Zorg SpaceWhat is the difference between por and para in Spanish?
Short answer
Both can translate as “for”, but they look in different directions. para points forward, towards a goal: a purpose, a destination, a deadline, a recipient, an opinion. por looks at what is behind or around an action: its cause or reason, the means, the route, an exchange, a duration, or the person who did it in a passive sentence.
A short way to remember it: para = “in order to / towards / for (the benefit of)”; por = “because of / through / by / in exchange for / during”.
Uses of para
- Purpose (+ infinitive): Estudio para aprender. — I study (in order) to learn.
- Destination: Salgo para Madrid mañana. — I’m leaving for Madrid tomorrow.
- Deadline: Lo necesito para el lunes. — I need it by Monday.
- Recipient: Este regalo es para ti. — This present is for you.
- Employer: Trabaja para una empresa alemana. — She works for a German company.
- Opinion: Para mí, es demasiado caro. — For me / In my opinion, it’s too expensive.
- Comparison with what is expected: Para su edad, habla muy bien. — For his age, he speaks very well.
Uses of por
- Cause or reason: No salimos por la lluvia. — We didn’t go out because of the rain.
- Means: Te llamo por teléfono. — I’ll call you by phone.
- Route, through: Paseamos por el parque. — We walked through the park.
- Exchange or price: Lo compré por diez euros. — I bought it for ten euros.
- Duration and parts of the day: Trabajo por la mañana. — I work in the morning.
- Agent in the passive: Escrito por Cervantes. — Written by Cervantes.
- On behalf of, in place of: Hablo por mis compañeros. — I speak for (on behalf of) my colleagues.
- Rate: dos veces por semana, 100 km por hora.
At a glance
| para | por |
|---|---|
| purpose: para aprender | cause: por la lluvia |
| destination: para Madrid | route: por el centro |
| deadline: para el lunes | duration: por dos horas |
| recipient: para ti | exchange: por diez euros |
| opinion: para mí | means: por correo |
| employer: para una empresa | agent: por el autor |
Fixed expressions with por
Many common phrases simply use por: por favor, por fin, por ejemplo, por eso, por supuesto, por cierto, por lo menos, por si acaso. And gracias always takes por: Gracias por todo.
Pairs that change meaning
-
Lo hice para ti.
I did it for you (as a gift, for your benefit).
para = recipient
-
Lo hice por ti.
I did it because of you / on your behalf.
por = reason or in your place
-
Trabajo para mi padre.
I work for my father (he employs me).
-
Trabajo por mi padre.
I’m working in my father’s place.
-
Vamos para la playa.
We are heading for the beach.
destination
-
Paseamos por la playa.
We are walking along the beach.
route
Common mistakes
-
Not: Gracias para la ayuda.
Better: Gracias por la ayuda.
-
Not: Estudio español por trabajar en México.
Better: Estudio español para trabajar en México.
a purpose with an infinitive takes para
-
Not: Lo necesito por el viernes.
Better: Lo necesito para el viernes.
a deadline
-
Not: Pagué veinte euros para la camiseta.
Better: Pagué veinte euros por la camiseta.
an exchange
-
Not: Viajo dos veces para año.
Better: Viajo dos veces por año. / dos veces al año.
Questions that decide it
- Can you say “in order to”? → para.
- Is it a destination, deadline or recipient? → para.
- Can you say “because of”? → por.
- Is it “through”, “by means of”, “during” or “in exchange for”? → por.
In short
- para points forward: purpose, destination, deadline, recipient, opinion.
- por looks at cause, means, route, exchange, duration and the agent.
- Gracias por, por favor, por eso, por fin are fixed.
- Learn them in full phrases — the phrase carries the choice with it.
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