Spanish grammar 101: How to use por vs para

If you're studying Spanish for your GCSE exams, brushing up for international business negotiations or simply learning the language for fun, you’ve probably wondered how to use por vs para correctly. These little words can cause some big headaches for Spanish students, ranking among the most misunderstood (and misused!) Spanish prepositions.

At first glance, these two Spanish prepositions seem straightforward enough, with many learners mistakenly thinking they are interchangeable translations of the English word 'for'. However, the correct English translation varies depending on the context, making por and para confusing - even for intermediate Spanish learners!

This guide covers the roots of the two prepositions, explains the difference between por and para in plain English, and provides easy-to-understand examples, tables, and Spanish phrases. We'll also show you some easy memory tricks for choosing the right word every time.

At the end of the article, you'll find a test-your-knowledge quiz to check your understanding!

Listo para empezar? Vamos!

Key takeaways

• Historically, por and para held shared meanings, but are now considered separate prepositions with different uses.

• Por is mostly used to denote reason and movement, whereas para refers to goals, direction and recipients.

• These prepositions appear in common Spanish phrases such as por qué? (Why?) and para que (so that/in order to).

• Many English-speaking learners confuse por and para when discussing concepts such as travel, communication and time.

• Para can be the easier preposition for English-speaking students to understand when they first study this aspect of Spanish grammar.

• Practice makes por-fect! Regular conversation with fluent Spanish speakers is one of the best ways to learn how to use por and para correctly.

Word origins - The history of por and para

Por and para both come from Latin prepositions used to express movement, purpose and cause. During the Spanish medieval period, the overlap between por and para was much larger, but their meanings have separated over time:

• Por is the older of the two prepositions. It has kept the original Latin functions relating to reason, exchange, duration and movement through space.

• Para developed later, as a contraction of para a and por a, gradually specialising to express purpose, destination and goals.

Modern Spanish now uses these words as two distinct prepositions with complementary roles.

Quick rule - What is the difference between por and para?

You can think of the difference between these two prepositions like this:

• Para refers to purpose, goals, recipients, deadlines, and final destination.

• Por refers to reason, cause, method, exchange, and movement through a place.

Let's take a look at some examples, beginning with para.

What is para used for? (purpose, goals and destinations)

1. Para = purpose or intention

We use para to express who or what something is for.

• Lo hice para ti. – I did it for you.

• Es para mí. – It’s for me.

• ¿Para qué estudias psicología? – What are you studying psychology for?

2. Para = final destination

Para is used to indicate the end point of a journey.

• Voy para Madrid. – I’m going to Madrid.

• Vamos para Bogotá mañana. – We’re heading to Bogotá tomorrow.

Note: Para is not used to describe going through somewhere - that’s por!

3. Para = deadlines

When talking about a time limit, we use para.

• Este reportaje es para mañana. – This report is for tomorrow.

4. Para = recipient

We use para when we're giving something to a person.

• Tengo un mensaje para ti – I have a message for you.

• Este regalo es para Juan, hoy es su cumpleaños – This gift is for Juan, it's his birthday today.

Now let's look at how to use por!

What is por used for? (reasons, duration, method, movement)

1. Por = reason, cause, motivation

We use por to explain why something happens.

• Lo hice por Ana. – I did it because of .

• Estudié por ella. – I studied on her behalf.

Here, por refers to the reason behind an action.

2. Por = duration

You should use por to describe how long something lasts.

• Estudié por dos horas. – I studied for two hours.

• Voy a trabajar por la mañana. – I’ll work in the morning.

• Salgo por la noche. – I go out at night.

Time phrases like por la mañana, por la noche, por la tarde appear constantly in Spanish.

3. Por = movement through a place

Use por for travelling through, past, or around somewhere.

• Uno por el centro. – Let’s go through the city centre.

• Vamos por aquí. – Let’s go this way.

• Pasamos por Argentina. – We passed through Argentina.

This is not a final destination – it’s movement within.

4. Por = method/communication/transport

We use por for how something happens or gets delivered.

• Te llamo por teléfono. – I’ll call you by phone.

• Te envío el documento por correo electrónico. – I’ll send it by email.

• Hemos viajado por tren - we've travelled by train.

5. Por = exchange

Por is used when talking about swaps or payments.

• Pagué £10 por el libro. – I paid £10 for the book.

• ¿Puedes trabajar por mí? – Can you work for me?

Por vs para reference table

See which preposition is used for each situation in the table below:

¡Preguntas trampas!

In the following Spanish sentences, por and para translate to 'for' in English. But what are the differences in meaning between these similar-looking phrases? Find the correct answers at the end of the article!

1. Trabajas para mí.

2. Trabajas por mí.

3. Lo hice para ti.

4. Lo hice por ti.

Essential Spanish phrases using por and para

As you learn Spanish, you'll hear both these two words come up frequently in everyday conversations:

Common phrases that use por

• Por qué – why

• Por eso – that’s why

• Por aquí – around here

• Por la mañana/por la noche – in the morning/at night

• Estudié por dos horas – I studied for two hours

• Vamos por el centro – we’re going through the city centre

Common phrases that use para

• Para mí – for me

• Para ti – for you

• ¿Para qué…? – what for...?

• Lo hice para ti – I did it for you

• Para mañana – by tomorrow

Culture tip: These phrases are important to learn - they're used in Spanish-speaking countries around the world!

