Dig deeper into a new language like Spanish, and you’ll improve your understanding of the general basics in no time. Still, there are small but essential words that even intermediate learners can find confusing.
Take por and para. They share a similar definition—both words can mean “for”—but the context in which we use them is vastly different. Thankfully, there are many tips and tricks to help you differentiate the two.
Give these tips a couple months to sink in, and you’ll be on your way to using por and para with confidence. But if you want to retain Spanish grammar rules faster, Rosetta Stone’s unique Dynamic Immersion approach is here to accelerate your learning. Our bite-sized lessons, learning tools, and more are available in Latin American Spanish and Peninsular (Spain) Spanish, so you can choose the dialect that fits your learning goals!
What do por and para mean in Spanish?
Many resources will tell you simply that both por and para both mean “for,” which is sometimes true, but the meanings depend on the context of the sentence. You will never hear a native Spanish speaker use them interchangeably, as they follow distinct patterns of usage. That’s why it can be helpful to focus on comparing and contrasting the ways they are used in real life contexts.
Digging deeper into the meaning conveyed by each preposition, we see that por can mean:
- Because of
- By way of
- Through
- Per
- Instead of
- On someone’s behalf
- During
- To
- In the
…and of course, “for.”
By contrast, para can mean:
- For
- In order to
- By (a deadline)
- According to
- Toward
That’s quite a list. Let’s take a closer look at each definition.
How to get por and para right most of the time
Learn para first
If you’re hoping to hack por vs para, one way would be to focus on para, which has fewer uses. Then, by process of elimination, you can assume anything that isn’t para uses por. There are about three times as many entries in the dictionary of the Real Academia Española for por, as well as a plethora of set phrases and expressions.
Para is far simpler.
This won’t help in every case, as there are still several tricky exceptions, especially when we are trying to translate from English. Still, it can be a useful first step. Let’s take a closer look at para alone.
Think of para as the future
We can often place por as past or present in relation to the action of the sentence. In contrast, para is focused on the future.
Things that happen in the future include:
- a purpose
- a recipient
- a deadline
- a destination
Use para when you mean, “in order to” (a purpose), “for someone” (a recipient), “by a deadline,” or “toward a destination.”
- Purpose: Estudio para hablar mejor. = I study in order to speak better.
- Recipient: Este regalo es para mi vecina. = This gift is for my neighbor.
- Deadline: Complétalo para el lunes. = Complete it by Monday.
- Destination: Voy para Chicago mañana. = I’m going to Chicago tomorrow.
Also use para for opinions
Many uses of para could be translated as “according to,” or “in the opinion of.”
- Para mí, no es tan importante. = In my opinion, it’s not that important.
- Para nosotros, vale la pena.= For us (in our opinion), it’s worth it.
The rest of the time, try por! It will be common to make mistakes at first, but little by little, you’ll start to separate por and para into two different categories.
How to get por and para right every time
It takes time to fully understand the difference between por and para, since situational meanings abound. Now that you have a fairly good understanding of para, let’s take a look at the many uses of por.
Reason vs. purpose
Sometimes you’ll use por in order to explain the cause or reason behind an action.
- Compré el ordenador por mis estudios. = I bought the computer because of my studies.
In the example above, the speaker is stating the reason they bought the computer, since it was necessary for their studies.
Compare this to a similar sentence—this one, however, uses para.
- Compré el ordenador para tomar apuntes. = I bought the computer to take notes.
In this example, the speaker is describing the purpose of the computer (to take notes), not the reason behind the computer purchase (because of my studies).
Let’s look at two new examples side by side.
| Example | Explanation |
| Regresé a casa por necesidad. I returned home out of necessity. |
The necessity was the reason for returning. |
| Regresé a casa para ahorrar dinero. I returned home in order to save money. |
The purpose for returning was to make money. |
The past/present vs. future trick works here as well. Por is used because the necessity came before or at the same time as the return home. Para is used because saving money will happen after returning home, sometime in the future.
