The word “for” in Spanish is often para or por, but can also be durante, a favor de, or con destino a. Small words like “for” don’t always translate to the same word in Spanish. Context is everything.
This guide will give you a breakdown of your options, illustrated by examples to make it easier para ti (for you). You’ll learn when to use para vs. por, and when to choose a different word or phrase instead. There are even times that the English word “for” would be omitted in a Spanish translation.
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Para is a common way to say ‘for’ in Spanish
When you study Spanish, you’ll eventually ask what the difference between por and para is. Both can mean “for,” but they can also have other translations, depending on the way they’re used. This table will break down when para means “for” in Spanish and how to use it.
| Use | Spanish Example | English Translation |
| Intended use of something | Esta caja es para reciclaje. | This box is for recyclables. |
| Intended recipient | Es un regalo para mi hijo. | It’s a gift for my son. |
| Appropriate for | No es apto para niños. | It’s not appropriate for children. |
| For someone’s taste or opinion | Está demasiado salada para mí. | It tastes too salty for me. |
| In order to/for the purpose of | Compré chocolate para hacer galletas. | I bought chocolate for making cookies. |
| Compared to a norm or average | Es bajo para un jugador de baloncesto. | He’s short for a basketball player. |
| Toward a destination | Este tren va para Madrid. | This train is heading for Madrid. |
Por can also mean ‘for’
Unsurprisingly, por is also very common as a translation of “for” in Spanish. Choosing between por and para can be as tricky as ser vs. estar at first, but with enough exposure to full sentences, you begin to notice patterns.
Rosetta Stone’s expert tutors can also help shed light on how these two common words differ. Here’s a brief breakdown of when to use por instead of para to mean “for” in Spanish.
| Use | Spanish Example | English Translation |
| On someone’s behalf/in place of | Trabajo hoy por mi compañera que está enferma. | I’m working today for my colleague who is sick. |
| In exchange for | Pagué cinco dólares por una docena de huevos. | I paid five dollars for one dozen eggs. |
| On someone’s behalf | Hablo por mi hermana. | I’m speaking for my sister. |
| During an amount of time | Viví en Estados Unidos por quince años. | I lived in the United States for 15 years. |
| Distances | Corrí por dos millas. | I ran for two miles. |
Our full guide to para vs. por in Spanish can introduce you to various other translations of these Spanish prepositions as well, so you’ll know which one you need to say phrases like “this is for you” in Spanish.
Other ways to say ‘for’ in Spanish
Apart from para and por, there are a few other expressions that could mean “for” depending on the context. Here are a few alternatives you may hear out in the world.
durante
Durante means “during” and can replace por when talking about durations in the past. You can discuss events from the past, such as how long you lived in a location, how long a task took you, or the length of a journey.
- Trabajé en eso durante tres días enteros. = I worked on that for three entire days.
a favor de
Use this phrase in the sense of being “for” vs. “against” a decision. If you’re discussing current events, elections, or general protocols, this phrase will help you express your opinion.
- No estoy a favor de cortar todos los árboles. = I’m not for cutting down all the trees.
con destino a/hacía
Instead of para, you’ll often hear con destino a (with a destination to) or hacía (toward) at a train or subway station. Listen carefully to the announcements for changes in schedule, gate, or platform.
- El tren con destino a Londres está por llegar. = The train for London is about to arrive.
When to omit ‘for’ in Spanish
Many verbs in English are naturally connected to a preposition, such as “to listen to” or “to look for,” but when they’re translated to Spanish, the preposition isn’t needed. For example:
- escuchar música = to listen to music
Imagine you’ve mastered how to order food, and want to know how to ask for the check in Spanish. The phrase “to ask for the check” is simply pedir la cuenta, which leaves out the word “for.” It’s even simpler to accomplish this, as you just say ¿La cuenta, por favor? (check, please).
If you’re eating out, you’ll need phrases related to dinner in Spanish. Many of these are examples of where you’d leave out the word “for” in Spanish:
| Spanish Verb | English Verb | Spanish Example | English Translation |
| buscar | to look for | Busco un tenedor. | I’m looking for a fork. |
| esperar | to wait for | Esperamos una mesa. | We’re waiting for a table. |
| pedir | to ask for | Voy a pedir más salsa. | I’m going to ask for more sauce. |
| solicitar | to apply for | Puede solicitar empleo aquí. | You can apply for a job here. |
Use these verbs alone in Spanish questions like ¿Qué buscas? (What are you looking for?) or ¿Qué esperas? (What are you waiting for?)
Key takeaways about ‘for’ in Spanish
There isn’t one specific way to say “for” in Spanish. You’ll also find that many common questions and answers are expressed in an entirely different way when you switch languages.
- Use para when you are referring to a purpose, destination, or recipient.
- Use por when you refer to an exchange, or someone in place of someone else.
- Lengths of time and distances can be por or durante.
- Some English verbs use prepositions where Spanish verbs do not, such as buscar, esperar, pedir, and solicitar.
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