# When to use “por” vs “para"
It can be hard to know which to use! Here’s an easy way to tell them apart.
The Spanish words _por_ and _para_ can both mean “for,” so choosing between them can be tricky if you’re learning Spanish! Luckily, they’re used in different phrases and contexts. Let’s take a look at some tips and tricks so the next time you have to choose between _por_ and _para_, you will know exactly which one to use!
## When to use _por_ in Spanish
_Por_ is a preposition that is used in specific situations. An easy way to remember when you need to use _por_ is by remembering the acronym **DREAM:** Each letter in **DREAM** provides a simple rule for when you’ll use _por!_
| | Situation | Example (from song lyrics!) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **D** | **Duration**
Use _por_ when you want to talk about how long something lasts or takes (duration). | 🎶 _Te amaría **por** mil años más_ 🎶
I’d love you for a thousand years more
_“Amarte por mil años más” de Yadi Fernández_ |
| **R** | **Reason (because of)**
Use _por_ when you want to express a reason for doing something | 🎶 _Y es **por** tí, que late mi corazón_ 🎶
And it’s because of you, that my heart beats
_“Es por tí” de Juanes_ (Read about his [journey learning English](https://blog.duolingo.com/how-juanes-learned-english/)!) |
| **E** | **Exchange**
Use _por_ when you want to talk about an exchange or a substitution | 🎶 _Quisiera cambiar mi corazón **por** otro que no te esté amando_ 🎶
I would like to exchange my heart for another one that isn’t loving you.
_“Cambio mi corazón” de Grupo 5_ |
| **A** | **Action**
Here, _por_ refers to where an action takes place | 🎶 _Ayer la vi, bailando **por** ahí con sus amigas en una calle de Madrid_ 🎶
Yesterday I saw her, dancing around with her friends on a street in Madrid.
_“Bailando por ahí” de Juan Magán_ |
| **M** | **Means**
Use _por_ when you want to talk about means of transportation or communication | 🎶 _Si me llaman **por** teléfono, no estoy_ 🎶
If someone calls me on the phone, I am not here.
_“Si me llaman por teléfono, no estoy” de Gustavo Santaolalla_ |
You will also notice that you need to use _por_ for very important expressions:
| Expression with _POR_ | Translation |
| --- | --- |
| _por favor_ | please |
| _por eso_ | therefore / because of this |
| _por supuesto_ | of course |
| _por ejemplo_ | for example |
| _por lo general_ | in general |
| _por la mañana (por la tarde, por la noche)_ | in the morning (in the afternoon, in the evening) |
| _gracias por_… | thank you for… |
## When to use _para_ in Spanish
Just like with _por,_ Spanish speakers use _para_ in distinct contexts. An easy way to remember when you should use _para_ is by remembering the acronym **PERFECT:** Each letter stands for one of the situations in which you’ll use _para!_
| | Situation | Example (from song lyrics!) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **P** | **Purpose (in order to)**
Use _para_ when you want to express purpose | 🎶 _Yo solo quiero pegar en la radio, **para** ganar mi primer millón_ 🎶
I just want to be a hit on the radio, in order to earn my first million
_“Mi primer millón” de Bacilos_ |
| **E** | **Effect**
Use _para_ when you want to express a goal or the effect something has on something else | 🎶 _Yo romperé tus fotos, yo quemaré tus cartas, **para** no verte más_ 🎶
I will rip all your photos, I will burn all your letters to never see you again
_“Para no verte más” de La Mosca Ts Ts_ |
| **R** | **Recipient**
Use _para_ when you want to talk about the recipient of something or an action | 🎶 _Mil rosas **para** mí_ 🎶
A thousand roses for me
_“Rosas” de La oreja de Van Gogh_ |
| **F** | **Future dates**
Use _para_ when you want to talk about deadlines, or moments in time in the future | 🎶 _¿Qué dejaremos **para** mañana?_ 🎶
What will we leave for tomorrow?
_“Para mañana” de Amanda Miguel_ |
| **E** | **Employment**
Use _para_ when you want to talk about the organization or person you work for | 🎶 _Ella trabaja **para** mí_ 🎶
She works for me.
_“Ella trabaja para mí” de Polanski y el Ardor_ |
| **C** | **Conclusion**
Use _para_ when you want to express a conclusion you have made about something or someone or to share your opinions | 🎶 _**Para** mí, tú eres un cobarde_ 🎶
For me, you are a coward.
