Por or Para?

Hola hola! 🧡🤗

When should you use "Por", and when should you use "Para" in Spanish? Today, we’re going to learn this in the easiest way possible!

Many people find this a difficult topic because the difference between "Por" and "Para" is sometimes very small.
But don’t worry in this blog we are not only giving the literal translation of both but we are also giving you 4 simple tips so that you’ll know in no time which one to use! 😃Ok, let's go🤗

Literal meanings of "Por" and "Para" in Spanish⤵️:

Both "Por" and "Para" can be translated to:

1. By
2. For
3. About
4. During
5. Along
6. Towards
7. Per

But the best way to learn the difference is by looking at different situations 🧡

4 Tips to know when to use "Por" or "Para" in Spanish⤵️:

Tip 1: Travel

When talking about travel, "Por" is used to indicate the route, while "Para" refers to the destination.

Example with "Por":
✅ Estamos viajando por los Estados Unidos.
(We are traveling through the United States.)

Example with "Para":
✅ Voy para España este verano.
(I'm going to Spain this summer.)

In the first example, "Por" shows that the trip goes through the United States.
In the second example, "Para" indicates that Spain is the final destination.

Tip 2: Deadline / Time

When talking about deadlines or time, "Por" is used to show duration, while "Para" is used to indicate a deadline.

Example with "Por":
✅ Tú has estudiado español por tres meses.
(You have studied Spanish for three months.)

Example with "Para":
✅ Tenemos que terminar el video para el lunes.
(We need to finish the video by Monday.)

In the first example, "Por" shows that the person has studied Spanish for a duration of three months.
In the second example, "Para" indicates that the deadline for finishing the video is Monday.

Tip 3: Reason / Purpose

When talking about reasons or purposes, "Por" is used to show the cause or reason, while "Para" is used to express the goal or purpose.

Example with "Por":
✅ Estoy mojado por la lluvia.
(I am wet because of the rain.)

Example with "Para":
✅ Estoy estudiando para pasar el examen.
(I am studying to pass the exam.)

In the first example, "Por" shows that the person is wet due to the rain.
In the second example, "Para" indicates that the purpose of studying is to pass the exam.

Tip 4: Who did it / Who it’s for

We use "Por" to say who did something, and we use "Para" to say who something is for.

Example with "Por":
✅ Este libro fue escrito por mí.
(This book was written by me.)

Example with "Para":
✅ Voy a comprar un regalo para mi madre.
(I’m going to buy a gift for my mother.)

Tadaaa! 🎉 Now you know exactly when to use "Por" or "Para" in Spanish🇪🇸!

That wasn’t so difficult, right? 🤗🧡

To make it even easier, we’ve put everything in a handy comparison table!

Piece of cake! 😊🧡

What did you think of these tips? Leave a comment down below where you write a sentence in Spanish that contains the word "por" or "para"! 😄

Do you want more Spanish language tips? Check out our article on Spanish verbs or 10 commonly used Spanish words!

Do you want to learn Spanish in a fun and fast way? Sign up for our free online Spanish course, with super fun video lessons!
You can start in just 2 minutes, completely free!
👉 learnsomespanish.com/freecourse

Do you prefer watching a video instead of reading? Check out our YouTube video!

Saludos,
Lusiana y Leroy❤️