You can even see this nuance in the contrast between the following questions:
| Example | Explanation |
| ¿Por qué viajaste el año pasado? Why did you travel last year? |
The speaker wants to know the reason you traveled. You could tell the reason, such as “for work,” or “for school.” The reason would have preceded the trip. |
| ¿Para qué viajas este año?Why are you traveling this year? | The speaker wants to know for what purpose you are traveling. You could tell the purpose, such as “to study,” or “to visit my family.” The purpose will take place once you get to the destination. |
Traveling vs. the final destination
Por will indicate motion through or along, whereas para will indicate movement toward a destination. Look at the difference in these examples:
- Pasamos por el parque. = We pass through the park.
- Caminamos para el parque. = We are walking toward the park.
Here are other examples where por expresses movement through or along a space:
- Tiró la pelota por la ventana. = He threw the ball through the window.
- Entramos por la puerta abierta. = We entered through the open door.
- El autobús va por el centro. = The bus goes through/around the city center.
- Vamos a pasear por el río. = We are going to walk along the river.
We will often see this use of por with verbs of motion, such as walking, leaving, or entering. We see the action happening on location at that moment. When we entered, we were in the open door. When we walk, we will be alongside the river at that time.
Para, on the other hand, will imply a final destination or direction.
- Tienes que ir para allá. = You need to go over there.
- Mañana, me voy para casa. = Tomorrow, I’m leaving for home.
- Los estudiantes van para Costa Rica. = The students are headed toward Costa Rica.
The action will take the subject to the destination at a future moment. You will be over there after you get up and go. I will make it home after I leave. The students will end up in Costa Rica after they depart.
The destination can be abstract, as well!
- Te quiero para siempre. = I will love you forever! (The love continues into the future.)
By whom vs. for what/who
When you read a book in Spanish or listen to music, you’ll find out who wrote, illustrated, or produced the work, using por.
- Escrito por Sonia Sotomayor. = Written by Sonia Sotomayor.
- La obra fue traducido por mi profesora. = The work was translated by my teacher.
You’ll also see this used in passive-voice constructions.
- El proyecto fue completado por el presidente. = The project was completed by the President.
If you do a task “on someone’s behalf,” or “instead of” someone, use por.
- La profesora está enferma. Trabajo por ella. = The teacher is sick. I’m working in her place.
- Hablo por mi niño. = I speak on behalf of my child.
In contrast, when something is done in service to or for someone, para is used.
- Lo diseñó para la Reina. = He designed it for the Queen.
- Es una canción para mi mamá. = It’s a song for my mom.
- Trabajo para mi tío. = I work for my uncle.
In a way, the above examples can be explained by the “reason” vs. “purposes” trick. The reason the project is completed is because of the President’s work. The reason you are working is because the teacher is sick. The reason you speak is to help the child. All of these use por.
The purpose for the design was to please the Queen. The purpose for the song was to honor my mom. The purpose for working is to complete tasks for my uncle. These are para examples.
Because of vs. in order to
Por can mean “because of,” or “due to” (a reason) and para can mean “in order to” (a purpose). In this case we see that por refers to a past cause, and para is a future effect.
- Llego tarde por el tráfico. = I’m late because of the traffic.
- Salgo temprano para evitar el tráfico. = I’m leaving early in order to avoid the traffic.
- Juego fútbol por mis amigos. = I play soccer because of my friends.
- Juego fútbol para estar sano. = I play soccer in order to be healthy.
- Cancelaron el partido por la tormenta. = They canceled the match due to the storm.
- Cancelaron el partido para descansar. = They canceled the match in order to rest.
- Estudio francés por mi trabajo. = I’m studying French because of my job.
- Estudio francés para trabajar en Francia. = I’m studying French in order to work in France.
