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Por vs Para

Por = cause/means/duration. Para = goal/destination/deadline.

Examples

  • Lo hago por ti.I do it for / because of you.
  • Es para ti.It's for you (recipient).
  • Estudio para aprender.I study (in order) to learn.

How it works

Por and para both translate as "for" in English but cover different concepts.

Por

backward-looking (cause, means, exchange, duration):

- Reason / cause: Lo hago por ti.

I do it for/because of you.

- Means / "by, through": Hablamos por teléfono.

We talk on the phone. Pasamos por el parque. We pass through the park.

- Duration: Estudié por dos horas.

I studied for two hours.

- Exchange: Te doy 10 € por el libro.

I'll give you 10€ for the book.

- Multiplication / rate: 100 km por hora.

100 km per hour.

- "By" (agent in passive): hecho por mí

made by me.

Para

forward-looking (goal, recipient, deadline, destination):

- Purpose / goal: Estudio para aprender.

I study (in order) to learn.

- Recipient: Es para ti. — It's for you.
- Deadline: Tengo que entregarlo para el lunes.

I have to turn it in by Monday.

- Destination: Salgo para Madrid.

I'm leaving for Madrid.

- Opinion: Para mí, es interesante.

For me, it's interesting.

- "Toward" (in time/place): Camina para casa.

He walks toward home.

Quick test

if you can replace "for" with "in order to / by [deadline] / toward [place]" → para. If with "because of / through / during" → por.

What you'll practise

  1. 1. POR for cause / reason

    Use por for 'because of / for the sake of'.

    • Gracias por venir.Thanks for coming.
    • Por la lluvia, no salí.Because of the rain, I didn't go out.

  2. 2. POR for means / duration

    Use por for 'by/through' (means) or 'for X time' (duration).

    • Estudié por dos horas.I studied for two hours.
    • Hablamos por teléfono.We talk on the phone.

  3. 3. PARA for goal / purpose

    Use para + infinitive (the dictionary form, like hablar) for 'in order to'.

    • Estudio para aprender.I study to learn.
    • Lo hago para ayudar.I do it to help.

  4. 4. PARA for recipient / deadline / destination

    Use para for 'for [person] / by [deadline] / to [place]'.

    • Es para mi madre.It's for my mother.
    • Lo necesito para mañana.I need it by tomorrow.

Practise it until it sticks

Short drills built on these 4 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.

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