The Animated Book
of SpanishGrammar Reference

Por vs. Para

Adapted from The Animated Book of Spanish, an interactive Spanish grammar book.

Por and para can both mean for, but they point in opposite directions. Para looks ahead, to a goal. Por looks back, to the reason behind something.
  1. Por: the reason or route
    Lo hice por ti.

    I did it because of you.

    Para: the goal
    Lo hice para ti.

    I made it for you.

  2. Por: the reason or route
    Salimos por la puerta.

    We went out through the door.

    Para: the goal
    Salimos para Madrid.

    We’re leaving for Madrid.

  3. Por: the reason or route
    Trabajo por dinero.

    I work for the money.

    Para: the goal
    Trabajo para una empresa.

    I work for a company.

On this page

The big idea

Picture an action on a line. Por is what's behind it: the reason it happened, or the path it took. Para is what's in front of it: where it's headed.

  • Por: the reasonpor mi trabajobecause of my job
    The actionEstudio españolI study Spanish
    Para: the goalpara viajarto travel

    Estudio español por mi trabajo y para viajar.

    I study Spanish because of my job, and to travel.

  • Por: the reasonpor el tráficobecause of the traffic
    The actionSalimos tempranoWe left early
    Para: the goalpara llegar a tiempoto get there on time

    Salimos temprano por el tráfico, para llegar a tiempo.

    We left early because of the traffic, to get there on time.

Most uses fit this pattern, though it's not always so obvious. The list below covers all the different places you will see por and para.

When to use para

Para points to where something is headed: a purpose, a person, a place, or a point in time.

  1. Purpose: in order to

    Before an infinitive, para means “in order to.” English often just says “to.”

    • Ahorro para comprar una casa.

      I’m saving to buy a house.

    • ¿Para qué sirve esto?

      What is this for?

  2. Recipient: who it’s for

    The person something is meant for.

    • Este regalo es para ti.

      This present is for you.

    • Hice la cena para mis padres.

      I made dinner for my parents.

  3. Employer: who you work for

    The company or person you work for.

    • Mi hermana trabaja para una empresa alemana.

      My sister works for a German company.

    • ¿Para quién trabajas?

      Who do you work for?

  4. Destination

    The place you’re heading to.

    • Mañana salimos para Lima.

      Tomorrow we leave for Lima.

    • Ya voy para casa.

      I’m heading home now.

  5. Deadline

    When something is due, or needed by.

    • La tarea es para el lunes.

      The homework is due Monday.

    • Lo necesito para mañana.

      I need it by tomorrow.

  6. Opinion

    Whose point of view it is.

    • Para mí, es la mejor película del año.

      For me, it’s the best movie of the year.

    • Para ellos, el español es fácil.

      For them, Spanish is easy.

  7. Comparison: considering

    Measuring something against what you’d expect.

    • Hace calor para ser enero.

      It’s hot for January.

    • Para ser tan joven, toca muy bien.

      For someone so young, he plays really well.

When to use por

Por points back to what's behind something, like a cause or a price, or traces the path it takes through a place or a stretch of time.

  1. Cause or reason: because of

    Why something happened. This includes what you’re thanking someone for.

    • Cancelaron el partido por la lluvia.

      They canceled the game because of the rain.

    • Gracias por tu ayuda.

      Thanks for your help.

  2. Through, along, or around a place

    The route something takes, or the area it moves around in.

    • Caminamos por el parque.

      We walked through the park.

    • El gato entró por la ventana.

      The cat came in through the window.

  3. Length of time and time of day

    How long something lasts, and parts of the day: por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche.

    • Viví en Chile por dos años.

      I lived in Chile for two years.

    • Trabajo por la noche.

      I work at night.

  4. Exchange or price

    What you give or get in return.

    • Compré la bici por cien euros.

      I bought the bike for a hundred euros.

    • Te cambio mi sándwich por tu pizza.

      I’ll trade you my sandwich for your pizza.

  5. Means: by phone, by mail

    How something is communicated or sent.

    • Hablamos por teléfono.

      We talked on the phone.

    • Te lo mando por correo.

      I’ll send it to you by email.

  6. On behalf of, for the sake of

    Doing something for someone, or in their place.

    • Lo hago por mis hijos.

      I do it for my kids.

    • ¿Puedes ir por mí?

