A2 Por vs Para — two ways to say “for”
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Both por and para often become “for” in English, but Spanish uses them differently. A simple mental model: para points to a goal/destination; por points to a cause/means.
Para — purpose, destination, deadline
| Es para ti. | It’s for you. |
| Estudio para aprender. | I study (in order) to learn. |
| Salimos para Madrid. | We’re leaving for Madrid. |
Por — cause, exchange, movement through
| Gracias por tu ayuda. | Thanks for your help. |
| Pagué diez euros por el libro. | I paid ten euros for the book. |
| Caminamos por el parque. | We walked through the park. |
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