_“Cobarde” de Yahaira Plasencia_ |
| **T** | **Toward (a specific destination)**
Use _para_ when you want to talk about going to a specific place | 🎶 _Vamos **para** la playa, para curarte el alma_ 🎶
Let’s go towards the beach in order to heal your soul
_“Calma (Remix)” de Pedro Capó & Farruko_
Bonus! Did you catch the extra use of **para** in this lyric? |
## _Por_ or _para?_ Let’s try a few examples!
Keep in mind the DREAM uses for _por_ and the PERFECT uses for _para._ You’ll find the answer key at the end of the post.
**Challenge 1**
Take a look at the following sentences using _por_ and _para._ Translate the sentence and use DREAM and PERFECT to decide why _por_ or _para_ was used.
Let’s do one together:
| | Translation | Reason |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ella trabajó **por** 5 años. | She worked for 5 years. | **D (Duration):** We use _por_ when talking about how long something lasted (duration). |
Now it’s your turn!
| | Translation | Reason |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1\. Vamos **para** Miami. | | |
| 2\. Mateo y Breanna caminan **por** el parque. | | |
| 3\. La tarea es **para** el próximo viernes. | | |
| 4\. Yo trabajo **para** Duolingo. | | |
| 5\. Mark quiere cambiar los zapatos **por** los pantalones. | | |
## Challenge 2
Take a look at the following sentences and choose between _por_ and _para._ Translate the sentence and use DREAM and PERFECT to decide between _por_ and _para._
| | Translation | Reason |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1\. Yo estudio **(por / para)** dos horas. | | |
| 2\. Por favor compra una pizza **(por / para)** Toby. | | |
| 3\. Nosotros queremos ir a NY **(por / para)** visitar la Estatua de Libertad. | | |
| 4\. Cole y Chris fueron a Suiza **(por / para)** avión. | | |
| 5\. **(Por / Para)** Beverly, Vermont es muy bonito durante el otoño. | | |
And for extra practice on the go, check out our [Spanish playlist on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0QReNKddCNAoLBgVKr9CHL?si=2c2a299d2a1b426c&ref=blog.duolingo.com), which includes all the _por_ and _para_ songs from the DREAM and PERFECT examples! Music is a great way to [practice the language you’re learning](https://blog.duolingo.com/how-music-can-help-you-learn-a-language/) and hear how Spanish speakers use these words.
## You’ll be able to rest easy with this _perfect dream!_
When you’re learning Spanish, _por_ and _para_ are certainly among the most challenging differences you’ll study! But the more you practice and use them, the easier it will get for you to know which one you should use in different situations. Look out for more examples in your next Duolingo lessons of how Spanish speakers use them, and remember to think of DREAM and PERFECT to pick _por_ or _para._
**Check here for the answers to the challenges!**
**Challenge 1**
| | Translation | Reason |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1\. Vamos **para** Miami. | Let’s go towards (to) Miami. | **T (Toward):** We use _para_ when you want to talk about going to a specific place. |
| 2\. Mateo y Breanna caminan **por** el parque. | Mateo and Breanna walk around the park. | **A (Action):** Here, _por_ refers to where an action takes place. |
| 3\. La tarea es **para** el próximo viernes. | The homework is for next Friday. | **F (Future dates):** Use _para_ when you want to talk about deadlines, or moments in time in the future. |
| 4\. Yo trabajo **para** Duolingo. | I work for Duolingo. | **E (Employment):** We use _para_ when you want to talk about the organization or person you work for. |
| 5\. Mark quiere cambiar los zapatos **por** los pantalones. | Mark wants to exchange the shoes for the pants. | **E (Exchange):** Use _por_ when you want to talk about an exchange or a substitution. |
**Challenge 2**
| | Translation | Reason |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1\. Yo estudio **por** dos horas. | I study for two hours. | **D (Duration):** We use _por_ when you want to talk about how long something lasted. |
| 2\. Por favor compra una pizza **para** Toby. | Please buy a pizza for Toby. | **R (Recipient):** _Para_ is used when you want to talk about the recipient of something or an action. |
| 3\. Nosotros queremos ir a NY **para** visitar la Estatua de Libertad. | We want to go to NY (in order) to visit the Statue of Liberty. | **P (Purpose (in order to):** Here, _para_ expresses purpose. |
| 4\. Cole y Chris fueron a Suiza **por** avión. | Cole and Chris went to Switzerland by plane. | **M (Means):** _Por_ is used to talk about means of transportation or communication. |
| 5\. **Para** Beverly, Vermont es muy bonito durante el otoño. | For Beverly, Vermont is very beautiful during the fall. | **C (Conclusion):** Use _para_ to express a conclusion you have made about something or someone or to share your opinions.