The Difference Between Por And Para - Practice Portuguese

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This difference between por and para in Portuguese is a topic that is tricky for English speakers. Although both of these words can translate to “for”, you have to choose the correct one depending on the context. As with the other prepositions, it’s best to think about how each word is used, rather than the translation, since this will vary quite a bit.

Para

ParaCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Preposition usually translates to for, to, in order to, or towards. To refer to a destination or result, you would always choose para instead of por. Nós vamos para casaWe go homeCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Eu vou para PortugalI go to PortugalCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio A salada é para ele, o peixe é para mimThe salad is for him, the fish is for meCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio A criança apontou para cimaThe child pointed upCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio

Por

PorCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Verb usually translates to for, by, via, per, or through. Eu espero por tiI wait for youCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio A caixa foi aberta por PandoraThe box was opened by PandoraCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Dividir o dinheiro por duas pessoasTo divide the money by (between) two peopleCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Ela vai por aíShe goes through thereCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Nós corremos duas vezes por semanaWe run twice per weekCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio

Contractions

In general, you won’t see “por o” or “por a” in a sentence. When por is combined with the articles o or a, it becomes: peloCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Preposition  and pelaCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Preposition, Contractions, Singular, Feminine Estou feliz pelo meu paiI am happy for my fatherCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Tu esperas pela tua mãeYou wait for your motherCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Obrigado pelo presenteThank you for the presentCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio Obrigada pelos presentesThank you for the gifts (female speaker)Community More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio This only applies to por, as para can be followed by a. Eu vou para a escolaI go to the schoolCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio

Por vs. Para

Here are a few sets of examples to help illustrate the differences in usage:

On Behalf Of vs. Recipient

  • Fazer ___ por ti means doing (something) on behalf of someone or in someone’s honour.
    • Vou fazer sopa por tiI'm going to make soup on your behalfCommunity Normal Audio – i.e. I am offering to cook in your place, so you don’t have to
  • Fazer ___ para ti generally means doing (something) for someone in the sense of offering them the result of your action, so to speak. For example,
    • Vou fazer sopa para tiI'm going to make soup for youCommunity Normal Audio – i.e. I’m making soup and giving it to you

Because Of vs. In Order To

Por points backward, telling us the reason for the action, while para points forward, telling us the purpose of the action.

  • Eu espero por tiI wait for youCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio – In this context, it’s almost like a more subtle/neutral way of saying I wait because of you / You are the reason I’m waiting. The cause of the action “wait” is “you”.
  • A máquina precisa de pilhas para funcionarThe machine needs batteries to workCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio – It needs batteries in order to function. The purpose of “needing batteries” is “to make the machine work”.

Journey/Process vs. Destination

It can sometimes help to think about para having the more “directional” meaning, pointing toward the “destination” ahead of you, either in time or space.  In contrast, por often describes the actual process of getting to that point.

  • A mulher passa pela portaThe woman passes through the doorCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio – Remember that pela comes from por + a. She gets somewhere via the door / by using the door.
  • Eu vou para PortugalI go to PortugalCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio – Para points to the final destination, which is Portugal.

…

  • A caixa foi aberta por PandoraThe box was opened by PandoraCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio – Describes how the box was opened, i.e. the process by which this action occurred
  • A salada é para ele, o peixe é para mimThe salad is for him, the fish is for meCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio – The salad will be given to him and the fish will go to me. Para points to the “final destinations” of the fish and the salad.

Time Period vs. Time Until

Both are used in the context of time, but por indicates a period of time, while para is used to talk about how much time until something happens or just pointing at a set time. São dez para as dez da manhãIt's ten to 10 a.m.Community More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio – i.e. it’s 9:50 a.m. (10 minutes until 10a.m.) Nós corremos duas vezes por semanaWe run twice per weekCommunity More Actions Slow Audio Slow audio Normal Audio Play audio – Twice within the time period of 1 week

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