Por vs Para: Comprehensive Guide

Complete guide to distinguishing between "por" and "para" - one of the trickiest aspects of Spanish.

Para - Purpose, Destination, Deadline

Para generally indicates:

• Purpose (in order to)
• Destination (for, to)
• Deadline (by, for)
• Recipient (for)
• Employment (for)
• Opinion (for, considering)

Para Uses

Purpose (in order to): Estudio para aprender. (I study in order to learn.) Es para cortar. (It's for cutting.)

Destination: Salgo para Madrid. (I'm leaving for Madrid.) Este tren va para el centro. (This train goes to downtown.)

Deadline: Es para mañana. (It's for tomorrow / due tomorrow.) Necesito esto para el viernes. (I need this by Friday.)

Recipient: Este regalo es para ti. (This gift is for you.) Compré flores para mi madre. (I bought flowers for my mother.)

Employment: Trabajo para una empresa grande. (I work for a large company.)

Opinion/Comparison: Para mí, es difícil. (For me / In my opinion, it's difficult.) Para ser niño, es muy alto. (For a child, he's very tall.)

Por - Cause, Duration, Exchange

Por generally indicates:

• Cause/reason (because of, due to)
• Duration (for, during)
• Exchange (for, in exchange for)
• Means (by, via)
• Motion through (through, along)
• "Per" (per, by)

Por Uses

Cause/Reason (because of): Lo hago por ti. (I do it because of you / for your sake.) Por eso no fui. (That's why I didn't go.) Gracias por tu ayuda. (Thanks for your help.)

Duration (for - time period): Viví allí por dos años. (I lived there for two years.) Estudié por tres horas. (I studied for three hours.)

Exchange: Pagué 20 euros por esto. (I paid 20 euros for this.) Cambié mi coche por el tuyo. (I exchanged my car for yours.)

Means/Medium (by, via): Hablo por teléfono. (I talk by phone.) Envío por correo. (I send by mail.) Viajo por avión. (I travel by plane.)

Motion through/along: Camino por la calle. (I walk along/through the street.) Pasamos por el parque. (We pass through the park.)

Per: 60 kilómetros por hora (60 kilometers per hour) dos veces por semana (twice per week)

Agent in passive (by): Fue escrito por Cervantes. (It was written by Cervantes.)

Direct Comparison

Para = destination/purpose: Salgo para Barcelona. (I'm leaving for Barcelona - destination)

Por = motion through: Paso por Barcelona. (I pass through Barcelona.)

Para = deadline: Es para mañana. (It's due tomorrow.)

Por = duration: Será por una semana. (It will be for a week.)

Para = recipient: Este libro es para María. (This book is for María - she'll receive it)

Por = on behalf of: Trabajo por María. (I work for María - in her place)

Common Fixed Expressions with Por

por favor (please) por ejemplo (for example) por eso (that's why) por fin (finally) por lo menos (at least) por supuesto (of course) por lo general (generally) por cierto (by the way) por si acaso (just in case) poco a poco (little by little)

Common Fixed Expressions with Para

para siempre (forever) para nada (not at all) para entonces (by then) no es para tanto (it's not such a big deal)

Helpful Mnemonic: DEPP vs RPMO

PARA = DEPP:

• Destination
• Employment
• Purpose
• Person (recipient)

POR = RPMO:

• Reason/cause
• Per
• Means/medium
• Over/through (motion)

Tricky Cases

Por vs Para with "trabajar": Trabajo para IBM. (I work for IBM - I'm employed by them) Trabajo por Juan. (I work for Juan - in his place/on his behalf)

Gracias: Gracias por el regalo. (Thanks for the gift - because of it) Never "gracias para"

Practice