Por and Para
"Por" has the following meaning.
* through, by
El ladrón sale por la ventana del baño. The robber leaves through the bathroom window.
Ella viaja por avión. She travels by plane.
* because of, on account of, for the sake of, out of
La planta es verde por la clorofila. The plant is green because of the chlorophyll.
Nosotros estamos tristes por el mal clima. We are sad because of the bad weather.
Usted no quiere hablar por miedo. You do not want to talk out of fear.
* in exchange for, in place of (suggest a substitution)
Pagamos cien dólares por los zapatos nuevos. We pay $ 100 (in exchange) for the new shoes.
El señor Martinez enseña por la profesora. Mr. Martinez teaches for (instead of) the teacher.
* per
Ella gana setecientos dólares por semana. She earns $ 700 per week.
* for (before a period of time)
Queremos estudiar el español por 3 años. We want to study Spanish for three years.
Cada día, camino por dos horas. Each day, I walk for two hours.
Also use por in certain expressions.
por acá, por aquí around here
por allá, por allí around there
por ahora for now
por casualidad by chance
por lo común usually
por costumbre usually
por ejemplo for example
por eso therefore, for this reason
por favor please
por fin finally
por lo menos at least
por poco almost
por primera vez for the first time
por supuesto of course
por todas partes everywhere
por la mañana in the morning
por la tarde in the afternoon
por la noche in the evening
"Para" has the following meaning.
* for
El regalo es para mi madre. The gift is for my mother.
Tengo una pregunta para usted. I have a question for you.
* purpose (in order to)
Salgo temprano para llegar a tiempo. I leave early in order to arrive on time.
* destination
En una hora nos vamos para la playa. In an hour we are going to the beach.
* a point in time, deadline
Los estudiantes deben estudiar para el examen. The students should study for the test.
* use, purpose
La cama es para dormir. The bed is used to sleep.
* opinion
Para mí, no hay nada mejor que viajar. In my opinion, there is nothing better than traveling.
Para is also used to express a specific time limit or deadline in the future. In this context, it can be translated
as for, by, on, or before.
Necesito el traje para la fiesta del domingo. I need the suit for Sunday's party.
Por and para Compared
Por is translated as simple for only when por precedes a quantity of time.
Voy a viajar por varios meses. I am going to travel for several months.
Yo duermo por siete horas cada noche. I sleep for seven hours every night.
With the exception of their English translations as for, the meaning of por and para do not overlap.
Remember, por means for only when it precedes a period of time. Para means for in almost all
other cases.
¿Quieren una habitación para dos personas por una noche?
Do you want a room for two persons for one night?
El avión sale para Hawaii.
The plane is leaving for Hawaii.
"Por" has the following meaning.
* through, by
El ladrón sale por la ventana del baño. The robber leaves through the bathroom window.
Ella viaja por avión. She travels by plane.
* because of, on account of, for the sake of, out of
La planta es verde por la clorofila. The plant is green because of the chlorophyll.
Nosotros estamos tristes por el mal clima. We are sad because of the bad weather.
Usted no quiere hablar por miedo. You do not want to talk out of fear.
* in exchange for, in place of (suggest a substitution)
Pagamos cien dólares por los zapatos nuevos. We pay $ 100 (in exchange) for the new shoes.
El señor Martinez enseña por la profesora. Mr. Martinez teaches for (instead of) the teacher.
* per
Ella gana setecientos dólares por semana. She earns $ 700 per week.
* for (before a period of time)
Queremos estudiar el español por 3 años. We want to study Spanish for three years.
Cada día, camino por dos horas. Each day, I walk for two hours.
Also use por in certain expressions.
por acá, por aquí around here
por allá, por allí around there
por ahora for now
por casualidad by chance
por lo común usually
por costumbre usually
por ejemplo for example
por eso therefore, for this reason
por favor please
por fin finally
por lo menos at least
por poco almost
por primera vez for the first time
por supuesto of course
por todas partes everywhere
por la mañana in the morning
por la tarde in the afternoon
por la noche in the evening
"Para" has the following meaning.
* for
El regalo es para mi madre. The gift is for my mother.
Tengo una pregunta para usted. I have a question for you.
* purpose (in order to)
Salgo temprano para llegar a tiempo. I leave early in order to arrive on time.
* destination
En una hora nos vamos para la playa. In an hour we are going to the beach.
* a point in time, deadline
Los estudiantes deben estudiar para el examen. The students should study for the test.
* use, purpose
La cama es para dormir. The bed is used to sleep.
* opinion
Para mí, no hay nada mejor que viajar. In my opinion, there is nothing better than traveling.
Para is also used to express a specific time limit or deadline in the future. In this context, it can be translated
as for, by, on, or before.
Necesito el traje para la fiesta del domingo. I need the suit for Sunday's party.
Por and para Compared
Por is translated as simple for only when por precedes a quantity of time.
Voy a viajar por varios meses. I am going to travel for several months.
Yo duermo por siete horas cada noche. I sleep for seven hours every night.
With the exception of their English translations as for, the meaning of por and para do not overlap.
Remember, por means for only when it precedes a period of time. Para means for in almost all
other cases.
¿Quieren una habitación para dos personas por una noche?
Do you want a room for two persons for one night?
El avión sale para Hawaii.
The plane is leaving for Hawaii.