Porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. vs parafor, toA Spanish preposition.: when to use which

Two tiny words, endless confusion. Porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. vs parafor, toA Spanish preposition. is one of those topics every Spanish learner bumps into again and again, because English translates both of them as "for" most of the time. "Thanks for the tea." "This tea is for you." Same English word, two different Spanish words.

I learned Spanish at Instituto Cervantes in New Delhi and later worked as a translator, and porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. and parafor, toA Spanish preposition. come up at every single level. The good news? There's a simple picture behind them, and Hindi speakers have a head start.

In this post I'll give you the arrow trick, every main use of parafor, toPoints towards a goal. and porfor, by, throughPoints back to a cause or through a path., a Hindi comparison, the fixed expressions you can learn as chunks, a table to save and a quiz at the end. ¡Vamos!Let's go!Used to cheer someone on or get moving.

Porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. vs parafor, toA Spanish preposition.: the arrow trick

Picture two arrows.

Parafor, toPoints forward. points forward, towards a goal. Porfor, by, throughPoints back or through. points back to a reason, or through a path.

Parafor, toPoints forward. looks ahead: where are you going, who is it for, what's the purpose, when is it due? It's about the destination.

Porfor, by, throughPoints back or through. looks back or moves through: why did it happen, how did you get there, which way did you go, how long did it take? It's about the cause and the route.

Look at this pair:

• Estudio español para trabajar en Madrid.I study Spanish to work in Madrid.The goal ahead, so para. The goal is in front of you.
• Estudio español por mi trabajo.I study Spanish because of my job.The reason behind it, so por. The job is the reason that pushed you.

The Hindi trick: के लिए vs की वजह से

This comparison won't solve every case, but it helps a lot at the start.

• Parafor, toPurpose and goal. is often like के लिए (for the purpose of) or को (towards). "यह तोहफ़ा तुम्हारे लिए है" becomes Este regalo es para ti.This gift is for you.The person who receives it, so para.
• Porfor, by, throughCause and route. is often like की वजह से (because of) or से होकर (through). "बारिश की वजह से हम घर पर रहे" becomes Nos quedamos en casa por la lluvia.We stayed home because of the rain.The cause, so por.

So when you see an English "for", ask yourself: is it के लिए (aim, goal, recipient) or की वजह से (reason, cause)? That one question sorts out a big share of sentences.

When to use parafor, toPoints forward to a goal.

1. Purpose: "in order to"

Parain order toBefore a verb, it shows purpose. plus a verb in the infinitive tells you the aim.

• Ahorro para viajar.I save (money) to travel.The aim of saving.
• Necesito gafas para leer.I need glasses to read.The purpose of the glasses.

2. Destination

Where something or someone is headed.

• Salgo para Barcelona mañana.I leave for Barcelona tomorrow.The destination.
• Este tren va para Sevilla.This train is going to Seville.Where it's headed.

(For everyday "I'm going to", Spanish usually says voy aI'm going toThe most common way to say where you're going.: Voy a Madrid.I'm going to Madrid.The everyday way. Parafor, toPoints forward. adds a sense of "heading towards".)

3. Recipient: who it's for

• Este café es para ti.This coffee is for you.You receive it.
• Hice la cena para mis padres.I made dinner for my parents.They receive the dinner.

4. Deadline

When something is due.

• Necesito el informe para el lunes.I need the report by Monday.A deadline.
• La tarea es para mañana.The homework is for tomorrow.Due tomorrow.

5. Opinion: "for me", "in my view"

• Para mí, el español es precioso.For me, Spanish is beautiful.An opinion.
• Para ella, esto es fácil.For her, this is easy.Her point of view.

6. Comparison with what's expected

• Para ser principiante, hablas muy bien.For a beginner, you speak very well.Compared with what you'd expect.
• Hace frío para octubre.It's cold for October.Compared with a normal October.

7. Employer: who you work for

• Trabajo para una empresa internacional.I work for an international company.The company you work for.

When to use porfor, by, throughPoints back to a cause or through a path.

1. Cause or reason: "because of"

• Llegué tarde por el tráfico.I arrived late because of the traffic.The cause.
• Gracias por tu ayuda.Thanks for your help.The reason you're thankful.

That's why it's always gracias porthanks forGratitude looks back at what someone did., never "gracias para". You're thanking someone because of something they did.

2. Through, along, around

Movement through a place, or a rough location.

• Paseamos por el parque.We walked through the park.Movement through a place.
• Hay un buen restaurante por aquí.There's a good restaurant around here.A rough location.

3. Means of communication or transport

• Te escribo por WhatsApp.I'll write to you on WhatsApp.The means.
• Hablamos por teléfono.We talked on the phone.The means.
• Envíalo por correo.Send it by email.The means.

4. Duration

How long something lasted.

• Estudié por dos horas.I studied for two hours.A length of time.

In Spain you'll often hear the duration without any preposition at all (Estudié dos horas.I studied for two hours.The common way in Spain.) or with duranteduring, forAnother way to show duration.. Both are perfectly fine, so don't stress about this one.

5. Parts of the day

• Trabajo por la mañana.I work in the morning.Por with parts of the day.
• Estudio por la noche.I study at night.Por with parts of the day.

