If the A2 por vs para page is the decision guide — the directional metaphor and the minimal pairs — this page is the lookup reference: every documented use of each preposition, grouped by category, with concise semantic notes and natural peninsular examples. Open it when you're writing a sentence and want to confirm that a given use is real, what register it belongs to, and how it differs from neighbouring uses.
The page is long on purpose. It is meant to be skimmed by section, not read end to end.
PART 1 — All uses of por
1. Cause / reason
Por marks the cause behind the action — what produced it, the motive or external reason. This is the meaning of por that overlaps with English because of and out of.
Lo hizo por amor, no por dinero.
He did it out of love, not for money.
Cancelaron el partido por la lluvia.
They cancelled the match because of the rain.
Te lo digo por tu bien, no para molestarte.
I'm telling you for your own good, not to bother you.
2. Cause + infinitive: por + infinitivo
A productive sub-pattern of (1): por + infinitive expresses the cause as an action. Often translated as English for + -ing.
Lo despidieron por llegar tarde tres días seguidos.
They fired him for arriving late three days in a row.
Le multaron por aparcar en doble fila.
He got fined for double-parking.
Me regañó por no haberle avisado antes.
She told me off for not having warned her sooner.
3. Movement through space
Por marks the path traversed — the route, not the start or end. Compare with a (direction toward) and de (origin).
Pasamos por Madrid camino de Sevilla.
We went through Madrid on the way to Seville.
El ladrón entró por la ventana de la cocina.
The thief came in through the kitchen window.
Me gusta pasear por el barrio a primera hora.
I like walking through the neighbourhood first thing in the morning.
4. Vague or approximate location
A specifically locative use: por + place name = "around / somewhere in." It's the preposition for vagueness about where exactly.
Vive por aquí, pero no sé el portal exacto.
He lives around here somewhere, but I don't know the exact building.
Hay un cajero por la zona de Sol, ¿verdad?
There's a cash machine around the Sol area, right?
He dejado las llaves por algún lado del salón.
I've left the keys somewhere in the living room.
5. Exchange / price
Por marks what you give up to get something — money paid, things swapped, sacrifices made. This is the transactional meaning.
Lo compré por veinte euros en el rastro.
I bought it for twenty euros at the flea market.
Te cambio mi bocadillo por tu manzana.
I'll swap you my sandwich for your apple.
No lo dejaría por nada del mundo.
I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world.
6. Agent of passive verb
In passive constructions, por marks the agent — the one who did it. This is the Spanish equivalent of English by in written by, painted by.
Esta novela fue escrita por Cervantes a principios del siglo XVII.
This novel was written by Cervantes at the beginning of the 17th century.
El edificio fue diseñado por una arquitecta gallega.
The building was designed by a Galician architect.
La ley fue aprobada por mayoría absoluta.
The law was passed by an absolute majority.
7. On behalf of / in place of
Por marks substitution: doing something instead of someone, or speaking for them.
Hablé por mi madre en la reunión porque estaba enferma.
I spoke on behalf of my mother at the meeting because she was sick.
¿Puedes firmar tú por mí? No llegaré a tiempo.
Can you sign for me? I won't get there in time.
Mañana doy yo la clase por Pedro, que está de viaje.
Tomorrow I'm teaching the class for Pedro, who's away.
8. Mode of communication / channel
Por marks the medium through which information flows: phone, post, radio, TV. In peninsular Spanish the article is usually dropped for cold media (por teléfono, por correo) but kept for warm media (por la tele, por la radio).
Hablamos por teléfono después de comer.
We'll talk on the phone after lunch.
Lo escuché por la radio esta mañana mientras desayunaba.
I heard it on the radio this morning while having breakfast.
Te mando los documentos por correo electrónico ahora mismo.
I'll send you the documents by email right now.
Lo vi por la tele en el telediario de las nueve.
I saw it on the telly on the nine o'clock news.
9. Duration (less common in peninsular)
Por + length of time is grammatical for duration but strongly dispreferred in peninsular Spanish, which uses durante instead — or simply drops the preposition. Por dos años sounds Latin American to a Spanish ear.
Viví en Sevilla durante tres años, no por tres años.
I lived in Seville for three years (peninsular preference for durante).
Estuvimos esperando dos horas y al final no apareció.
