Hi, Spanish learners! Are you struggling with por vs. para? Of all Spanish prepositions, PARA and POR are probably the most confusing. Here we’ll learn how to identify their difference in meanings and uses so that you can master them as native speakers!
We will compare some cases in which their meaning is practically opposite, we’ll explore other uses of PARA and POR, and we’ll learn some idiomatic expressions. Let’s go!
Table of Contents
PARA and POR: comparison
- Cause vs. Purpose: The main difference between por and para is that POR expresses the cause of an action and in so doing it refers back to an action that occurred previously, while PARA expresses the purpose or goal of an action, thus showing future time reference instead. Look!
When to use PARA and POR
| Reason vs. Purpose | |
|---|---|
| POR (reason) | PARA (purpose) |
| Estudio español por mi trabajo. I study Spanish due to my job. (First, my job requires that I study Spanish; then I do) | Estudio español para viajar a Latinoamérica. I study Spanish in order to travel to Latin America. (First I study Spanish; then I travel) |
| No iré a la escuela por la lluvia. I won’t go to school due to the rain. (First, it rains; then I don’t go to school) | No iré a la escuela para limpiar mi casa. I won’t go to school in order to clean my house. (First I don’t go to school; then I clean my house) |
Notice that the question for each of these sentences is different:
- ¿Por qué estudias español? 👉 Why?
Por mi trabajo.
- ¿Por qué no irás a la escuela? 👉 Why?
Por la lluvia.
- ¿Para qué estudias español? 👉 What for?
Para viajar a Latinoamérica.
- ¿Para qué te quedarás en casa? 👉 What for?
Para limpiar mi casa.
- Movement within a place, passing by, or indefinite location vs. final destination: We use POR to refer to the movement within a place or to passing by some place to get to another. It also means indefinite location.
Instead, we use PARA when a place is our final destination. Take a look!
| Indefinite location vs. Destination | |
|---|---|
| POR (movement within a place or passing by; indefinite location) | PARA (final destination) |
| Camino por el parque todos los días. I walk around/in/through the park every day. (I walk within the park, in an indefinite area.) | Camino para mi oficina todos los días. I walk to my office every day. (My office is my destination) |
| Pasaré por el banco de camino a casa. I’ll pass by the bank on my way home. (My destination is my home, but I’ll pass by the bank on my way.) | Iré para el banco mañana. I’ll go to the bank tomorrow. (The bank is my final destination) |
| El Museo de Arte está por el centro. The Art Museum is somewhere in the downtown area. (It is located in the downtown area, but we don’t know exactly where) | Voy para el Museo de Arte que está por el centro. I’m going to the Art Museum downtown. (My destination is the Art Museum, which is located somewhere in the downtown area) |
Look at this sentence. The final destination is the United States passing through Mexico:
“Iremos para Estados Unidos por México”.
We’ll go to the United States via Mexico.
- Period of time vs. Deadline: POR expresses the period of time within which an event takes place. PARA marks a deadline in which an event needs to be finished.
| Period of time vs. Deadline | |
|---|---|
| POR (period of time) | PARA (deadline) |
| He estudiado español por mucho tiempo. I have studied Spanish for a long time. | Esta tarea de español es para mañana. This Spanish homework is for tomorrow. |
| Viajé a Barcelona por dos meses. I travelled to Barcelona for two months. | Debo terminar este proyecto para el viernes. I must finish this project by Monday. |
- In behalf of vs. Recipient: The preposition POR is used to mean that someone does something in behalf of someone else. The preposition PARA introduces the recipient of an action or object.
| Replacement vs. Recipient | |
|---|---|
| POR (replacement) | PARA (recipient) |
| Haré la cena por ti. I will make dinner on your behalf. (You’re supposed to make dinner today, but I’ll do it instead) | Haré la cena para ti. I will make dinner for you. (You are the recipient of the dinner that I’ll make) |
| Yo estaba trabajando a las 2 p.m. así que Juan compró los boletos por mí. I was working at 2 p.m. so Juan bought the tickets on my behalf. (I was supposed to buy the tickets, but I couldn’t do it because was working, Juan did it in my behalf) | Mi novio, Juan, compró los boletos para mí. My boyfriend, Juan, bought the tickets for me. (My boyfriend Juan bought the tickets and gave them to me as a present) |
| Indifference vs. Opinion | |
|---|---|
| POR (Indifference) | PARA (personal opinion) |
| Por mí no estudies si no quieres, pero no aprobarás el examen. If you ask me/For me, don’t study if you don’t want to, but you won’t pass the exam. | Para mí, nunca aprobarás el examen si no estudias. As I see it, you will never pass the exam unless you study. |
| Por mí no hay problema. Podemos vernos otro día. There’s no problem on my part. We can meet some other day. | Para mí, el estudio es muy importante. In my opinion, studying is very important. |
- Indifference vs. Personal opinion: POR can denote indifference or not minding others’ business; PARA, on the other hand is used to express a personal opinion.
Other uses of POR
- Means of transport or communication:
Ej. Viajamos para Madrid por avión.
We traveled to Madrid by plane.
Ej. Voy a la oficina por tren.
I go to the office by train.
Ej. Llamaré a mi madre por teléfono.
I’ll talk to my mother on the phone.
Ej. Mi jefe envió el archive por correo electrónico.
My boss sent the file by e-mail.
- Exchange or price:
Ej. Compré este libro por 13 dólares.
I bought this book for 13 dollars.
Ej. “Te cambio este chocolate por tu helado”.
“I’ll give you this chocolate for your ice cream”.
- Expressions of time:
Ej. Siempre estudio por la mañana / por la tarde / por la noche.
I always study in the morning / in the afternoon / at night.
Ej. Viajo tres veces por semana / dos días por mes / diez meses por año.
I travel three days a week / two days a month / ten months a year.
- Distribution:
Ej. Hay dos libros por persona.
There are two books per person.
Solo queda un diez por ciento.
There’s only ten percent left.
Other uses of PARA
- Comparing something to the norm:
Ej. Para ser verano, está fresco.
For summer, it’s cool.
Es alto para su edad.
He’s tall for his age.
- Employer:
Mi hermana trabaja para una empresa multinacional.
My sister works for a multinational company.
Trabajo para el gobierno.
I work for the government.
Idiomatic expressions with PARA and POR
| Idiomatic expressions | |
|---|---|
| POR | PARA |
| Por favor Dame esa lapicera, por favor. Give me that pen, please. | Para colmo / Para colmo de males Salí tarde de casa, perdí el tren y para colmo (de males), me robaron el celular. I left home late, I missed the train, and to top it all off, my cell phone was stolen. |
| Por ejemplo Podemos estudiar vocabulario, los colores por ejemplo. We can study vocabulary; for example the colors. | Para empezar No sé si iré a la fiesta. Para empezar, no tengo vestido. I’m not sure that I’ll go to the party. To begin with, I don’t have a dress. |
| Por ahora No hay nada que hacer por ahora. There’s nothing to do for now. | Para variar Me encanta el negro, pero hoy me he vestido de rojo para variar. I love black, but I’m wearing red today for a change. |
| Por las dudas No llueve ahora, pero por las dudas llevaré un paraguas. It’s not raining now, but I’ll take an umbrella just in case. | No es para tanto / Tampoco es para tanto No voy a llorar por esto. Tampoco es para tanto. I’m not going to cry about this. It’s no big deal. |
| Por supuesto Iré a tu fiesta, por supuesto. I’ll come to your party, of course. | De aquí para allá / De acá para allá Siempre está de aquí para allá, muy ocupado. He’s always on the go, very busy. |
