	case "informational":
+		return "info"
+	default:
+		return lower
+	}
+}
+
 func socketMode(urlScheme string) sinks.SocketMode {
 	switch strings.ToLower(urlScheme) {
 	case TCP, TLS:
@@ -225,7 +253,13 @@ func parseEncoding(inputs []string, o *obs.Syslog) types.Transform {
 	}
 
 	appendField(vrlKeySyslogFacility, o.Facility, "")
-	appendField(vrlKeySyslogSeverity, o.Severity, "")
+
+	severity := o.Severity
+	isDynamicSeverity := strings.Contains(severity, "{")
+	if !isDynamicSeverity && severity != "" {
+		severity = normalizeSeverity(severity)
+	}
+	appendField(vrlKeySyslogSeverity, severity, "")
 
 	if o.RFC == obs.SyslogRFC3164 {
 		appendField(vrlKeySyslogProcID, o.ProcId, defProcIdRFC3164)
@@ -236,7 +270,15 @@ func parseEncoding(inputs []string, o *obs.Syslog) types.Transform {
 		appendField(vrlKeySyslogMsgID, o.MsgId, "")
 	}
 
-	vrls = append(vrls, facilitySeverityConversionVRL)
+	vrls = append(vrls, facilityConversionVRL)
+
+	normVRL := ""
+	if isDynamicSeverity {
+		normVRL = severityNormalizationInfallibleVRL
+	} else if severity == "" {
+		normVRL = severityNormalizationFallibleVRL
+	}
+	vrls = append(vrls, fmt.Sprintf(severityValidationVRL, normVRL))
 
 	if key := PayloadKey(o.PayloadKey); key != "" {
 		vrls = append(vrls, fmt.Sprintf(payloadKeyConfiguredVRL, key))
diff --git a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_defaults.toml b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_defaults.toml
index 9eba0839b..e1c078131 100644
--- a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_defaults.toml
+++ b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_defaults.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ if .log_source == "container" {
 if .log_type == "audit" {
    ._syslog.app_name = .log_source
    ._syslog.proc_id = to_string!(.auditID || "-")
-   ._syslog.severity = "informational"
+   ._syslog.severity = "info"
    ._syslog.facility = "security"
 }
 
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ if exists(._syslog.facility) && !is_null(._syslog.facility) {
 }
 
 if exists(._syslog.severity) && !is_null(._syslog.severity) {
+  if is_string(._syslog.severity) {
+    ._syslog.severity = downcase(._syslog.severity) ?? ._syslog.severity
+    if ._syslog.severity == "emergency" { ._syslog.severity = "emerg" } else if ._syslog.severity == "critical" { ._syslog.severity = "crit" } else if ._syslog.severity == "informational" { ._syslog.severity = "info" }
+  }
+
   _, err = to_syslog_severity(._syslog.severity)
   if err != null {
     # Field is not a valid name — try treating it as a code (int or string int)
diff --git a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_kubernetes_minimal_enrichment.toml b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_kubernetes_minimal_enrichment.toml
index 1be85ea5c..f93201287 100644
--- a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_kubernetes_minimal_enrichment.toml
+++ b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_kubernetes_minimal_enrichment.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ if .log_source == "container" {
 if .log_type == "audit" {
    ._syslog.app_name = .log_source
    ._syslog.proc_id = to_string!(.auditID || "-")
-   ._syslog.severity = "informational"
+   ._syslog.severity = "info"
    ._syslog.facility = "security"
 }
 
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ if exists(._syslog.facility) && !is_null(._syslog.facility) {
 }
 
 if exists(._syslog.severity) && !is_null(._syslog.severity) {
+  if is_string(._syslog.severity) {
+    ._syslog.severity = downcase(._syslog.severity) ?? ._syslog.severity
+    if ._syslog.severity == "emergency" { ._syslog.severity = "emerg" } else if ._syslog.severity == "critical" { ._syslog.severity = "crit" } else if ._syslog.severity == "informational" { ._syslog.severity = "info" }
+  }
+
   _, err = to_syslog_severity(._syslog.severity)
   if err != null {
     # Field is not a valid name — try treating it as a code (int or string int)
diff --git a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_tuning.toml b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_tuning.toml
index c25dcc4a5..60c5dc30b 100644
--- a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_tuning.toml
+++ b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tcp_with_tuning.toml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ if .log_source == "container" {
 if .log_type == "audit" {
    ._syslog.app_name = .log_source
    ._syslog.proc_id = to_string!(.auditID || "-")
-   ._syslog.severity = "informational"
+   ._syslog.severity = "info"
    ._syslog.facility = "security"
 }
 