6. Exchange: swapping one thing for another

• Te cambio mi bolígrafo por tu lápiz.I'll swap my pen for your pencil.An exchange.

7. "Per" and rates

• Tengo clase dos veces por semana.I have class twice a week.Per week.
• Cien kilómetros por hora.A hundred kilometres per hour.Per hour.

8. "By" in the passive: who did it

• Don Quijote fue escrito por Miguel de Cervantes.Don Quixote was written by Miguel de Cervantes.The person who did the action.

9. On behalf of, for the sake of

• Lo hago por ti.I'm doing it for you (for your sake).For your sake, out of love or duty.
• Hablo por todo el equipo.I'm speaking on behalf of the whole team.On behalf of.

Pairs that change meaning

This is where porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. and parafor, toA Spanish preposition. get interesting. The same sentence can mean two different things depending on which one you choose.

• Lo hice para ti.I made it for you.It's a gift; you receive it. vs Lo hice por ti.I did it for you.For your sake; you're the reason.
• Trabajo para mi padre.I work for my father.He's my boss. vs Trabajo por mi padre.I work for my father's sake, or in his place.He's the reason, or I'm covering for him.
• Caminamos para el río.We walked towards the river.The destination. vs Caminamos por el río.We walked along the river.The route.

Each time, ask: am I looking ahead to a goal, or back to a reason and a route? Arrow forward, parafor, toPoints forward.. Arrow back or through, porfor, by, throughPoints back or through..

¿Por qué?Why?Asks for the reason. vs ¿para qué?What for?Asks for the purpose.

The arrows even work in questions. Spanish has two ways to ask "why", and they follow the same logic.

• ¿Por qué estudias español?Why do you study Spanish?Asks for the reason behind it. asks for the cause. A typical answer: Porque me encanta.Because I love it.A reason.
• ¿Para qué estudias español?What do you study Spanish for?Asks for the goal ahead. asks for the purpose. A typical answer: Para trabajar en España.To work in Spain.A goal.

In Hindi, the first is closer to "क्यों" and the second to "किसलिए". Notice one more small thing: the question ¿por qué?why?Two words, with an accent. is two words with an accent, while the answer porquebecauseOne word, no accent. is one word with no accent. That spelling difference trips up a lot of learners in writing, so it's worth remembering now.

Fixed expressions with porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. and parafor, toA Spanish preposition.

Some expressions don't need any rule. Learn them as chunks, and you'll use them every day.

• por favorpleaseThe polite word you'll use most.
• por finfinally, at lastSaid with relief.
• por ejemplofor exampleUsed exactly like in English.
• por supuestoof courseA strong yes.
• por esothat's whyLinks a reason to a result.
• por ciertoby the wayTo change topic.
• por si acasojust in caseFor a precaution.
• para siempreforeverPointing far into the future.
• para nadanot at allA casual, strong no.

Porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. vs parafor, toA Spanish preposition.: the table to save

Common mistakes with porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. and parafor, toA Spanish preposition.

"Gracias parathanks for (wrong)Gratitude needs por."

The most common slip of all. Thanks always looks back at what someone did, so it's Gracias por la comida.Thanks for the food.Always gracias por.

Using porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. for purpose

"Estudio por aprenderI study for learning (wrong)Purpose needs para." sounds logical, but purpose with a verb is always parain order toShows purpose.: Estudio para aprender.I study to learn.Purpose, so para.

Using parafor, toA Spanish preposition. for "because of"

"No fui para la lluviaI didn't go for the rain (wrong)Cause needs por." should be No fui por la lluvia.I didn't go because of the rain.The cause, so por.

Translating "for" every single time

English "for" doesn't always need a Spanish preposition at all. "I'm looking for my keys" is Busco mis llaves.I'm looking for my keys.Buscar already includes "for". The verb buscarto look forNo preposition needed. already means "to look for". The same goes for esperarto wait forNo preposition needed. and pedirto ask forNo preposition needed..

A quick summary to save

• Parafor, toPoints forward. points forward: purpose, destination, recipient, deadline, opinion, comparison, employer.
• Porfor, by, throughPoints back or through. points back or through: cause, gratitude, path, means, duration, parts of the day, exchange, "per", passive "by", "for the sake of".
• Hindi helps: के लिए often means paraforPurpose., की वजह से and से होकर often mean porfor, because of, throughCause and route..
• Learn the fixed expressions as chunks: por favorpleaseThe everyday polite word., por finfinallyAt last., para siempreforeverInto the future..

Test yourself: porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. vs parafor, toA Spanish preposition. quiz

Five quick questions. Think "arrow forward or arrow back?"

Keep going

Porfor, by, throughA Spanish preposition. and parafor, toA Spanish preposition. get easier every time you notice them in real Spanish. Next time you read a menu, a song or a message, look out for them and ask yourself which arrow they are. If you're working on your past tenses too, my guide to preterite vs imperfect is a great companion, and common Spanish mistakes Indian learners make covers a few more slips to watch for.

Want to practise with real conversations and quick corrections? Join one of my live A2 batches on Google Meet. With up to 5 students, there's plenty of time for your questions. And if you need something translated between Spanish and English, have a look at my translation services. ¡Venga!Come on!A friendly push to get going.