What's the difference between "para" and "por" in Spanish?
What's the difference between "para" and "por" in Spanish? Someone told me "por" is used when there is a purpose. Or have I remembered this incorrectly? Any help is appreciate! Thanks, Finn

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Hi Finn!

The meaning of "para" varies depending on the context. It generally means the objective of doing an action or the direction of a moving object.

For example:

- "Voy para la escuela": It denotes a direction.
- "Esta ropa es para lavar": In this case, the objective is to wash the clothes, so you use the word "para".
- "¿Para qué sirve un reloj?: You are asking for the use of a clock, i.e. its objective.

Sometimes "por" can be translated to "by" when talking about locations. So "El carro está por la casa" is "The car is by the house".

It is a short explanation, as the use of prepositions is broad in Spanish as in English.
 
For further explanation, please visit: http://lema.rae.es/drae/?val=para and http://lema.rae.es/drae/?val=por

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"PARA" is like the "to" in the English language, and "POR" is as "for", in the English language.
I hope you understand me. Saludos.

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Gracias María! =]

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Look at this :) http://www.spanish.cl/Grammar/Notes/Por_vs_Para.htm