We were waiting for two hours and in the end he didn't show up. (peninsular default: no preposition at all)
Por unos minutos pensé que no iba a venir.
For a few minutes I thought he wasn't going to come (por here marks a delimited short stretch — this one is fine).
10. Rate / per
Por expresses a rate: events per unit of time, distance per unit of time, parts per whole.
Voy al gimnasio tres veces por semana.
I go to the gym three times a week.
Conducía a ciento veinte kilómetros por hora.
He was driving at a hundred and twenty kilometres an hour.
Cobra cuarenta euros por hora de clase particular.
She charges forty euros an hour for private lessons.
11. Future / pending intention: estar por + infinitivo
Estar por + infinitive marks something that is about to happen or pending — depending on context, either "on the verge of" or "yet to be done." This usage is treated more fully in PART 4 below.
El tren está por llegar al andén tres.
The train is about to arrive at platform three.
Esa carta lleva semanas por contestar en mi mesa.
That letter has been on my desk for weeks waiting to be answered.
Aún está por verse si lo eligen presidente.
It remains to be seen whether they'll elect him president.
12. Compound expressions: por + nominal + de
Por heads a small family of complex prepositions that act as causal connectors. They range from neutral to formal.
Llegamos tarde por culpa del tráfico.
We arrived late because of the traffic. (por culpa de — blame attribution, informal)
Nos enteramos por medio de un amigo común.
We found out through a mutual friend. (por medio de — neutral)
Se suspendió la sesión por razón del temporal.
The session was suspended on account of the storm. (por razón de — formal, administrative)
Lo hizo por mor de la paz familiar. (literary)
He did it for the sake of family peace. (por mor de — literary, archaic-leaning)
13. Fixed phrases
Por is the workhorse of Spanish fixed phrases. Memorise these — they appear constantly and resist composition.
| Phrase | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| por supuesto | of course | neutral |
| por ejemplo | for example | neutral |
| por fin | at last, finally | neutral |
| por cierto | by the way | neutral |
| por ahora | for now | neutral |
| por desgracia | unfortunately | neutral |
| por suerte | luckily | neutral |
| por casualidad | by chance | neutral |
| por lo visto | apparently | neutral |
| por lo menos | at least | neutral |
| por si acaso | just in case | informal |
| por las buenas / por las malas | the easy way / the hard way | informal |
Por fin llegaste — llevamos media hora esperándote, por cierto.
You're finally here — by the way, we've been waiting for you for half an hour.
Por suerte la tienda estaba abierta y, por casualidad, tenían justo mi talla.
Luckily the shop was open and, by chance, they had exactly my size.
PART 2 — All uses of para
1. Purpose + infinitive
The core para meaning: aim, goal, intended outcome. Para + infinitive = "in order to."
Estudio español para poder trabajar en Madrid el año que viene.
I'm studying Spanish so I can work in Madrid next year.
Necesito una herramienta especial para abrir esta caja.
I need a special tool to open this box.
Madrugué para no perder el AVE de las siete.
I got up early so as not to miss the seven o'clock AVE.
2. Purpose + clause: para que + subjuntivo
When the subject of the purpose-clause differs from the main subject, you can't use the infinitive — you switch to para que + subjunctive. The subjunctive is non-negotiable: the action in the para que-clause is not yet a fact, it's an intended outcome.
Te lo digo para que lo sepas, no para que te enfades.
I'm telling you so you know, not so you'll get upset.
Apaga la luz para que los niños puedan dormir.
Turn off the light so the kids can sleep.
Te he dejado las llaves en la mesa para que las cojas al salir.
I've left the keys on the table so you can grab them on your way out.
3. Recipient
Para marks who or what will receive something. This is one of the cleanest para uses and the answer to who is it for?
Este regalo es para ti, ábrelo ya.
This present is for you, open it now.
He hecho una tortilla para los niños.
I've made a Spanish omelette for the kids.
La carta era para mi hermana, no para mí.
The letter was for my sister, not for me.
4. Destination of motion
Para + place marks where motion is heading. Less common in spoken peninsular Spanish than a (which can also mark destination), but para foregrounds the intention to reach somewhere; hacia foregrounds approximate direction.
Salgo para Madrid mañana a primera hora.
I'm leaving for Madrid first thing tomorrow.