Other uses of por
There are several other situations where you’ll need to use por.
| Situation | Spanish | English |
| A transaction | Tres billetes por dos euros | Three tickets for two euros |
| Él compró el libro por diez dólares. | He bought the book for ten dollars. | |
| Ella la cambió por una más grande. | She exchanged it for a larger one. | |
| By/via a medium | ¿Por qué no hablamos por teléfono? | Why don’t we talk on the phone? |
| Te enviaré la información por correo electrónico. | I will send you the information by email. | |
| Cuidado con la venta por internet. | Be careful with online sales (sales via the internet). | |
| Per | Cincuenta millas por hora | Fifty miles per hour |
| Una porción por persona | One piece per person | |
| Se celebra dos veces por año. | It is celebrated twice per year. | |
| Duration | Corrí por una hora. | I ran for an hour. (during) |
| Viajé por cinco días. | I traveled for five days. (during) | |
| Time of Day | Por la mañana | In the morning |
| Por la tarde | In the afternoon | |
| Approximations | La estación está por aquí. | The station is around here. |
| Multiplication | Tres por dos, seis. | Three times two is six. |
Common expressions that use por and para
As helpful as the list of tricks can be, there are always set expressions and idioms that will use one preposition or the other. It can be very tricky to translate these word for word, so it is best to notice these expressions in context, learn them as a set phrase, and not worry too much about the reason why!
It’s helpful to note that the majority of the set expressions will use por.
| Spanish | English |
| por ejemplo | for example |
| por eso | therefore, that’s why |
| por favor | please |
| por fin | finally |
| por cierto | by the way |
| por supuesto | of course |
| por todos lados | all over the place |
| por un lado, por otro lado | on one hand, on the other hand |
| por casualidad | by chance, by coincidence |
| por ahora | for the moment, for now |
| por completo, por entero | completely, totally |
| ¡Por Dios! | For God’s sake! / For Heaven’s sake! |
| por error | by mistake |
| por hacer | pending, to-do |
| por lo visto | apparently, it would seem/appear that |
| por tanto, por lo tanto | therefore, so |
| por lo menos | at least |
| por poco | nearly, almost |
| por respeto | out of respect for |
| por suerte | luckily |
| por si acaso | just in case |
| por último | finally, lastly |
Por might appear mid-phrase or after certain verbs. It’s possible to think through several of these examples and understand the reason why, but it can also be useful to learn verb infinitives (unconjugated verbs) with the prepositions that will always follow them.
| Spanish | English |
| dar por bueno | to approve, to give the go-ahead |
| ¡A por ello! | Go for it! (Peninsular Spanish) |
| por los pelos | by the skin of one’s teeth (literally “by the hairs”) |
| ir a por algo | to go and get something |
| gracias por | thank you for |
| votar por | to vote for |
| pagar por | to pay for |
| preocuparse por | to worry about |
| preguntar por | to ask about/after |
| estar por | to be in favor of, to support |
| optar por | to opt for, to choose |
A few set phrases and expressions will use para instead.
| Spanish | English |
| para siempre | forever |
| estar para | to be about to do something |
| para que | in order that, so that |
| para entonces | by that time |
| así como para | enough to |
| para ayer | by yesterday (urgently) |
| para nada | not at all |
| dispuesto / a para | ready / prepared to |
| dar para más | have more to give |
| para llevar | take-out (food) |
| dar para mucho | go a long way |
| el uno para el otro | to be made for each other |
| para colmo | to top it all off |
| para empezar | to start, to begin |
>>Make sure you’re nailing the pronunciation of these expressions with TruAccent!
Master every Spanish preposition with Rosetta Stone
Prepositions glue our sentences together! Though they can be short words, prepositions such as por and para can help you express yourself accurately and completely. It can be utterly confusing to decide between similar words when they seem to have the same English translation, but understanding the differences leads to much more confidence.
Using prepositions well leads to more sophisticated sentence structures. Knowing many expressions that use por and para can increase your communicative power! Rosetta Stone provides meaningful and impactful opportunities for learners to acquire correct grammar and syntax by reading examples and listening to native speakers model correct usage. Rosetta Stone’s Stories give you a fun way to practice your reading and listening comprehension as you hear, read, and speak with the prepositions in their proper places.
Written by Jamie Edwards
Jamie is a learner and teacher of Spanish and French. When she’s not learning new words, you’ll find her on the soccer sidelines, ski slopes, and track and field bleachers enjoying the four seasons of Western New York.
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