What is the difference in the Spanish words por and para?

Answer 1

Por and Para are both Spanish words that mean "for". There are rules though as to which one you should use when:

Por:

Expressing movement along, through, around, by or about:

Pasé por el bosque (I walked through the forest).

Denoting a time or duration when something occurs.

Voy a méxico por tres semanas. (I'm going to Mexico for three weeks).

Expressing the cause (not the purpose) of an action:

Me caí por la nieve. (I fell down because of the snow).

Meaning per:

Cuarenta por ciento. (Forty percent).

Meaning supporting or in favor of:

Trabajamos por derechos humanos. (We work for human rights).

Introducing the agent of an action after a passive verb:

Fue escrito por Bob Woodward. (It was written by Bob Woodward).

Indicating means of transportation:

Viajaré por avión. (I will travel by plane).

Used in numerous expressions:

Por ejemplo. (For example). Por favor. (Please).

Para:Meaning for the purpose of or in order to:

Para bailar la bamba, necesita una poca de gracia. (In order to dance the bamba you need a little grace.)

With a noun or pronoun as object, meaning for the benefit of or directed to:

Es para usted. (It's for you.)

Meaning to or in the direction of when referring to a specific place:

Voy para Europa. (I'm heading to Europe.)

Meaning by or for when referring to a specific time:

Necesito el regalo para mañana. (I need the gift for tomorrow.)

Vamos a la casa de mi madre para el fin de semana. (We're going to my mother's for the weekend.)