Por vs para: the rules, a cheat sheet and 40 examples
Both can translate as “for”, which is exactly why they cause trouble. Underneath, they point in opposite directions: para looks forward to a goal or destination, por looks back to a cause or passes through something. Once you feel that difference, most sentences decide themselves.
The big picture
Para points toward something: a purpose, a destination, a recipient, a deadline. Think of an arrow aimed at a target. Por points back at a reason, or moves through something: a cause, an exchange, a route, a period of time, a means. Think of the engine behind the action, or the road it travels.
Estudio para aprobar (goal: in order to pass). Estudio por obligación (cause: out of obligation). Same verb, opposite directions.
When to use para
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Purpose, “in order to” | Trabajo para ganar dinero. |
| Recipient | Este regalo es para ti. |
| Destination | Salimos para Madrid mañana. |
| Deadline | La tarea es para el viernes. |
| Use or function | Un vaso para vino. |
| Opinion | Para mí, es la mejor película del año. |
| Comparison with a standard | Para ser principiante, hablas muy bien. |
| Employer | Trabaja para una empresa alemana. |
| Being about to (estar para, in Spain) | Estamos para salir. (In most of Latin America: estamos por salir.) |
When to use por
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Cause or reason | Lo hice por ti. (because of you, for your sake) |
| Exchange, price | Pagué veinte euros por la camisa. |
| Duration | Viví allí por dos años. |
| Movement through or along | Paseamos por el parque. |
| Approximate place or time | Vive por el centro. Llegó por la tarde. |
| Means, medium | Hablamos por teléfono. Lo mandé por correo. |
| “Per” | Cien kilómetros por hora. Dos veces por semana. |
| Agent in the passive | El libro fue escrito por García Márquez. |
| On behalf of, instead of | Hoy trabajo por mi compañero. (I’m covering for him) |
| Feelings toward someone | Siento mucho cariño por ella. |
| Still to be done (estar por); in Latin America also “about to” | La cena está por hacer. Estoy por salir. |
| Going to get something (ir por) | Voy por pan. |
Minimal pairs: same sentence, different meaning
The clearest way to feel the difference is to watch one sentence flip.
- Trabajo para mi padre. I work for my father (he is my boss). Trabajo por mi padre. I’m working in his place, or because of him.
- Voy para el parque. I’m heading to the park. Voy por el parque. I’m going through the park.
- Compré flores para mi madre. The flowers are for her. Compré flores por mi madre. I bought them on her behalf, or because she asked.
- Lo hago para ti. I do it for you to have or use. Lo hago por ti. I do it because of you, for your sake.
- Lo quiero para Navidad. I want it by Christmas. Vendrá por Navidad. He’ll come around Christmas.
Fixed expressions worth memorizing
These don’t follow a rule; they are just words you learn as a unit. The por list is much longer.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| por favor | please |
| por fin | at last |
| por ejemplo | for example |
| por eso | that’s why |
| por supuesto | of course |
| por lo menos | at least |
| por cierto | by the way |
| por si acaso | just in case |
| por lo general | in general |
| por ahora | for now |
| por aquí | around here |
| por la mañana / tarde / noche | in the morning / afternoon / at night |
| para siempre | forever |
| para nada | not at all |
| para colmo | to top it all off |
| para variar | for a change |
The cheat sheet
| Question the sentence answers | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Why? (cause) | por | Lo hizo por amor. |
| What for? (goal) | para | Lo hizo para ayudar. |
| Where to? (destination) | para | Vamos para casa. |
| Which way? (route) | por | Vamos por la autopista. |
| For whom? (recipient) | para | Es para mi hermana. |
| Instead of whom? | por | Firmé por mi hermana. |
| By when? (deadline) | para | Para el lunes. |
| How long? (duration) | por | Por tres semanas. |
| How much? (price) | por | Por diez euros. |
| By what means? | por | Por correo, por teléfono. |
| In whose opinion? | para | Para mí. |
Common mistakes
- “Thank you for” is gracias por, never gracias para. You are thanking someone because of what they did (cause).
- “In order to” is always para + infinitive. Para can be followed by a verb; por + infinitive is rarer and means “because of” or “still to be done” (lo castigaron por mentir, la cena está por hacer), or, in Latin America, “about to” (estoy por salir).
- Duration can take either, or nothing. Viví allí por dos años, durante dos años and simply dos años are all correct. Para dos años would mean the stay is planned for that length.
- “For me” as opinion is para mí. Por mí means “as far as I’m concerned, I don’t mind”: Por mí, haz lo que quieras.
How to make it automatic
Ask the question the sentence answers: why, or what for? Where to, or which way? With a little practice that question becomes instant. The free por vs para drill gives you 40 real sentences in 60 seconds and names the use for every miss.
Quick answers
What is the easiest way to remember por vs para?
Para points forward to a goal, destination, recipient or deadline. Por points back to a cause, or passes through: a route, a duration, an exchange, a means. Ask what question the sentence answers: “what for?” is para, “why?” is por.
Is it gracias por or gracias para?
Gracias por. You thank someone because of what they did, which is a cause, so por is the only correct choice: gracias por tu ayuda, gracias por venir.
When do you use para with a verb?
Para plus an infinitive means “in order to”: estudio para aprender, salí para comprar pan. It is the normal way to express purpose.
Does por or para mean “by” in the passive?
Por. The agent of a passive sentence is introduced with por: la novela fue escrita por Isabel Allende.
What is the difference between por mí and para mí?
Para mí means “in my opinion”: para mí, es un buen libro. Por mí means “as far as I’m concerned” or “for my sake”: por mí, vamos cuando quieras; lo hizo por mí.
How do you say “for two years” in Spanish?
Por dos años, durante dos años or just dos años are all correct for a completed duration: viví en Chile (por) dos años. Para dos años describes a planned length: tengo visa para dos años.