subject: Por and Para in Spanish - and the difference between them [print this page] Por and Para in Spanish - and the difference between them
In Spanish, unlike the English language, there are two words to choose between when needing to say "for". If you are reading this article, it may be because you have just begun to study Spanish and are wondering what the difference is and when to use which one. In the examples below, the meaning is always "for" but there are additional meanings to help you.
Firstly, "por":
Through
Por la ciudad (through the city) or Por la ventana (through the window)
Along
Por la calle (along the street)
By
Por avin (by plane, by airmail)
In exchange for
Lo vendi por 200 Euros (he/she sold it in exchange for 200 Euros
On account of, because of
Est en la crcel por haber robado el dinero (he/she is in prison on account of stealing the money)
For the sake of
Lo hace por su madre (he/she does it for the sake of his/her mother)
On behalf of
Peleamos por la libertad (we fight, also 'we fought', for freedom)
For (time)
Habl por una hora (he/she spoke for an hour)
In search of
Fue por un mdico (he/she went in search of a doctor)
Secondly, "para":
Purpose (in order to)
Para llegar all (in order to arrive there)
Destination ("intended for")
Sale para Londres hoy (he/she left for London today)
Until
Lo dej para el ltimo momento (he/she left it until the last moment)
Only to
Se escap de la crcel para ser capturado (he/she escaped from prison only to be (re)captured)
Note also:
Es demasiado viejo para trabajar (he is too old to work)
Lo dice para s (he/she says it to himself/herself)
Tiene bastante para comprarlo (he/she has enough to buy it)
Finally, "estar para" meaning "to be about to"
Mi amigo est para salir (my friend is about to leave)
and also, "estar por" (to be in favour of)
Dice que es por el Presidente (he/she says he/she is in favour of the president)