El tren para Valencia sale del andén ocho.
The Valencia train leaves from platform eight.
Va para casa de sus padres a pasar el fin de semana.
He's heading to his parents' place to spend the weekend.
5. Deadline
Para + future time = the point by which something must be done. The English equivalent is by (not for).
Necesito el informe para el lunes a más tardar.
I need the report by Monday at the latest.
¿Lo tienes listo para esta tarde?
Will you have it ready by this afternoon?
Para Navidad ya habremos terminado las obras.
By Christmas the renovations will be done.
6. Opinion / point of view
Para + person introduces a personal viewpoint. The English equivalent is for or to (as in for me, it seems / to me, it seems).
Para mí, eso es absurdo, pero entiendo que tú lo veas distinto.
To me, that's absurd, but I understand you see it differently.
Para una primera novela está bastante bien escrita.
For a first novel it's pretty well written.
Para los expertos, el cuadro es una falsificación.
According to the experts, the painting is a forgery.
7. Employment / affiliation
Trabajar para X = "work for X" (the company, the boss, the cause). The para foregrounds who benefits from your work.
Trabaja para Telefónica desde hace quince años.
She's worked for Telefónica for fifteen years.
No trabajo para nadie ahora; soy autónomo.
I don't work for anyone right now; I'm self-employed.
Lo hago para mi familia, no para mí mismo.
I do it for my family, not for myself.
8. Comparison of disproportion
Para ser X + clause = "considering that X" or "for being X." This use sets up a contrast: the comparison is against expectations given the X.
Para ser tan joven, sabe muchísimo de informática.
For being so young, she knows a huge amount about IT.
Para tratarse de su primer trabajo, lo ha hecho muy bien.
Given that it's his first job, he's done it very well.
Para ser barato, está bastante bueno.
For being cheap, it's actually pretty good.
9. Estar para + infinitivo: imminent action
Estar para + infinitive marks something on the verge of happening — slightly more imminent than estar por. Detailed contrast in PART 4.
El tren está para llegar — ya se oye.
The train is about to arrive — you can hear it already.
Esta lavadora está para tirarla a la basura.
This washing machine is about ready for the bin.
Hoy no estoy para bromas, déjame en paz.
I'm not in the mood for jokes today, leave me alone.
10. Fixed phrases
| Phrase | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| para siempre | forever | neutral |
| para nada | not at all | informal |
| no estar para bromas | not be in the mood | informal |
| no ser para tanto | not be that big a deal | neutral |
| para colmo | to top it all off | informal |
| para variar | for a change (often sarcastic) | informal |
| para que veas | just so you know / see? | informal |
No me ha gustado nada, para qué te voy a mentir — para nada.
I didn't like it at all, no point lying to you — not one bit.
Llegué tarde, perdí el bus y, para colmo, se puso a llover.
I was late, I missed the bus and, to top it all off, it started raining.
PART 3 — Tricky pairs
Eight minimal pairs where the choice of por or para flips the meaning. These are the ones where even intermediate learners hesitate.
| With por | With para |
|---|---|
| Lo hice por ti. I did it because of you (you're the cause / on your behalf). | Lo hice para ti. I made it for you (you'll receive it). |
| Voto por María. I'm voting for María (in her favour, as candidate). | Voto para que gane María. I'm voting so that María wins (purpose). |
| Estudio por mi padre. I study because of my father (he's why / he's making me). | Estudio para mi padre. I study for my father (so he benefits — odd without context). |
| Cocino por amor. I cook out of love. | Cocino para mis hijos. I cook for my children (they'll eat it). |
| Hablo por todos los presentes. I speak on behalf of everyone present. | Hablo para todos los presentes. I speak to everyone present (they're my audience). |
| Está por terminar. It's pending / it has yet to be finished. | Está para terminar. It's about to be finished (imminent). |
| Es bueno por su precio. It's good because of its price (the price is what makes it good). | Es bueno para su precio. It's good for its price (better than expected at that price point). |
| Salgo por leche. Slightly old-fashioned in Spain; today: voy a por leche = I'm going to fetch milk. | Salgo para casa. I'm leaving for home (destination). |
No es lo mismo trabajar por la empresa que trabajar para la empresa: el primero implica sacrificio, el segundo, contrato.
