Spanish grammar
Por or para?
Por and para can both mean "for", but they are not the same. Para looks ahead to a goal; por looks back at a cause or describes the way through.
English uses "for" for many different ideas. Spanish splits them between por and para. A simple way to start: para points forward to a goal, a person who receives something, or an end point. Por points back to a reason, or describes the path, the means or the exchange.
Para: Goal and Destination
- Purpose ("in order to"): Estudio para aprender. - I study to learn.
- Who it’s for: Este regalo es para ti. - This gift is for you.
- Destination: Salgo para México. - I’m leaving for Mexico.
- Deadline: Lo necesito para el lunes. - I need it by Monday.
- Opinion: Para mí, es fácil. - For me, it’s easy.
- What a thing is used for: una taza para café - a coffee cup (una taza de café is a cup of coffee)
- Employer: Trabajo para una empresa grande. - I work for a big company.
Por: Cause and Exchange
- Reason or cause ("because of", "for the sake of"): Lo hago por mi familia. - I do it for my family.
- Exchange or price: Gracias por la comida. - Thanks for the food. Lo compré por diez dólares. - I bought it for ten dollars.
- In place of: Hoy trabajo por mi hermano. - Today I’m working in my brother’s place.
- Per: dos veces por semana - twice a week
Por: Path, Means and Time
- Through, along, around: Caminamos por la ciudad. - We walk around the city.
- Means: Hablamos por teléfono. - We talk on the phone.
- Length of time: Viví allá por dos años. - I lived there for two years. Por is often left out: Viví allá dos años.
- Part of the day: por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche - in the morning, in the afternoon, at night
Side by Side
| Por | Para |
|---|---|
| Lo hice por ti. - I did it for your sake, or in your place. | Lo hice para ti. - I made it for you (as a gift). |
| Paso por el parque. - I go through the park. | Voy para el parque. - I’m heading to the park. |
| Estudio por mis padres. - I study because of my parents. | Estudio para ser médico. - I study to become a doctor. |
| Trabajo por la mañana. - I work in the morning. | Es para mañana. - It’s for tomorrow. |
A Quick Test
Ask what "for" means in your sentence:
- If it points ahead to a goal, a receiver, a destination or a deadline, use para.
- If it means "because of", "in exchange for", "through" or "during", use por.
¿Por qué? asks for the reason behind something (why?). ¿Para qué? asks for the goal (what for?): ¿Para qué es esto? - What is this for?
Phrases to Learn Whole
Many common phrases always use por. Learn them as single words.
- por favor - please
- ¿por qué? - why?
- por eso - that’s why
- por fin - finally
- por supuesto - of course
- por ejemplo - for example
- por ahora - for now
- por lo menos - at least
- por cierto - by the way