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

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

Gracias María! =]

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