Por or paraAlthough the prepositions por and para may both be

translated as for in English, they are not interchangeable in most cases. Each word has a

distinctly different use in Spanish, as shown in the following slides.

ParaPara is very unidirectional and points forward toward a goal or destination, whether literal or figurative.

Para indicates:

Destination or destinygoal, intended purpose

Limit of time or space (deadline)by a certain time; to or toward a certain location

Comparison with a norm

ParaDestination or destinyMañana Juan sale para Madrid.

Limit of time or spaceDebo llegar a la reunión para las 10:00, a más tardar.

Pablo estudia para (ser) médico.

El regalo es para mi hermano.

Tomorrow Juan is leaving for Madrid.

Pablo is studying to be a doctor.

The gift is for my brother.

I must arrive at the meeting by 10:00, at the latest.

Para

Comparison with a normPara norteamericano, Bill habla bien el español.

El niño es muy alto para su edad.

Para is also translated as “in order to”Trabajo para ganar dinero para costear mi educación.

For an American, Bill speaks Spanish well.

The child is very tall for his age.

I work in order to earn money to pay for my education.

ParaPara is used in some set phrases such as the following:

para siempre forever

¿para qué? what for?

para eso for that (sarcastically)

no ser para tanto

not to be a big deal

sin qué ni para qué

without rhyme or reason

PorPor is less direct and can point in various directions, including backward towards cause or motive.

Por indicates:Imprecise or approximate direction or time

around a certain time; through or by way of a certain location

Duration of time

Motive or cause

Exchange or interchange

Means or mode

PorImprecise or approximate direction or timeVamos a pasear por el parque por la tarde.

Duration of time

Motive or cause

Vamos a estar en Cancún por dos semanas.

Estudio español por amor al idioma.

We’re going to take a walk through the park during the afternoon.

We’re going to be in Cancún for two weeks.

I study Spanish because of a love for the language.

Por

Exchange or interchangeSi no puedes ir a la reunión, yo voy por ti.

Pagué diez dólares por el CD de Óscar de León.

Means or modeSiempre mando mis cartas por avión.

Vamos a viajar por tren.

If you can’t go to the meeting, I’ll go in your place.

I paid ten dollars for the Óscar de León CD.

I always send my letters by air mail.

We’re going to travel by train.

Por

“Per”La velocidad máxima es de 70 millas por hora.

Some other usesEstar por + infinitive expresses readiness (to be about to do something

Estoy por salir.

Estamos por visitar la tumba de Bolívar en el centro de Caracas.

I am about to leave.

We are about to visit Bolívar’s tomb in downtown Caracas.

The speed limit is 70 miles per hour.

Por

Que queda por hacer = that remains to be doneTengo dos proyectos por terminar.

Some other uses

Eso está por verse.

Ir por, venir por = to go for, to come for or in search of something or someoneEl conductor está gravemente herido. Voy por el médico.

The driver is gravely injured. I’ll go for the doctor.

I have two projects yet to be finished.

That remains to be seen.

PorPor is also used in a large number of set

phrases such as the following:

por aquí around here, this way

por completo

completely

por desgracia

unfortunately

por ejemplo for example

por ahora for now

por Dios for God’s (goodness’ ) sake

por casualidad

by chance

PorPor is also used in a large number of set

phrases such as the following:

por fin at last, finally

por lo general in general

por favor please

por eso therefore, for that reason

por el bien de alguien

for someone’s good

por lo menos

at least

Por

por nada you’re welcome

por medio de

by means of

por más que . . . no matter how much . . .

por si acaso just in case

Por is also used in a large number of set phrases such as the following:

por supuesto of course, naturally

por suerte luckily, fortunately

por último finally

FIN