Spanish native speakers don’t have to think about when to use por vs para.
For us language learners, it’s a different story. In this article, you’re going to discover the rules governing por vs para, and (more importantly) tons of examples that you can learn so you don’t even have to think about the rules at all when speaking Spanish.
The preposition por is used to indicate a cause, reason, or means.
It often looks back at events or actions that have already taken place, seeking to explain why something happened or how it was accomplished. It can also express duration or exchanges.
Hice ese regalo por ti. (I made that gift for you.)
Estudié por tres horas antes del examen. (I studied for three hours before the exam.)
Lo hice por amor. (I did it out of love.)
The preposition para is used to indicate purpose, destination, or intended use.
It often looks forward, expressing what something is meant to achieve or who it is intended for. It can denote deadlines or goals.
Estudia para aprender. (Study to learn.)
Este informe es para el jefe. (This report is for the boss.)
Necesito terminar el proyecto para el viernes. (I need to finish the project by Friday.)
2. Rules for the use of por vs para
Let’s take a closer look at the situations in which por is used.
Rules for POR
Spanish
English
Rule
Hago esto por nuestra amistad.
I’m doing this for our friendship.
To express the cause or reason for doing something
Te mando el documento por correo electrónico.
I’m sending you the document by email.
To refer to the way or means to do something
Yo solo trabajo por la mañana.
I only work in the morning.
To express a period of time
Este tren pasa por Salamanca.
This train passes by Salamanca.
To express that something happens along, around, or through a place
Yo estoy por la libertad de expresión.
I am in favor of freedom of speech.
To express that you are in favor of some idea
Quiero cambiar dólares por euros.
I want to exchange dollars for euros.
To express an exchange
Este cuadro fue pintado por Dalí.
This painting was painted by Dalí.
In a passive sentence, it introduces the agent or person
Por tu culpa no podemos ir al concierto.
Because of you we cannot go to the concert.
You always blame with “por”
Gracias por tu regalo.
Thank you for your gift.
You always thank with “por”
Perdona por el retraso.
Sorry for the delay.
You always apologize or say sorry with “por”
What about para?Let’s take a look!
Rules for PARA
Spanish
English
Rule
Esto es para mi madre.
This is for my mother.
To express the person towards whom you direct the action
Esta taza es para el café.
This cup is for coffee.
To express an object’s use or purpose
Este trabajo es para mañana.
This work is for tomorrow.
To express the deadline for something
Este tren va para Barcelona.
The train goes to Barcelona.
To express the last destination
La empresa hace marketing para vender más.
The company does marketing to sell more.
To express the goal of an action
It’s hard to remember all these rules when you’re in a conversation with a native speaker. That’s why it’s much easier to memorize fixed word combinations with por and para that native speakers use (we call them chunks), like the examples you saw before.
The more chunks with por vs para you observe, the easier it’ll become for you – even as a Spanish beginner. So let’s take a look at some more examples!
Por vs para for people
Spanish
English
Explanation
Este regalo es para Carmen
This gift is for Carmen
The beneficiary is the person, Carmen
Vengo por mi hijo
I come for my son
The reason I am coming is my son, meaning to pick him up
Hago este esfuerzo por mi hija
I make this effort for my daughter
I do it because of her
Hago esto para mi hija
I do this for my daughter
I do it for her, to give it to her
Por vs para for things or events
Spanish
English
Explanation
Esta casa es para las vacaciones
This house is for holidays
The purpose of the house is the holidays
Este regalo es por el cumpleaños de mi amiga
This gift is for my friend’s birthday
The celebration is the reason why I bought it
Por vs para for means of transport or communication
Spanish
English
Explanation
Voy a Londres por avión
I’m going to London by plane
I travel by plane
Hablaremos el domingo por Skype
We will talk on Sunday by Skype
We talk by Skype
Te mando las fotos por correo electrónico
I send you the photos by email (
I send them by email
Vamos a las Islas Canarias por barco
We are going to the Canary Islands by boat
we travel by boat
Por vs para for period of time
Spanish
English
Explanation
El restaurante está cerrado por vacaciones
The restaurant is closed for holidays
The reason is closed is the holidays and it is for a period of time
Estoy ahora trabajando por cuatro horas al día
I’m now working for four hours a day
Expressing a period of time
Este trabajo tiene que estar terminado para las 3 de la tarde
This work must be finished by 3 p.m.
