diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index cb2f2610e6b7edd974d80d0039d057b923fb4f08..15890fd92862df7beb19d174ec6c09383065c4bb 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -282,10 +282,9 @@ func NewMCPServer(config *Config) *server.MCPServer {
 			mcp.Min(0),
 			mcp.Max(720), // Aligned with CreateTaskRequest validation tag
 		),
-		mcp.WithNumber("priority",
-			mcp.Description("New task priority, -2 being lowest, 0 being normal, and 2 being highest."),
-			mcp.Min(-2),
-			mcp.Max(2),
+		mcp.WithString("priority",
+			mcp.Description("Task priority, omit unless priority is mentioned"),
+			mcp.Enum("lowest", "low", "neutral", "high", "highest"),
 		),
 		mcp.WithString("motivation",
 			mcp.Description("New motivation driving the task."),
@@ -611,14 +610,22 @@ func handleUpdateTask(
 	}
 
 	if priorityArg, exists := arguments["priority"]; exists && priorityArg != nil {
-		if priorityVal, ok := priorityArg.(float64); ok {
-			if priorityVal < -2 || priorityVal > 2 { // MCP tool range
-				return reportMCPError("'priority' must be between -2 and 2 (inclusive).")
-			}
-			updatePayload.Priority = int(priorityVal)
-		} else {
-			return reportMCPError("Invalid type for priority argument: expected number.")
+		priorityStr, ok := priorityArg.(string)
+		if !ok {
+			return reportMCPError("Invalid type for 'priority' argument: expected string.")
+		}
+		priorityMap := map[string]int{
+			"lowest":  -2,
+			"low":     -1,
+			"neutral": 0,
+			"high":    1,
+			"highest": 2,
+		}
+		translatedPriority, isValid := priorityMap[strings.ToLower(priorityStr)]
+		if !isValid {
+			return reportMCPError(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid 'priority' value: '%s'. Must be one of 'lowest', 'low', 'neutral', 'high', 'highest'.", priorityStr))
 		}
+		updatePayload.Priority = translatedPriority
 	}
 
 	if motivationArg, exists := arguments["motivation"]; exists {