      Can you go in my place?

  7. Rates: per

    Speed, frequency, and percentages.

    • Voy al gimnasio tres veces por semana.

      I go to the gym three times a week.

    • El límite es cien kilómetros por hora.

      The limit is a hundred kilometers per hour.

  8. By: who did it

    In a passive sentence, the person who did the action. More in ser vs. estar.

    • El libro fue escrito por Cervantes.

      The book was written by Cervantes.

    • La casa fue diseñada por mi abuelo.

      The house was designed by my grandfather.

Same sentence, different meaning

Swapping por for para often still makes sense, but it changes what you're saying.

  1. With por
    Lo hice por ti.

    I did it because of you.

    With para
    Lo hice para ti.

    I made it for you, as a gift.

  2. With por
    Trabajo por mi padre.

    I work in my father’s place.

    With para
    Trabajo para mi padre.

    I work for my father; he’s my boss.

  3. With por
    Vamos por el centro.

    We’re going through downtown.

    With para
    Vamos para el centro.

    We’re going to downtown.

  4. With por
    Estudio por el examen.

    I’m studying because of the exam.

    With para
    Estudio para el examen.

    I’m studying to pass the exam.

  5. With por
    ¿Por qué?

    Why?

    With para
    ¿Para qué?

    What for?

Common expressions

Many fixed expressions use por. You'll hear these all the time:

  • por favorplease
  • por finfinally
  • por esothat’s why
  • por ejemplofor example
  • por supuestoof course
  • por ciertoby the way
  • por lo menosat least
  • por si acasojust in case
  • por ahorafor now
  • por lo generalgenerally

And a few with para:

  • para siempreforever
  • para nadanot at all
  • no es para tantoit’s not a big deal
  • para colmoto top it all off

Common mistakes English speakers make

  1. Saying gracias para

    Incorrect:Gracias para tu ayuda.
    Correct:Gracias por tu ayuda.

    What you're thankful for is the reason for your thanks, so it's always gracias por.

  2. Using por for “in order to”

    Incorrect:Estudio por aprender.
    Correct:Estudio para aprender.

    A purpose before an infinitive takes para.

  3. Using para with a price

    Incorrect:Lo compré para diez dólares.
    Correct:Lo compré por diez dólares.

    Prices and exchanges take por.

  4. Using por for who it’s for

    Incorrect:Este regalo es por ti.
    Correct:Este regalo es para ti.

    The recipient takes para. (Por ti means because of you.)

  5. Using para for how long

    Incorrect:Viví en Chile para dos años.
    Correct:Viví en Chile por dos años.

    A length of time takes por, or nothing at all: Viví dos años en Chile.

  6. Asking ¿por qué? for a purpose

    Incorrect:¿Por qué sirve esto?
    Correct:¿Para qué sirve esto?

    To ask what something is for, use ¿para qué?

Questions about por and para

What is the difference between por and para?

Both can mean "for," but they look in opposite directions. Para points ahead, to a goal: a purpose, a destination, a recipient, or a deadline (Estudio para aprender). Por points back, to the reason behind something, or to the route it takes (Gracias por tu ayuda, Caminamos por el parque).

When do you use para?

For a purpose ("in order to"), a recipient, a destination, a deadline, an opinion, and a comparison: para aprender, para ti, para Lima, para el lunes, para mí, para ser enero.

When do you use por?

For a cause or reason, movement through or along a place, a length of time, an exchange or price, a means (by phone, by email), doing something on someone's behalf, rates like "per hour," and who did something in a passive sentence.

Is it "gracias por" or "gracias para"?

Always gracias por: Gracias por tu ayuda ("Thanks for your help"). What you're thanking someone for is the reason for your thanks, so it takes por.

What is the difference between ¿por qué? and ¿para qué?

¿Por qué? asks "why?", looking for the reason. ¿Para qué? asks "what for?", looking for the purpose: ¿Para qué sirve esto? ("What is this for?").

Is there an easy way to remember por and para?

Think of an arrow. Para points forward to where something is headed: a goal, a place, a person, a deadline. Por points back to what's behind it, like a cause or a price, or traces the path it takes along the way.

Next upTime expressions: hace, desdeHace for "ago," desde vs. desde hace for "since" and "for," llevar + time, and dentro de.

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