To translate and culturally adapt the Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (PPLI) questionnaire, as well as to evaluate the factor structure. A single-measure cross-sectional study was conducted. For the first phase of the study, a translation and cultural adaptation of the PPLI questionnaire was carried out, as well as an interview, with the aim of assessing the understanding of the instrument. In the second part of the study, exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factorial analyses were conducted. A total of 213 Spanish adults with a mean age of 27.40 (10.58) participated. EFA was performed because of the good results offered by the sampling adequacy indices (Bartlett test = 1081.848; df = 153; p < 0.001; and KMO test = 0.825). The factor solution comprised three correlated factors:1) physical competence, 2) motivation and confidence, and 3) knowledge and understanding. After the EFA, items 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 were excluded. Therefore, through CFA, a factor structure of 9 items grouped into three dimensions was extracted. The PPLI-Sp version for adults, obtained from the back-translation process as well as after individual interviews, proved to be valid and reliable after the EFA and CFA analyses, obtaining an instrument of nine items, divided into three dimensions. This instrument can be used to determine the perception of physical literacy among different Spanish adult populations.

• Physical Literacy should be established and consolidated as a key principle in governmental organizations, as it could provide a basis for physical education, sport and public health.

• A process of translation and cultural adaptation of the PPLI questionnaire into Spanish was successfully carried out through a process of back-translation and individual interviews, resulting in the final version of the PPLI-Sp. In addition, it was tested for validity and reliability in Spanish adults.

• The Spanish version of the PPLI will be able to determine the perception of Physical Literacy in different Spanish adult populations, being able to establish differences between groups according to their status, sex, or different contextual variables, thus being able to contemplate the benefits derived from more physically literate societies.