Por vs. Para
In Spanish, por and para each serve different functions, so choosing one changes the meaning of a sentence. This guide goes over the key uses of por and para with short examples to make each preposition clear.
Por
Use por to express reasons, durations, exchanges, movements through space, and methods. Think of por as linking to cause, passing through, or giving something in return.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌍 Viajé por toda Europa en dos meses. | I traveled all over Europe in two months. |
| 🎨 Pagué diez euros por el cuadro. | I paid ten euros for the painting. |
| 🚊 Caminamos por el parque hasta la estación. | We walked through the park to the station. |
| 📞 Te llamé por teléfono esta mañana. | I called you by phone this morning. |
| 🧑🏫 Estudio español por poder viajar a España. | I study Spanish in order to be able to travel to Spain. |
Key Expressions
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🔄 Lo hice por ti. | I did it for you. |
| ⏰ Llegué tarde por el tráfico. | I was late because of the traffic. |
| 💬 Gracias por tu ayuda. | Thanks for your help. |
| 📩 Te envío esto por correo. | I’m sending this to you by mail. |
| ✅ Está por salir. | It’s about to leave. |
Para
Use para to indicate purposes, destinations, deadlines, recipients, and comparisons. Think of para as pointing toward an intended goal or target.
Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🎁 Este regalo es para mi hermana. | This gift is for my sister. |
| 🏫 Salgo para la escuela a las ocho. | I leave for school at eight. |
| 📝 El ensayo es para mañana. | The essay is for tomorrow. |
| 🔧 Necesito esto para arreglar la bicicleta. | I need this to fix the bike. |
| 👩🎓 Estudio para ser ingeniera. | I study to become an engineer. |
Key Expressions
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🗣️ Para colmo, se olvidó las llaves. | On top of that, he forgot the keys. |
| 🎯 Lo hice para que todo saliera bien. | I did it so that everything would go well. |
| 🚪 Está para salir. | He’s about to leave. |
| 📌 Esto es para ti. | This is for you. |
| 🕒 Para entonces, ya habremos llegado. | By then, we will have arrived. |
Special Cases
Some expressions use por or para idiomatically, so they must be learned as fixed phrases. In certain contexts both prepositions can appear with a subtle difference in meaning.
Summary
Por generally marks cause, time, exchange, and movement, while para marks purpose, destination, recipient, and deadlines. Replacing one with the other usually changes the sentence's sense, so pay attention to small contextual clues.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025