{"id":143098,"date":"2024-03-07T01:56:39","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T06:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/por-versus-para\/"},"modified":"2025-02-04T22:44:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T03:44:58","slug":"por-versus-para","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/por-versus-para\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Use Por vs Para (Examples Included)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Knowing the difference between\u00a0por <\/em>and\u00a0para <\/em>can be tricky for most Spanish learners. Both can mean \u201cfor,\u201d but they\u2019re used in different situations.<\/p>\n

Por\u00a0<\/em>is used for reasons, communication, travel, how long something goes on, transactions, substitutes and favors. <\/strong>Para\u00a0<\/em>is used when talking about recipients, destinations, goals, opinions and deadlines.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Read on to learn all about when to use each word, plus expressions that contain one or the other. Or if you prefer watching videos, the information is explained in our story-based lesson<\/a> below:<\/p>\n

<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

Differences Between Por<\/em> and Para<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Use por<\/em> when:<\/th>Use para<\/em> when:<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Indicating the reason for doing something<\/strong>. You can translate it to \u201cbecause of.\u201d
\n
\nNo ha venido por<\/strong> el mal tiempo.<\/em>
\n(He has not come because of<\/strong> the bad weather.)<\/td>		You want to talk about goals and purpose<\/strong> (i.e., \"to do something\").
\n
\nHemos venido para<\/strong> almorzar contigo.<\/em>
\n(We have come to<\/strong> have lunch with you.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You want to talk about communication and travel<\/strong>. Here, por<\/em> roughly translates to \"via\/by\" or \"through.\"
\n
\nMe contest\u00f3 por<\/strong> email.<\/em>
\n(He answered me via\/by<\/strong> email.)
\n
\nNunca he viajado por Polonia.<\/em>
\n(I have never traveled through<\/strong> Poland.)<\/td>		You are referring to a destination or final point<\/strong>.
\n
\nEl tren para<\/strong> Lisboa sale en 3 minutos.<\/em>
\n(The train to<\/strong> Lisbon leaves in 3 minutes.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You need to state how long something goes on<\/strong>.
\n
\nEstuve escribiendo por<\/strong> 3 horas.<\/em>
\n(I was writing for<\/strong> 3 hours.)<\/td>		You have to talk about or discuss a deadline<\/strong>.
\n
\nLo necesito para<\/strong> el lunes.<\/em>
\n(I need it for<\/strong> Monday.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You want to refer to an exchange or transaction<\/strong>.
\n
\n\u00bfDe verdad has pagado tanto por<\/strong> ese tel\u00e9fono?<\/em>
\n(Have you really paid that much for<\/strong> that phone?)
\n
\nMe dio su camiseta por<\/strong> mi camisa.<\/em>
\n(She gave me her T-shirt for<\/strong> my shirt.)<\/td>		You need to talk about the recipient of something<\/strong>.
\n
\nEsto es para<\/strong> ti.<\/em>
\n(This is for<\/strong> you.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
One person substitutes or takes the place of another<\/strong> during a task (i.e., \"instead of\").
\n
\nFui a ayudar por<\/strong> mi padre.<\/em>
\n(I went to help instead of<\/strong> my father.)<\/td>		You want to give your opinion or talk about someone else\u2019s opinion<\/strong> (can be translated as \"according to\").
\n
\nPara<\/strong> m\u00ed, esta casa es muy peque\u00f1a.<\/em>
\n(For<\/strong> me, this house is very small.)
\n
\nPara<\/strong> mi madre, eso es muy peligroso.<\/em>
\n(According to<\/strong> my mother, that is very dangerous.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
You do something for someone<\/strong> out of love.
\n
\nTodo esto es por<\/strong> ti.<\/em>
\n(All this is for<\/strong> you.)<\/td>		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Spanish Expressions with Por<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Spanish Expressions with Por<\/em><\/th>Example Sentence<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Por ahora<\/em>
\n(for now)<\/td>		Por ahora<\/strong>, todo est\u00e1 controlado.<\/em>
\n(Everything is under control for the time being<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Por completo<\/em>\u00a0
\n(completely, absolutely)<\/td>		Se le olvid\u00f3 por completo<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(He completely<\/strong> forgot about it.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Por ejemplo<\/em>
\n(for example)<\/td>		Juan y Pedro, por ejemplo<\/strong>. <\/em>
\n(Juan and Pedro, for example<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Por favor<\/em>\u00a0
\n(please)<\/td>		Ay\u00fadame, por favor<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(Help me, please<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Por fin<\/em>\u00a0
\n(finally, at last)<\/td>		\u00a1Has vuelto! \u00a1Por fin!<\/strong><\/em>
\n(You are back! At last!<\/strong>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Por lo menos<\/em>
\n(at least)<\/td>		Necesito tres por lo menos<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(I need three at least<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Por lo visto<\/em>\u00a0
\n(apparently)<\/td>		Por lo visto<\/strong>, \u00e9l le ha sido infiel.<\/em>
\n(Apparently<\/strong>, he has cheated on her.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Por si acaso<\/em>\u00a0
\n(just in case)<\/td>		Vamos a volver por si acaso<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(Let\u2019s go back, just in case<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Por supuesto<\/em>\u00a0
\n(sure, of course)<\/td>		\u00a1Por supuesto<\/strong> que no lo har\u00e9!<\/em>
\n(Of course<\/strong> I will not do it!)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00bfPor qu\u00e9? Porque...<\/em>\u00a0
\n(Why? because...)<\/td>		\u00bfPor qu\u00e9<\/strong> lloras? Porque<\/strong> estoy triste.<\/em>
\n(Why<\/strong> are you crying? Because<\/strong> I am sad.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gracias por<\/em>\u00a0
\n(thanks for)<\/td>		Gracias por<\/strong> todo, mam\u00e1.<\/em>
\n(Thanks for<\/strong> everything, mum.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Spanish Expressions with Para<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Spanish Expressions with Para<\/em><\/th>Example Sentence<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Para colmo<\/em>\u00a0
\n(to top it all)<\/td>		Lleg\u00f3 tarde y, para colmo<\/strong>, no pidi\u00f3 disculpas.<\/em>
\n(He arrived late and, to top it all<\/strong>, he did not apologize.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Para empezar<\/em>\u00a0
\n(for starters)<\/td>		Para empezar<\/strong>, vamos a llamar a pap\u00e1.<\/em>
\n(For starters<\/strong>, let\u2019s call dad.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Para entonces<\/em>\u00a0
\n(by then)<\/td>		Ya hab\u00eda muerto para entonces<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(He was dead by then<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Para nada<\/em>\u00a0
\n(not...at all)<\/td>		No me gusta para nada<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(I do not<\/strong> like it at all<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Para otra vez<\/em>\u00a0
\n(for another time, for another day)<\/td>		Dej\u00e9moslo para otra vez<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(Let\u2019s leave it for another time<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Para que \/\u00a0para qu\u00e9 <\/em>
\n(so that, in order to \/ what for)<\/td>		Lo hice para que<\/strong> vinieras.<\/em>
\n(I did it so that<\/strong> you would come.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Para siempre<\/em>\u00a0
\n(forever)<\/td>		Quiero estar contigo para siempre<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(I want to be with you forever<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Para variar<\/em>
\n(as usual, just for a change)<\/td>		Has vuelto a mentir, para variar<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(You have lied again, just for a change<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Estar para<\/em>\u00a0
\n(to be about to)<\/td>		Estaba para<\/strong> salir cuando llamaste.<\/em>
\n(I was about to<\/strong> go out when you called.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Para m\u00ed<\/em> vs.\u00a0Por m\u00ed<\/em><\/h2>\n

