Por and Para
One of the most challenging parts of learning Spanish is to use the prepositions properly. In this respect, two of the common prepositions cause difficulties among language learners. These are “por” and “para”. Both can practically be translated into English as “for”. Because of this, Spanish learners mix up their uses at times. It’s best not to try to translate them but instead in which cases they need to be used. Therefore, in this lesson, we cover the situations which one should be used when.
When to use “por”
It is used to mean or indicate the following
for
- pelear por la libertad to fighting for liberty
- trabajar por dinero to work for money
because of
- La ciudad es farmosa por su iglesia the city is famous for its church
- tuvo que suspenderse por el mal tiempo it had to be cancelled because of the bad weather
time
- por la mañana in the morning
- por la tarde in the afternoon
duration
- se quedarán por 10 días they will stay for ten days
ways of means
- ir por tren to go by train
in exchange of
- vender por 10 dólare to sell for 10 dolars
through
- la conozco por mi amigo I know her through a friend
- por la puerta through the door
by
Fue escrito por Shakespeare it was written by Shakespeare
on behalf of, for the sake of
- hablar por todos to speak on behalf of everyone
multiplication
- tres por dos three times two
unit of measure
- se vende por libras it’s sold for
expresses rate
- sesenta millas por hora seventy miles an hour
to be in favor of
When por is used with estar, it means to be in favor or indicates that something has to be done yet.
- la carta esta por escribir the letter is yet to be written
various fixed expresssions
There are so many fixed expression with por which are very common. For example;
“por ejemplo” means for example. You may find a list of such expressions under the vocabulary section below.
When to use “para”
It is used to mean or indicate the following
intended for
It indicates the recipient of a something
- la carta es para mi padres the letter is for my parents
It can be used to refer to the place where something will be placed as well.
- la mesa is para la cocina the table is for the kitchen
in order to
In this case, “para” is followed by an infinitive.
Para hablar bien el epañol, es importante practicar mucho It’s important to practice a lot in order to speak Spanish well
destination
- Voy para casa I go home
- Salgo para Madrid I leave to go to Madrid
deadline
- tengo muchos deberes para mañana I have a lot of homework to do for tomorrow
to be about to
If “estar” is followed by “para” and an infinitive, the resulting phrase means “to be about to”.
- estoy para salir I am about to leave
- el tren está para llegar The train is about to leave
so that
- un regalo para que te acuerdes de mí a present for you so that you remember me
para siempre
It means forever
Vocabulary
por último finally
por última vez for the last time
por fin finally, at last
por primera vez for the first time
por favor please
por amor for love
por mi parte as for me
por ahora for now
palabra por palabra word for word
por supuesto of course
por adelantado in advance
por ningún lado nowhere
por completo completely
por necesidad out of necessity
por adelantado in advance
por ahora for now
por lo visto apparently
por lo menos at least
por mar by sea
por aquí cerca over here
por casualidad by chance
por añadidura in addition
palabra por palabra word by word
día por día day by day
por cierto certainly
por lo tanto therefore
por poco almost
por separado separately
por suerte fortunately