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ if exists(._syslog.facility) && !is_null(._syslog.facility) {
 }
 
 if exists(._syslog.severity) && !is_null(._syslog.severity) {
+  if is_string(._syslog.severity) {
+    ._syslog.severity = downcase(._syslog.severity) ?? ._syslog.severity
+    if ._syslog.severity == "emergency" { ._syslog.severity = "emerg" } else if ._syslog.severity == "critical" { ._syslog.severity = "crit" } else if ._syslog.severity == "informational" { ._syslog.severity = "info" }
+  }
+
   _, err = to_syslog_severity(._syslog.severity)
   if err != null {
     # Field is not a valid name — try treating it as a code (int or string int)
diff --git a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tls_with_field_references.toml b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tls_with_field_references.toml
index 005996599..6951fa125 100644
--- a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tls_with_field_references.toml
+++ b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/tls_with_field_references.toml
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ if exists(._syslog.facility) && !is_null(._syslog.facility) {
 }
 
 if exists(._syslog.severity) && !is_null(._syslog.severity) {
+  ._syslog.severity = downcase(._syslog.severity)
+  if ._syslog.severity == "emergency" { ._syslog.severity = "emerg" } else if ._syslog.severity == "critical" { ._syslog.severity = "crit" } else if ._syslog.severity == "informational" { ._syslog.severity = "info" }
+
   _, err = to_syslog_severity(._syslog.severity)
   if err != null {
     # Field is not a valid name — try treating it as a code (int or string int)
diff --git a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/udp_with_every_setting.toml b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/udp_with_every_setting.toml
index e9071a1ab..04953374e 100644
--- a/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/udp_with_every_setting.toml
+++ b/internal/generator/vector/output/syslog/udp_with_every_setting.toml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ source = '''
 
 ._syslog = {}
 ._syslog.facility = "kern"
-._syslog.severity = "critical"
+._syslog.severity = "crit"
 ._syslog.proc_id = "procID"
 ._syslog.app_name = "appName"
 
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ if exists(._syslog.facility) && !is_null(._syslog.facility) {
 }
 
 if exists(._syslog.severity) && !is_null(._syslog.severity) {
+
   _, err = to_syslog_severity(._syslog.severity)
   if err != null {
     # Field is not a valid name — try treating it as a code (int or string int)
diff --git a/test/functional/outputs/syslog/rfc3164_test.go b/test/functional/outputs/syslog/rfc3164_test.go
index 092368ece..fd80d0343 100644
--- a/test/functional/outputs/syslog/rfc3164_test.go
+++ b/test/functional/outputs/syslog/rfc3164_test.go
@@ -53,9 +53,48 @@ var _ = Describe("[Functional][Outputs][Syslog] RFC3164 tests", func() {
 			// 134 = Facility(local0/16)*8 + Severity(Informational/6)
 			expectedPriority := "<134>"
 			Expect(outputlogs[0]).To(MatchRegexp(expectedPriority), "Exp to find tag in received message")
+
+			collectorLogs, err := framework.ReadCollectorLogs()
+			Expect(err).To(BeNil())
+			Expect(collectorLogs).ToNot(ContainSubstring("VRL compilation warning"), "Expected no VRL compilation warnings in collector logs")
 		})
 	})
 
+	DescribeTable("should correctly encode severity keywords in all forms", func(severity string, expectedPriority string) {
+		obstestruntime.NewClusterLogForwarderBuilder(framework.Forwarder).
+			FromInput(obs.InputTypeApplication).
+			ToSyslogOutput(obs.SyslogRFC3164, func(spec *obs.OutputSpec) {
+				spec.Syslog.Facility = "user"
+				spec.Syslog.Severity = severity
+			})
+		Expect(framework.Deploy()).To(BeNil())
+
+		crioMessage := functional.NewFullCRIOLogMessage(functional.CRIOTime(time.Now()), `{"index":1}`)
+		Expect(framework.WriteMessagesToApplicationLog(crioMessage, 1)).To(BeNil())
+
+		outputlogs, err := framework.ReadRawApplicationLogsFrom(string(obs.OutputTypeSyslog))
+		Expect(err).To(BeNil(), "Expected no errors reading the logs")
+		Expect(outputlogs).To(HaveLen(1), "Expected the receiver to receive the message")
+		Expect(outputlogs[0]).To(HavePrefix(expectedPriority), "Expected priority to match facility(user/1)*8 + severity")
+
+		collectorLogs, err := framework.ReadCollectorLogs()
+		Expect(err).To(BeNil())
+		Expect(collectorLogs).ToNot(ContainSubstring("VRL compilation warning"), "Expected no VRL compilation warnings in collector logs")
+		Expect(collectorLogs).ToNot(ContainSubstring("Invalid syslog severity"), "Expected no invalid severity warnings in collector logs")
+	},
+		// facility "user" = 1, priority = 1*8 + severity_code
+		// full-form keywords (RFC 5424)
+		Entry("full-form: critical", "critical", "<10>"),         // 8 + 2
+		Entry("full-form: emergency", "emergency", "<8>"),        // 8 + 0
+		Entry("full-form: error", "error", "<11>"),               // 8 + 3
+		Entry("full-form: informational", "informational", "<14>"), // 8 + 6
+		Entry("full-form: warning", "warning", "<12>"),           // 8 + 4
+		// capitalized keywords (as documented in oc explain)
+		Entry("capitalized: Critical", "Critical", "<10>"),         // 8 + 2
+		Entry("capitalized: Emergency", "Emergency", "<8>"),        // 8 + 0
+		Entry("capitalized: Informational", "Informational", "<14>"), // 8 + 6
+	)
+
 	DescribeTable("should enrich logs based upon the enrichment type", func(source obs.InputType, enrichment obs.EnrichmentType) {
 		obstestruntime.NewClusterLogForwarderBuilder(framework.Forwarder).
 			FromInput(source).
diff --git a/test/functional/outputs/syslog/rfc5424_test.go b/test/functional/outputs/syslog/rfc5424_test.go
index 686c26ddb..0c045d876 100644
--- a/test/functional/outputs/syslog/rfc5424_test.go
+++ b/test/functional/outputs/syslog/rfc5424_test.go
@@ -138,6 +138,10 @@ var _ = Describe("[Functional][Outputs][Syslog] RFC5424 tests", func() {
 			// The 1 after <134> is version, which is always set to 1
 			expectedPriority := "<134>1 "
 			Expect(outputlogs[0]).To(MatchRegexp(expectedPriority), "Exp to find tag in received message")
+
+			collectorLogs, err := framework.ReadCollectorLogs()
+			Expect(err).To(BeNil())
+			Expect(collectorLogs).ToNot(ContainSubstring("VRL compilation warning"), "Expected no VRL compilation warnings in collector logs")
 		})
 
