Skip to main content
All Portuguese (Brazilian) study resources

Study Resource: Summary of the uses of ‘por’ and ‘para’

By: Fabiana Dametto Oliveira

The following charts summarize the different uses and translations of por and para in Brazilian Portuguese.

por

reason / cause

because; because of

Nós saímos mais cedo por receio de perder o ônibus.
Translation: We left earlier because of the fear of missing the bus.

way / route

through; via; along; by

Caminhamos por muitas ruas antes de chegar à sua casa.
Translation: We walked through many streets before reaching your house.
Vamos caminhar pela praia?
Translation: Let’s walk along the beach?

duration of time

for; during

Caminhamos por uma hora.
Translation: We walked for one hour.

approximate time

by; around

Vamos nos encontrar pelas dez horas?
Translation: Let’s meet around ten o’clock?

frequency and speed

per; by

Estudo português dois dias por semana.
Translation: I study Portuguese two days per week.
O limite de velocidade aqui é de 80 quilômetros por hora.
Translation: The speed limit here is 80 kilometers per hour.

dimension, rates, and multiplication

for; by; per; “times”

Preciso tirar uma fotografia cinco por sete (5x7).
Translation: I need to take a five by seven photograph (5x7).
O combustível aumentou cinco por cento.
Translation: The fuel increased five percent.
Dois por dois é quatro.
Translation: Two times two is four.

exchange of something

for

Troquei o vestido azul por um vestido branco.
Translation: I exchanged the blue dress for a white dress.

prices and purchases

for

Comprei esses sapatos por cem reais.
Translation: I bought these shoes for a hundred reais.

agent in passive sentences

by

O relatório foi feito pelo gerente.
Translation: The report was made by the manager.

hold on to something

by

A mãe segurou o filho pelo braço.
Translation: The mother held the child by the arm.

means of communication

by; via

A empresa me enviou a oferta por email.
Translation: The company sent me the offer by email.
Ele fez a pesquisa pelo computador.
Translation: He did the research via computer.
para

purpose

to; in order to

Ele faz dieta para emagrecer.
Translation: He is on a diet in order to lose weight.

direction / final destination

to; towards

Eu vou para a praia amanhã.
Translation: I’m going to the beach tomorrow.

deadlines / hours

due; for; to

A apresentação é para a próxima semana.
Translation: The presentation is for next week.
São dez para às três.
Translation: It’s ten to three.

designation

for; at

Eu comprei esse chocolate para você.
Translation: I bought this chocolate for you.

the use of something

for

O fogão serve para cozinhar.
Translation: The stove is for cooking.

opinions

to; for; according to

Para mim, esse restaurante é excelente.
Translation: According to me, this restaurant is excellent.

employer

for

Ela trabalha para uma grande empresa
Translation: She works for a big company.