Language: Por/Para

In Spanish, there are two words to express the word "for". Spanish students affectionately know this phrase as the difference between "por" and "para".

Por and Para have two separate meanings:

POR

1. through time and space:

caminé por la calle- I walked through the street.

Caminé por 2 horas- I walked for two hours

2. Expressing the cause of an action

Me Caí por la nieve- I fell because of the snow

3. Supporting

Soy por Obama- I am for Obama

4. means of transportation

Fui a Alicante por avión- I went to Alicante by plane

5. Set expressions. 

por ejemplo, por supuesto, por que...

PARA

1. "In order to"

Estoy aqui para ver mi hermana- I'm here to see my sister

2. With a noun, for the benefit of the noun.

Este es para ti- this is for you

3. To, or in the direction of, when talking about a specific place.

Me voy para Barcelona este fin de semana- I'm going to Barcelona this weekend