Recursio
Spanish from zero with Recursio Lesson 86 of 100 · Module 18

Lesson 86. For you, around the park: por and para

Step 1 · New words

9 words in this lesson

Tap 🔊 and repeat out loud. These words come back in the dialogue and the exercises below.

por
through, around; for (thanks)
para
for (someone); in order to
para mí / para ti
for me / for you
gracias por
thanks for
la propina
tip
el cambio
change (money)
el favor
favour
pasar por
to stop by
el regalo de cumpleaños
birthday present
Step 2 · Grammar

common uses of por and para

Para

  • who it’s for: Este regalo es para ti. Un café para mí.
  • purpose — para + infinitive: Estudio español para trabajar en España. English uses to here: “to work”.

After para you say mí and ti: para mí, para ti, but para él, para ella.

Por

  • through, around a place: Paseamos por el parque. Pasamos por tu bar.
  • what you’re thanking for: Gracias por la ayuda.
  • parts of the day (lesson 24): por la mañana, por la tarde.

Keep por favor (lesson 1) as a fixed phrase for a polite request.

No “universal rule”

Por and para have other uses as well, and both can match English for. For now, remember these: para — who for and what for; por — through which place and thanks for what.

Words

La propina — a tip. In Spain tips are usually small and optional; people often leave the change. El cambio here means “change”.

Este regalo es para ti. — This present is for you.

Gracias por la ayuda. — Thanks for the help.

Paseamos por el parque. — We walk around the park.

Estudio español para trabajar en España. — I'm learning Spanish to work in Spain.

Paso por tu casa a las seis. — I'll stop by your place at six.

Step 3 · Dialogue

Dialogue

Listen to each line and repeat it. Try to understand it before you look at the translation.

Javier Nora, este café es para ti. Nora, this coffee is for you.

Nora ¡Gracias por el café! Hoy tengo poco tiempo. Thanks for the coffee! I haven't got much time today.

Javier ¿Por qué? Why?

Nora Tengo que comprar un regalo de cumpleaños para mi madre. I have to buy a birthday present for my mum.

Javier ¿Vamos juntos? Podemos pasear por el centro. Shall we go together? We can walk around the centre.

Nora ¡Genial! Así me haces un favor: no conozco bien las tiendas. Great! You'd be doing me a favour: I don't know the shops well.

Javier Pago, dejo el cambio de propina y vamos. I'll pay, leave the change as a tip, and off we go.

Nora ¡Gracias por todo! Luego pasamos por tu bar y te invito yo. Thanks for everything! Later we'll stop by your bar and it's my treat.

Step 4 · Exercises

Check yourself

Listen. What did you hear?

1. How do you say “This present is for you”?

2. How do you say “Thanks for the help”?

3. How do you say “We walk around the park”?

4. How do you say “I'm learning Spanish to work in Spain”?

Match each word with its translation

Build the sentence: “This present is for you”

Build the sentence: “Thanks for the help”

Lesson summary

What you can do now

  • Say who it's for: Este regalo es para ti.
  • Thank someone for something: Gracias por la ayuda.
  • Say where you walk: Paseamos por el parque.
  • Say why: Estudio español para trabajar en España.

Key phrases of the lesson:

Este regalo es para ti.

Gracias por la ayuda.

Paseamos por el parque.

The course is the first step. Next comes the Recursio app: short daily practice with spaced review.