Now let's look at an example of por and para in an everyday conversation.

Por vs para in real-life conversations

Read the script below to see how these the prepositions are used in day-to-day speech:

María: ¿Vas por el centro esta tarde?
Lucía: Sí, paso por allí para comprar un regalo.

María: ¡Perfecto! ¿Podrías pasar por la farmacia para recoger mi receta?
Lucía: Claro, no hay problema. ¿Es para hoy?

María: Sí, es urgente. También te doy este dinero por las medicinas.
Lucía: Gracias. Pasaré a recoger la receta antes de las seis para que la tengas cuanto antes.

María: Genial. Luego te invito a un café por la ayuda!
Lucía: Perfecto. ¡Nos vemos luego!

Practice exercise: Find a friend and describe your daily routines to each other in Spanish. Note down each time you use the por and para prepositions!

Common mistakes with por and para

1. Using “por” instead of “para” with a purpose
   ❌ Leo muchos libros por aprender.
   ✔️ Leo mucho libros para aprender.

2. Using “para” to talk about duration
   ❌ Voy a estudiar para dos horas.
   ✔️ Voy a estudiar por dos horas.

3. Confusing destination vs route
   ❌ Voy por Madrid (means you’ll travel through the city)
   ✔️ Voy para Madrid (means you’re heading to Madrid)

4. Misusing por when talking about communication methods
   ❌ Te llamo para teléfono.
   ✔️ Te llamo por teléfono.

5. Switching por and para randomly because they can both translate to “for” in English.

   "You work for Carlos" (i.e. You are Carlos' employee)

   ❌ Trabajas por Carlos
   ✔️ Trabajas para Carlos

FAQ - Por vs para quick revision guide

What are the main differences between por and para in Spanish?

Para refers to recipients, goals and destinations.
Por refers to reasons, methods and durations.

How can beginners remember por vs para?

Use these mnemonics to remember which preposition to use:

PARA = PERFECT
Purpose
Effect
Recipient
Future
Employment
Comparison
Towards a destination

POR = ATTRACTED
Around a place
Through a place
Thanks
Reason
Apologies
Communication
Transportation
Exchange
Duration

Is por used to describe how long something lasts?

Yes - duration is almost always described using por (e.g. por dos horas - for two hours).

Is para used to talk about deadlines?

Yes - para mañana (for tomorrow), para el viernes (for Friday), etc.

Which should I learn first?

Start with para. It’s easier to remember for beginner students.

Making por vs para easy

Understanding por vs para is a core skill in learning Spanish, especially if you're preparing for an exam. Once you get past the initial hurdles around direct translations, there are many fast, fun and efficient ways to memorise these prepositions:

• Pair up with a language partner and practise speaking in Spanish together

• Download an AI tutor app for grammar explanations on demand

• Find a Spanish tutor who can boost your confidence with a personalised study plan that fits your learning style and study goals.

Espera! Before you go, take our FindTutors Quick Quiz to test your understanding of por and para! You can view the correct responses in the answer key at the end of the article.

Por vs para - FindTutors Quick Quiz

1. Choose the correct option:

“Voy ___ Madrid mañana.”
a) por
b) para

2. Fill the blank:

“Estudié ___ dos horas.”

3. Which preposition expresses purpose?

a) por
b) para

4. Choose the correct option:

“Te llamo ___ teléfono.”
a) por
b) para

5. Fill the blank:

“Creo que el regalo es ___ Ana.”

6. Which preposition expresses a reason or cause?

a) por
b) para

7. Choose the correct option:

“¿___ qué estudias inglés?” (meaning: for what purpose?)

8. Fill the blank:

“La tarea es ___ mañana.” (meaning: deadline)

9. Choose the correct options for each space:

“Vamos ___ Lisboa _______explorar la arquitectura.”
a) por
b) para

10. Translate into Spanish:

“I did it for you (purpose).”

11. Translate into Spanish:

“I paid £20 for the bag.”

12. Fill the blank:

“Lo envié ayer___ mail.”

13. Choose the correct option:

“Salgo ___ la noche.”
a) por
b) para

14. True or False:

Por is used to describe movement through a place.

15. Translate into Spanish:

“This message is for you.”

Answer keys

Preguntas trampas

1. Trabajas para mí.
   You work for me.
   Contextual meaning: You are my employee

2. Trabajas por mí.
   You work for me.
   Contextual meaning: You complete my work for me

3. Lo hice para ti.
   I did it for you.
   Contextual meaning: I did it as a favour to you

4. Lo hice por ti.
   I did it because of you.
   Contextual meanings: I did it on your behalf OR you are the reason I did it

FindTutors Quick Quiz

1. b) para – Voy para Madrid mañana. (final destination)

2. por – Estudié por dos horas. (duration)

3. b) para (purpose)

4. a) por – por teléfono (method/communication)

5. para – Creo que el regalo es para Ana. (recipient)

6. a) por (reason/cause)

7. Para qué (asks about purpose)

8. para – para mañana (deadline)

9. Vamos por Lisboa para explorar la arquitectura (movement followed by purpose)

10. Lo hice para ti. (recipient)

11. Pagué £20 por el bolso. (exchange)

12. por – por mail (method)

13. a) por – por la noche (time phrase)

14. True – por describes movement through a place

15. Este mensaje es para ti. (recipient)