Por and Para
A1–B1Prepositions 6 min
Para points to a goal, such as a purpose or a destination, and por to a cause, a route, a means or an exchange. Para with an infinitive gives a purpose, and por with a noun gives a cause: Estudio para aprender. No salgo por la lluvia.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A1: choose A1 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A1: choose A1 or a higher level.
CheatsheetA1–B1
| Point | Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| para + infinitive | purpose: in order to | Estudio para aprender. | I study to learn. |
| A2para | destination: towards | Salgo para Lima. | I'm leaving for Lima. |
| A2para | recipient: who it is for | Este regalo es para ti. | This present is for you. |
| A2para | deadline: by when | El trabajo es para el lunes. | The work is for Monday. |
| B1para mí | opinion: in my view | Para mí, es fácil. | For me, it's easy. |
| A2por | cause: because of | Gracias por todo. | Thanks for everything. |
| A2por | route: through, along, around | Paseo por el parque. | I walk through the park. |
| A2por | means: by | Hablamos por teléfono. | We talk on the phone. |
| A2por | exchange: in return for | Te cambio mi libro por tu revista. | I'll swap my book for your magazine. |
| por | a part of the day | Trabajo por la mañana. | I work in the morning. |
| A2por | per | dos veces por semana | twice a week |
OverviewA2
- para looks ahead to a goal: what for, where to, who for, by when.
- por looks back to a cause, or along a way: why, through where, by what means, in exchange for what.
- English for can be either, so the meaning decides: Trabajo para una empresa. / Trabajo por mi familia. — I work for a company. / I work for the sake of my family.
Use: paraA1–B1
| Use | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| purpose, with an infinitive | Ahorro para viajar. | I save up to travel. |
| what a thing is for | El lápiz es para escribir. | The pencil is for writing. |
| A2destination | El tren sale para Madrid. | The train leaves for Madrid. |
| A2recipient | Las flores son para mi madre. | The flowers are for my mother. |
| A2deadline | Necesito el informe para el viernes. | I need the report by Friday. |
| A2employer | Trabajo para una empresa alemana. | I work for a German company. |
| B1opinion | Para mí, el español es fácil. | For me, Spanish is easy. |
| B1compared with what is expected | Habla muy bien para su edad. | She speaks very well for her age. |
Use: porA1–A2
| Use | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| A2cause, reason | No salgo por la lluvia. | I'm not going out because of the rain. |
| A2gracias por, perdón por | Gracias por la ayuda. | Thanks for the help. |
| A2through, along | Paseamos por la playa. | We walk along the beach. |
| A2somewhere around | ¿Hay un banco por aquí? | Is there a bank around here? |
| a part of the day | Estudio por la tarde. | I study in the afternoon. |
| A2means | Te mando las fotos por correo. | I'll send you the photos by email. |
| A2exchange, price | Te cambio mi libro por tu revista. | I'll swap my book for your magazine. |
| A2per | Voy al gimnasio dos veces por semana. | I go to the gym twice a week. |
| A2for the sake of, in place of | Lo hago por ti. | I'm doing it for you. |
A2
- Latin America: To go and get something is ir por: Voy por pan. — I'm going to get bread.
- Spain: To go and get something is ir a por: Voy a por pan. — I'm going to get bread.
Compare: por or paraB1
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lo hago por ti. | I do it for your sake, or in your place |
| Lo hago para ti. | I make it for you: you will get it |
| Paso por Madrid. | I go through Madrid |
| Voy para Madrid. | I'm heading for Madrid |
| Trabaja por su familia. | She works to support her family |
| Trabaja para una empresa. | A company employs her |
Typical errorsA1–A2
| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| A2Gracias para todo. | Gracias por todo. | thanks take por |
| Estudio por aprender. | Estudio para aprender. | a purpose takes para |
| A2Este regalo es por ti. | Este regalo es para ti. | the person who receives it takes para |
| A2Paseo para el parque. | Paseo por el parque. | moving through a place takes por |
| A2Hablamos para teléfono. | Hablamos por teléfono. | a means takes por |
| A2Voy al gimnasio tres veces para semana. | Voy al gimnasio tres veces por semana. | per is por |
| A2Espero para mi amiga. | Espero a mi amiga. | wait for is esperar, with a before a person |
| A2Busco para mis llaves. | Busco mis llaves. | look for is buscar, with no preposition |