Para m\u00ed<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0por m\u00ed<\/em> are a special case because they not only have a difference in meaning, but they themselves also change meanings depending on where you put them in a sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t
Para m\u00ed<\/em><\/th>Por m\u00ed<\/em><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
At the beginning of a sentence, para m\u00ed<\/em> means \u201cin my opinion.\u201d<\/strong>
\n
\nPara m\u00ed<\/strong>, ese ni\u00f1o es muy inteligente.<\/em>\u00a0
\n(In my opinion<\/strong>, that\u00a0boy is very intelligent.)
\nPara m\u00ed<\/strong>\u00a0que est\u00e1 cansado.<\/em>\u00a0
\n(In my opinion<\/strong>, he is tired.)<\/td>		At the beginning of a sentence, por m\u00ed<\/em> means \u201cas far as I am concerned\u201d<\/strong> or \u201cas for me,\u201d<\/strong> adding a sense of indifference.
\n
\nPor m\u00ed<\/strong>\u00a0como si no vuelve.<\/em>\u00a0
\n(As for me<\/strong>, he may well never come back.) [And I don\u2019t care.]
\nPor m\u00ed<\/strong> que lo metan en la c\u00e1rcel.<\/em>
\n(As far as I am concerned<\/strong>, they can put him in jail.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
At the end of a sentence, para m\u00ed<\/em> changes its meaning to \u201cfor me\u201d<\/strong> (in contexts when we receive something).
\n
\nEste regalo es para m\u00ed<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0
\n(This present is for me<\/strong>.)
\nEl caf\u00e9 tambi\u00e9n es\u00a0para m\u00ed.<\/em>\u00a0
\n(The coffee is also for me<\/strong>.)<\/td>		At the end of a sentence, por m\u00ed<\/em> means \u201cinstead of me,\u201d<\/strong> \u201cin my place\u201d<\/strong> or \u201cfor me\u201d<\/strong> (with the meaning of \u201cfor my sake\u201d).
\n
\nIr\u00e1 de compras por m\u00ed<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0
\n(He will go shopping in my place<\/strong>.)
\nMe dijo la verdad\u00a0por m\u00ed<\/strong>.<\/em>
\n(He told me the truth for my sake<\/strong>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

\u00bfPara qu\u00e9<\/em>? vs. \u00bfPor qu\u00e9<\/em>?<\/h2>\n

Para qu\u00e9<\/em> and por qu\u00e9<\/em> are not as changeable as para m\u00ed<\/em> and por m\u00ed<\/em>, but they also have a difference in meaning.<\/p>\n

We use\u00a0para qu\u00e9<\/em><\/strong> when we want to ask for what purpose something was done:<\/p>\n