Expressing a deadline
Esta tienda solo abre por las mañanas
This store is only open in the mornings
Expressing a period of time
Me gusta pasear por la tarde
I like to walk in the afternoon
Expressing a period of time
Por vs para for places
Spanish
English
Explanation
¿Por dónde estás? Estoy por la Calle Mayor
Where are you? I’m on Calle Mayor
Whereabouts you are
El viernes voy para Málaga
On Friday I’m going to Malaga
The last destination
Esta tarde paso por tu casa
This afternoon I pass by your house
I go to your house on my way to another place
Esta tarde voy para tu casa
This afternoon I’m going to your house
My destination is your house
El tren pasa por Toledo
The train passes through Toledo
It goes through Toledo on its way to another place
El tren va para Madrid
The train goes to Madrid
Madrid is the last destination
Me gusta pasear por el parque
I like to walk through the park
To go around a place
Creo que el teatro está por aquí
I think the theater is around here
Somewhere around here)
Para ir a la estación de tren puedes coger el metro
To go to the train station, you can take the metro
In order to go to the train station
Por vs para for Exchange and Prices
Spanish
English
Explanation
Voy a comprar un coche por 20.000€
I’m going to buy a car for 20.000 €
I exchange 20.000 € for a car
Quiero cambiar 10.000 euros por dólares
I want to change 10.000 euros for dollars
I exchange currencies
Por vs para for social situations
Spanish
English
Explanation
Por culpa de mi hijo no puedo ir esta tarde al cine
Because of my son I can’t go to the movies this afternoon
Haven’t had enough yet? Let’s take a look at some examples where it isn’t so clear which preposition to use.
Advanced chart comparing por vs para
Explanation
POR
PARA
Person: the difference is that with “por” you emphasize the motivation and with “para” you express more the idea of giving
Hago esto por mi hijo
Hago esto para mi hijo
Person: the difference is that with “por” you emphasize the motivation and with “para” you express more the idea of giving
I do this for my son
I do this for my son
Celebration: the difference is that with “por” you emphasize the reason and with “para” you express more the idea of purpose
Esta tarta es por tu cumpleaños
Esta tarta es para tu cumpleaños
Celebration: the difference is that with “por” you emphasize the reason and with “para” you express more the idea of purpose
This cake is for your birthday
This cake is for your birthday
To do something: the difference is that with “por” you stress the motivation and with “para” you express the idea of achieving a goal
El soldado lucha por la democracia de su país
El soldado lucha para la democracia de su país
To do something: the difference is that with “por” you stress the motivation and with “para” you express the idea of achieving a goal
The soldier fights for the democracy of his country
The soldier fights for the democracy of his country
Places: with “por” Valladolid is not the last destination, while with “para” it is the last destination
Este autobús pasa por Valladolid
Este autobús va para Valladolid
Places: with “por” Valladolid is not the last destination, while with “para” it is the last destination
This bus goes through Valladolid
This bus goes to Valladolid
Agent vs beneficiary: with “por” it is expressing the agent of the passive sentence, he painted the picture, Dalí is the agent, while with “para”, someone else painted the picture for him, Dalí is the recipient
Este cuadro fue pintado por Dalí
Este cuadro fue pintado para Dalí
Agent vs beneficiary: with “por” it is expressing the agent of the passive sentence, he painted the picture, Dalí is the agent, while with “para”, someone else painted the picture for him, Dalí is the recipient
This painting was painted by Dalí
This painting was painted for Dalí
4. Practice section – fill in the blanks with por or para
I. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate preposition ‘por’ or ‘para’:
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5. Mastering por vs para: a step towards fluency in Spanish with chunking
Even though there are clear rules for when to use por vs para, using them correctly might still be tricky, as you have just seen. Luckily, the more chunks you learn by heart, the easier it gets!
Want a head start? Make sure to sign up for your free Spanish Chunking Starter Pack now to get lists of essential Spanish chunks, a Chunking Guide, 12-Week Study Plan and an Over-The-Shoulder Chunking Demo with me.
Lukas is the founder of Effortless Conversations and the creator of the Conversation Based Chunking™ method for learning languages. He's a linguist and wrote a popular book about learning languages through "chunks". He also co-founded the language education company Spring Languages, which creates online language courses and YouTube content.
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