 		It("should use numeric value", func() {
@@ -164,7 +168,7 @@ var _ = Describe("[Functional][Outputs][Syslog] RFC5424 tests", func() {
 		})
 	})
 
-	DescribeTable("should correctly encode short-form severity keywords", func(severity string, expectedPriority string) {
+	DescribeTable("should correctly encode severity keywords in all forms", func(severity string, expectedPriority string) {
 		obstestruntime.NewClusterLogForwarderBuilder(framework.Forwarder).
 			FromInput(obs.InputTypeApplication).
 			ToSyslogOutput(obs.SyslogRFC5424, func(spec *obs.OutputSpec) {
@@ -180,16 +184,32 @@ var _ = Describe("[Functional][Outputs][Syslog] RFC5424 tests", func() {
 		Expect(err).To(BeNil(), "Expected no errors reading the logs")
 		Expect(outputlogs).To(HaveLen(1), "Expected the receiver to receive the message")
 		Expect(outputlogs[0]).To(HavePrefix(expectedPriority), "Expected priority to match facility(user/1)*8 + severity")
+
+		collectorLogs, err := framework.ReadCollectorLogs()
+		Expect(err).To(BeNil())
+		Expect(collectorLogs).ToNot(ContainSubstring("VRL compilation warning"), "Expected no VRL compilation warnings in collector logs")
+		Expect(collectorLogs).ToNot(ContainSubstring("Invalid syslog severity"), "Expected no invalid severity warnings in collector logs")
 	},
 		// facility "user" = 1, priority = 1*8 + severity_code
-		Entry("crit", "crit", "<10>1 "),    // 8 + 2
-		Entry("emerg", "emerg", "<8>1 "),    // 8 + 0
-		Entry("err", "err", "<11>1 "),       // 8 + 3
-		Entry("info", "info", "<14>1 "),     // 8 + 6
-		Entry("warn", "warn", "<12>1 "),     // 8 + 4
-		Entry("debug", "debug", "<15>1 "),   // 8 + 7
-		Entry("notice", "notice", "<13>1 "), // 8 + 5
-		Entry("alert", "alert", "<9>1 "),    // 8 + 1
+		// full-form keywords (RFC 5424)
+		Entry("full-form: critical", "critical", "<10>1 "),           // 8 + 2
+		Entry("full-form: emergency", "emergency", "<8>1 "),          // 8 + 0
+		Entry("full-form: error", "error", "<11>1 "),                 // 8 + 3
+		Entry("full-form: informational", "informational", "<14>1 "), // 8 + 6
+		Entry("full-form: warning", "warning", "<12>1 "),             // 8 + 4
+		Entry("full-form: debug", "debug", "<15>1 "),                 // 8 + 7
+		Entry("full-form: notice", "notice", "<13>1 "),               // 8 + 5
+		Entry("full-form: alert", "alert", "<9>1 "),                  // 8 + 1
+		// short-form keywords (VRL to_syslog_level output)
+		Entry("short-form: crit", "crit", "<10>1 "),    // 8 + 2
+		Entry("short-form: emerg", "emerg", "<8>1 "),    // 8 + 0
+		Entry("short-form: err", "err", "<11>1 "),       // 8 + 3
+		Entry("short-form: info", "info", "<14>1 "),     // 8 + 6
+		Entry("short-form: warn", "warn", "<12>1 "),     // 8 + 4
+		// capitalized keywords (as documented in oc explain)
+		Entry("capitalized: Critical", "Critical", "<10>1 "),           // 8 + 2
+		Entry("capitalized: Emergency", "Emergency", "<8>1 "),          // 8 + 0
+		Entry("capitalized: Informational", "Informational", "<14>1 "), // 8 + 6
 	)
 
 	It("should be able to send a large payload", func() {