diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-locale.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-locale.php
index ea8b67c987..82a79c3750 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-locale.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-locale.php
@@ -112,6 +112,16 @@ class WP_Locale {
 	 */
 	public $list_item_separator;
 
+	/**
+	 * The word count type of the locale language.
+	 *
+	 * Default is 'words'.
+	 *
+	 * @since 6.2.0
+	 * @var string
+	 */
+	public $word_count_type;
+
 	/**
 	 * Constructor which calls helper methods to set up object variables.
 	 *
@@ -236,6 +246,9 @@ class WP_Locale {
 		} elseif ( 'rtl' === _x( 'ltr', 'text direction' ) ) {
 			$this->text_direction = 'rtl';
 		}
+
+		// Set the word count type.
+		$this->word_count_type = $this->get_word_count_type();
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -396,4 +409,31 @@ class WP_Locale {
 	public function get_list_item_separator() {
 		return $this->list_item_separator;
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Retrieves the localized word count type.
+	 *
+	 * Options are 'characters_excluding_spaces', 'characters_including_spaces or 'words'. Defaults to 'words'.
+	 *
+	 * @since 6.2.0
+	 *
+	 * @return string Localized word count type.
+	 */
+	public function get_word_count_type() {
+
+		/*
+		 * translators: If your word count is based on single characters (e.g. East Asian characters),
+		 * enter 'characters_excluding_spaces' or 'characters_including_spaces'. Otherwise, enter 'words'.
+		 * Do not translate into your own language.
+		 */
+		$word_count_type = is_null( $this->word_count_type ) ? _x( 'words', 'Word count type. Do not translate!' ) : $this->word_count_type;
+
+		// Check for valid types.
+		if ( 'characters_excluding_spaces' !== $word_count_type && 'characters_including_spaces' !== $word_count_type ) {
+			// Defaults to 'words'.
+			$word_count_type = 'words';
+		}
+
+		return $word_count_type;
+	}
 }
diff --git a/wp-includes/formatting.php b/wp-includes/formatting.php
index 2cc27ad069..d598d354d3 100644
--- a/wp-includes/formatting.php
+++ b/wp-includes/formatting.php
@@ -3945,12 +3945,7 @@ function wp_trim_words( $text, $num_words = 55, $more = null ) {
 	$text          = wp_strip_all_tags( $text );
 	$num_words     = (int) $num_words;
 
-	/*
-	 * translators: If your word count is based on single characters (e.g. East Asian characters),
-	 * enter 'characters_excluding_spaces' or 'characters_including_spaces'. Otherwise, enter 'words'.
-	 * Do not translate into your own language.
-	 */
-	if ( strpos( _x( 'words', 'Word count type. Do not translate!' ), 'characters' ) === 0 && preg_match( '/^utf\-?8$/i', get_option( 'blog_charset' ) ) ) {
+	if ( str_starts_with( wp_get_word_count_type(), 'characters' ) && preg_match( '/^utf\-?8$/i', get_option( 'blog_charset' ) ) ) {
 		$text = trim( preg_replace( "/[\n\r\t ]+/", ' ', $text ), ' ' );
 		preg_match_all( '/./u', $text, $words_array );
 		$words_array = array_slice( $words_array[0], 0, $num_words + 1 );
diff --git a/wp-includes/l10n.php b/wp-includes/l10n.php
index f3dbc282bb..3a620ee3ca 100644
--- a/wp-includes/l10n.php
+++ b/wp-includes/l10n.php
@@ -1809,3 +1809,18 @@ function wp_get_list_item_separator() {
 
 	return $wp_locale->get_list_item_separator();
 }
+
+/**
+ * Retrieves the word count type based on the locale.
+ *
+ * @since 6.2.0
+ *
+ * @global WP_Locale $wp_locale WordPress date and time locale object.
+ *
+ * @return string Locale-specific word count type.
+ */
+function wp_get_word_count_type() {
+	global $wp_locale;
+
+	return $wp_locale->get_word_count_type();
+}
diff --git a/wp-includes/script-loader.php b/wp-includes/script-loader.php
index a150dd9474..894c2d7936 100644
--- a/wp-includes/script-loader.php
+++ b/wp-includes/script-loader.php
@@ -1831,12 +1831,7 @@ function wp_just_in_time_script_localization() {
 		'word-count',
 		'wordCountL10n',
 		array(
-			/*
-			 * translators: If your word count is based on single characters (e.g. East Asian characters),
-			 * enter 'characters_excluding_spaces' or 'characters_including_spaces'. Otherwise, enter 'words'.
-			 * Do not translate into your own language.
-			 */
-			'type'       => _x( 'words', 'Word count type. Do not translate!' ),
+			'type'       => wp_get_word_count_type(),
 			'shortcodes' => ! empty( $GLOBALS['shortcode_tags'] ) ? array_keys( $GLOBALS['shortcode_tags'] ) : array(),
 		)
 	);
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 27efe79cec..a2a6dfda0f 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.2-alpha-55278';
+$wp_version = '6.2-alpha-55279';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.