Working FOR the company (on its behalf, sacrificially) is not the same as working for the company (employed by it): the first implies sacrifice, the second, a contract.
Brindo por mi abuela, que cumple noventa, y este champán es para ella.
I'm toasting my grandmother, who's turning ninety, and this champagne is for her.
PART 4 — Estar por vs estar para
This is one of the most under-explained por/para contrasts. Both can be glossed as "about to," but they mark different shades of imminence and very different speaker stances. The peninsular split:
Estar por + infinitive
Three meanings, depending on subject and context:
- Inclined to / on the verge of (but undecided): with a personal subject, "I'm thinking of / I'm tempted to."
Estoy por llamarle ahora mismo y soltárselo todo.
I'm half-tempted to call him right now and let him have it.
Estábamos por irnos cuando llegó por fin.
We were on the point of leaving when he finally arrived.
- Pending / yet to be done: with a thing as subject, "X is still waiting to be done."
La cocina está por limpiar, no he tenido tiempo.
The kitchen still needs cleaning, I haven't had time.
Quedan dos capítulos por escribir.
There are two chapters left to write.
- It remains to be seen (impersonal): está por ver(se) si…
Aún está por ver si la reforma se aprueba este año.
It's still to be seen whether the reform will pass this year.
Estar para + infinitive
Two meanings:
- Imminent: more immediately about to happen than estar por. The action is at the door.
El bebé está para nacer, llama al hospital.
The baby is about to be born, call the hospital.
La paella está para servirla, sentaos ya.
The paella is ready to serve, sit down now.
- Fit / in the mood for (with negation, mostly): no estar para X.
Hoy no estoy para discusiones, otro día lo hablamos.
I'm not up for arguments today, we'll talk about it another day.
Este coche ya no está para hacer viajes largos.
This car isn't up to long trips anymore.
The contrast, side by side
| Form | Imminence | Speaker stance |
|---|---|---|
| El tren está por llegar. | Coming but not at the door — could be ten minutes | Reporting a pending event |
| El tren está para llegar. | About to pull in — within seconds or a minute | Witnessing arrival |
| La carta está por contestar. | Pending in the to-do pile | Acknowledging the task |
| La carta está para echarla al correo. | Ready to go, about to be sent | Action imminent |
Common Mistakes
❌ Lo necesito por mañana.
Means 'I need it because of tomorrow' — deadlines take para.
✅ Lo necesito para mañana.
I need it by tomorrow.
❌ Viví en Sevilla por tres años.
Grammatical but Latin American — peninsular Spanish uses durante or no preposition at all.
✅ Viví en Sevilla durante tres años. / Viví tres años en Sevilla.
I lived in Seville for three years.
❌ El tren está por llegar enseguida.
Contradiction — 'enseguida' (right away) forces imminent reading, which calls for 'para'.
✅ El tren está para llegar enseguida.
The train is about to arrive any second.
❌ Trabajo por Telefónica.
Means 'I work because of / on behalf of Telefónica' — employment takes para.
✅ Trabajo para Telefónica.
I work for Telefónica.
❌ Para la lluvia cancelaron el partido.
Wrong — cause takes por, not para. 'Para la lluvia' would mean 'for the rain' (e.g. an umbrella for the rain).
✅ Por la lluvia cancelaron el partido.
Because of the rain they cancelled the match.
Key takeaways
- Por has thirteen main uses, all unified by the backward-arrow metaphor: cause, path, exchange, agent, on-behalf-of, channel, rate, pending state.
- Para has ten main uses, unified by the forward-arrow metaphor: purpose, recipient, destination, deadline, opinion, employer, imminent state.
- Peninsular Spanish prefers durante over por for duration; the por-duration form sounds Latin American.
- Estar por (pending / inclined / yet to be done) and estar para (imminent / ready / fit) split the "about to" space along the same backward-vs-forward axis as the rest of the por/para system.
- For human pivots in fixed phrases, both prepositions head productive families: por culpa de, por medio de, por razón de on the por side; para colmo, para variar, para que veas on the para side.
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Start learning Spanish→Related Topics
- Por vs para: la guía esencialA2 — The classic Spanish preposition contrast: 'por' looks backward (cause, path, exchange, agent), 'para' looks forward (purpose, destination, deadline, recipient). With 20 minimal pairs to make the difference click.
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