Language learners often get confused by the Portuguese prepositions para and por. While it is true that both are prepositions of movement, we use them under different circumstances. 

So, what’s the difference between para and por?

Shortly, para indicates movement emphasizing direction and final destination, whereas por suggests a passing-by motion and itinerary. While the former often corresponds to the English preposition to, the latter corresponds to either by or through: 

Para Esta camioneta vai para Lisboa. This bus goes to Lisbon.  Por A camioneta passa por Leiria. (a caminho de Lisboa) The bus passes by Leiria. (on its way to Lisbon)

There’s more to it. Read on.

Portuguese learners also struggle to understand when to use para and a. If you are one of them, read this: Portuguese Prepositions “Para” vs. “A”: Know When to Use Either.

Para

Movement

We use para to indicate movement and mark the direction and final destination:

Ele foi para a escola.  He went to school. Este avião vai para a República Checa.  This plane is bound for the Czech Republic.

Purpose

Besides movement, we also use para to denote intention and purpose:

Eu estou a estudar para arranjar um bom emprego. I am studying to get a good job.

Recipient

We say para to indicate the recipient when we give or send something to someone:

Este livro é para o André. This book is for André.

Time

We use para to indicate the time ahead:

Até para a semana. I’ll see you next week. Marquei o restaurante para as 19 horas. I booked the restaurant for 7 pm. São 15 para as 17 horas. It’s 15 to 5 pm.

Por

The preposition por contracts with definite articles: 

definite articles	o	a	os	as
contracted forms	pelo (por + o)	pela  (por + a)	pelos  (por + os)	pelas  (por + as)

Learn more about Portuguese articles: Portuguese Definite and Indefinite Articles – When to Use Either.

Movement

We use por to indicate passage, that is, an on-the-go transitory state. Here are a few examples: 

Hoje de manhã passaste por mim no centro. Não me viste? This morning you passed me by in the city center. Haven’t you seen me? Ontem passei pelo supermercado para comprar cerveja. Yesterday, I dropped by the supermarket to buy some beer.

We also use por when we talk about a route or itinerary: 

Vai por Coimbra, a paisagem é mais agradável. Go via Coimbra, the landscape is more pleasant. Ele foi pela estrada nova. He took the new road.

Place

We use por to denote uncertain, non-specific whereabouts. In other words,  por implies spatial vagueness. It can also convey that the speaker is not so familiar with the place in point:

Ela está a viajar por África. She’s traveling in África. Ele vive por Lisboa. He lives somewhere in Lisbon.

Time

We use por to denote time approximation: 

Ela chega hoje de Paris pelas 13h. She arrives today from Paris around 3 pm.

We also use por to refer to a time period:

Ela fica na Suécia por dois anos. She will stay in Sweden for two years.

Não fui viajar por motivos de saúde. I didn’t go traveling for health reasons. Faço isto por ti. I do this for you. Obrigado pelo presente. Thank you for the present.

Learn more about these and other prepositions: Basic Portuguese Prepositions and Contractions: An Inclusive Usage Rundown.