por
/por/
The person is using an umbrella 'por la lluvia' (because of the rain). 'Por' explains the reason or cause for an action.
por (Preposition)
📝 In Action
Gracias por el regalo.
A1Thank you for the gift.
No salimos por el frío.
A2We didn't go out because of the cold.
Lo hice por ti.
A2I did it for you (on your behalf/because of you).
💡 Grammar Points
Explaining 'Why'
Use 'por' to answer the question '¿Por qué?' (Why?). It points back to the reason or motivation behind an action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'Para'
Mistake: "When thanking someone, learners sometimes say: 'Gracias para tu ayuda.'"
Correction: The correct way is: 'Gracias por tu ayuda.' Think of it as giving thanks *because of* the help you received. The reason for the thanks is the help, so you use 'por'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Look Backward
A helpful trick is to think of 'por' as looking backward at the cause of something. 'I am happy por this gift' (the gift is the past reason for my current happiness).
The person is walking 'por el parque' (through the park). 'Por' shows movement in or around an area without a specific final destination.
por (Preposition)
📝 In Action
Paseamos por la playa.
A1We walk along the beach.
El gato entró por la ventana.
A2The cat came in through the window.
¿Hay una farmacia por aquí?
A2Is there a pharmacy around here?
💡 Grammar Points
Movement in an Area
Use 'por' to talk about moving through, along, or around a place. It focuses on the journey or the general area, not the endpoint.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'En' for Movement
Mistake: "A common mix-up is saying: 'Camino en el parque.'"
Correction: The correct phrase is: 'Camino por el parque.' Saying 'en el parque' means you are located *inside* the park (maybe sitting on a bench), while 'por el parque' describes the action of moving *through* it.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Through' or 'Around'
If you can replace the word in your English sentence with 'through' or 'around', 'por' is very often the right choice in Spanish.
She studied 'por dos horas' (for two hours). 'Por' is used to talk about how long an action takes.
por (Preposition)
📝 In Action
Trabajo por la mañana.
A1I work in the morning.
Viví en España por dos años.
A2I lived in Spain for two years.
Vamos de vacaciones por una semana.
A2We're going on vacation for a week.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking About Duration
When you want to say how long something lasts, use 'por' followed by the period of time.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Para' for Duration
Mistake: "It's easy to mix up 'por' and 'para' here: 'Estudié para dos horas.'"
Correction: Always use 'por' for duration: 'Estudié por dos horas.' 'Para' is used for deadlines (e.g., 'Necesito el informe para el viernes' - I need the report *by* Friday).
⭐ Usage Tips
General Times of Day
'Por' is perfect for talking about general parts of the day, like 'por la tarde' (in the afternoon). It's less specific than saying 'a las tres de la tarde' (at 3 in the afternoon).
He paid ten euros 'por el libro' (for the book). 'Por' is used when one thing is traded or substituted for another.
por (Preposition)
📝 In Action
Pagué cinco euros por el café.
A2I paid five euros for the coffee.
Te cambio mi sándwich por tu ensalada.
B1I'll trade you my sandwich for your salad.
El coche va a cien kilómetros por hora.
B1The car is going 100 kilometers per hour.
💡 Grammar Points
Showing an Exchange
Use 'por' to show that a trade is happening. This can be money for goods, one item for another, or even one person's work for another's.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Para' for Purchases
Mistake: "A frequent error in stores is: 'Quiero pagar para esta camisa.'"
Correction: The correct phrase is: 'Quiero pagar por esta camisa.' You are giving money *in exchange for* the shirt, which is a classic use of 'por'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'In Exchange For'
If you can say 'in exchange for' or 'in place of' in your English sentence, you will almost always use 'por' in Spanish.
She sent the message 'por correo electrónico' (by email). 'Por' explains the method or way something is done.
por (Preposition)
📝 In Action
Hablamos por teléfono todas las noches.
A2We talk on the phone every night.
Te enviaré los documentos por correo.
B1I will send you the documents by mail.
La película fue dirigida por un director famoso.
B2The movie was directed by a famous director.
💡 Grammar Points
Passive Voice
'Por' is used to say who performed the action in a passive sentence. For example, 'El libro fue escrito por ella' (The book was written by her).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'En' for Communication
Mistake: "Learners might say: 'Hablamos en teléfono.'"
Correction: The correct way is: 'Hablamos por teléfono.' Think of the phone as the channel *through which* your voice is traveling.
⭐ Usage Tips
Channel or Agent
Think of 'por' as describing the channel (by phone, by mail) or the agent (by him, by the company) through which an action is completed.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: por
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'por' to explain the REASON for an action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the biggest difference between 'por' and 'para'?
The simplest way to think about it is that 'por' often looks backward at the cause or reason for something (I'm tired *because of* the work: 'estoy cansado por el trabajo'). 'Para' often looks forward to the purpose or goal of something (I'm studying *in order to* travel: 'estudio para viajar'). This is a general guide, but it's a great starting point!
Why do people say 'por favor'? What does that literally mean?
Literally, 'por favor' means 'by favor' or 'as a favor'. You are asking someone to do something 'por un favor' (as a favor to you). It's the standard way to say 'please' in Spanish.
Is 'por' ever used at the end of a question, like '¿Para qué?'?
Yes, absolutely! The question '¿Por qué?' means 'Why?'. The 'por' is at the beginning. You can also ask about the price of something and end with 'por': '¿Cuánto pagaste por?' (How much did you pay for it?), though it's more common to name the item: '¿Cuánto pagaste por el libro?'