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Guide · A2 · 4 min read
Por vs para: one picture to tell them apart
The short answer
Para looks ahead, to a goal: a purpose (para aprender), the person something is for (para ti), a destination or a deadline. Por looks at the cause or the way through: the route (por la calle), the reason or what you give in exchange (gracias por todo), the means (por teléfono) and parts of the day (por la mañana).
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Key points
- Para points forward: purpose, recipient, destination, deadline.
- Por looks at the how and the why: route, cause, exchange, means.
- Gracias por always takes por: you’re thanking someone because of something.
- Times of day take por: por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche (in Latin America you’ll also hear en).
The picture: an arrow and a path
Think of para as an arrow pointing at a target: who it’s for, what it’s for, where it’s going. Think of por as the path you travel and the reason you set out: through, along, because of, by means of.
Para: purpose, recipient, destination
- Estudio para aprender.I study (in order) to learn.
- Este regalo es para ti.This present is for you.
- Trabajo para viajar.I work in order to travel.
Memory hookPara for purpose. If you can say “in order to”, it’s para.
Por: route, cause, exchange, means
- Caminamos por la calle.We walk along the street.
- El tren pasa por la ciudad.The train goes through the city.
- Gracias por todo.Thanks for everything.
- Te llamo por teléfono.I’ll call you on the phone.
- Trabajo por la mañana.I work in the morning.
At a glance
| Use | Por or para? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose, “in order to” | para | Estudio para aprender. |
| Who it’s for | para | Es para ti. |
| Through, along | por | Caminamos por la calle. |
| Thanks, because of | por | Gracias por todo. |
| By means of | por | Te llamo por teléfono. |
| Part of the day | por | Trabajo por la mañana. |
Quick check
1 Este regalo es ___ ti.
para: Who it’s for: para.
2 Gracias ___ todo.
por: Thanks are always por.
3 Estudio ___ aprender.
para: Purpose, “in order to”: para.
4 Te llamo ___ teléfono.
por: By means of: por.
Tap a question to check your answer.
Practise this in Huerta
These levels teach it, with every word and example reviewed at just the right moment:
Questions
Is it “gracias por” or “gracias para”?
Always gracias por: you’re thanking someone because of something.
How do you say “in the morning” in Spanish?
Por la mañana. In Latin America you’ll also hear en la mañana. With a clock time it’s de: a las ocho de la mañana.
What does “para que” mean?
So that. It’s always followed by the subjunctive: te lo explico para que lo entiendas (I’ll explain it so that you understand it). If the same person does both things, use para with the infinitive instead: trabajo para viajar.
Keep reading
- A1–A2 · 5 min readSer vs estar: the rule that actually worksWhen to use ser and when to use estar in Spanish, with one simple rule, the exceptions that matter, real examples and a quick quiz.
- B1 · 5 min readThe Spanish subjunctive, explained simplyWhen Spanish uses the subjunctive: wishes, hopes, feelings, doubt and “so that”. How to form it in three steps, the irregular verbs, and real examples.