If you’ve started learning Spanish, you’ve probably noticed that por and para show up everywhere.
At first, they seem almost interchangeable—but they’re not. Each one carries different meanings and helps you talk about essential ideas like cause, purpose, time, destination, movement, and even opinions.
What’s the tricky part? A few expressions are irregular and must just be learned as they are. But beyond these exceptions, Spanish has reliable structures that make it easier to pick the right form.
In this guide, you’ll get a clear explanation, real-life examples, and an easy summary to help you decide confidently between por and para.
1. POR : main uses
Por is generally used to express the cause of an action, an approximate time frame, a non-specific location or movement through a space, or the means by which an action is carried out.
a) Cause
Use por to indicate the cause or reason behind an action — in other words, why something happens.
– Lo han detenido por robar en una casa.
– Lo hago por ti.
b) Approximate time / Parts of the day
Por is also used to refer to an approximate time period or a general part of the day (morning, afternoon, evening).
– Viene por Semana Santa.
– Llegamos el sábado por la tarde.
c) Non-specific location / movement through an area
Use por when referring to a general location or when describing movement through, within, or around a place.
– Este autobús no pasa por Plaza Castilla.
– Me gusta pasear por el parque.
d) Means
Por can indicate the means, instrument, or channel through which an action is performed.
– A los famosos les gusta salir por la tele.
– Hemos entrado por la ventana.
2. PARA: main uses
In contrast, para expresses a clear goal, destination, recipient, or deadline. It is a preposition of purpose and direction, marking the endpoint — literal or figurative — of an action.
a) Purpose
Use para to talk about the purpose or aim of an action.
– Para ser un buen médico, se debe estudiar mucho.
– Vengo para comer contigo.
b) Recipient
Para is used to identify the recipient of an object or action.
– Este es un regalo para mi madre.
– La carta es para ti.
c) Destination
When movement has a defined direction or a final destination, use para.
– Este autobús va para Plaza Castilla.
– ¿Este tren va para Tarragona?
d) Deadline / Time limit
Use para to specify a deadline or time by which something must be completed.
– Quiero el informe para el miércoles.
– Para las cuatro debo tener los resultados.
e) Opinion
Para can also introduce someone’s personal point of view.
– Para mí, esto es absurdo.
3. Common expressions with POR and PARA
Some expressions don’t follow logical rules—they simply need to be memorized.
| With POR | With PARA |
| por favor por casualidad por supuesto por culpa de… por ejemplo | para empezar para terminar para nada para siempre |
4. Quick Guide: Por or para?
POR
✔ cause: por ti, por eso
✔ approximate time / parts of the day: por Navidad, por la noche
✔ non-specific location / movement through an area: por el parque
✔ means: por la tele
PARA
✔ purpose: para estudiar
✔ recipient: para mi madre
✔ destination: para Madrid
✔ deadline: para mañana
✔ opinion: para mí
5. Want to learn more?
Check out the full “Las preposiciones por y para” grammar sheet in the Sillabi B1 grammar resources, with more examples, special cases, and useful expressions.
6. Ready to level up your Spanish?
If you want to master grammar and start using por and para naturally, take a look at our course ¡Ojalá! : a simple, motivating, step-by-step programme designed to bring Spanish into your everyday life.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, try our placement test—your personalised starting point is just a few clicks away.